Having a strong online presence is essential for businesses of all sizes. Finding the right website builder can make all the difference if you’re a small business owner looking to start selling online. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best website builder for your e-commerce store?
We’ll explore the top website builders in the market and equip you with all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about choosing the best website builder for your e-commerce business.
Why Choose a Website Builder for Your E-Commerce Store?
A website builder is a platform that allows users to create and design their websites without any coding or technical skills. These platforms provide a user-friendly interface and a variety of templates and tools to help users customize their websites to their liking.
A website builder acts as the foundation of your online store, offering a range of benefits that make them an attractive option for small business owners:
- Ease of use: Website builders are designed with simplicity in mind. They offer user-friendly interfaces that allow even non-technical users to create and manage their online stores with ease.
- Cost-effective: Website builders often provide affordable pricing plans, making them a budget-friendly option for small businesses. They eliminate the need to hire a web developer or designer, saving you money in the long run.
- Customizability: While website builders offer pre-designed templates, they also provide the flexibility to customize your online store to match your brand identity. You can choose from various themes, colors, fonts, and layouts to create a unique and professional-looking website.
- Integration: Website builders integrate seamlessly with third-party tools and services, such as payment gateways, email marketing platforms, and inventory management systems. This allows you to streamline your operations and provide a seamless customer experience.
The Top 5 Website Builders for Your E-commerce Store
When selecting a website builder for your e-commerce store, consider your specific needs and requirements. To help you make an informed decision, here is a list of the top 5 website builders that cater to different business sizes and goals.
Shopify: Getting Up and Running Quickly
If you’re looking to start selling online quickly and efficiently, Shopify is an excellent choice. With over 17 years of experience and millions of stores built on their platform, Shopify is a trusted name in the e-commerce industry. Their user-friendly interface and extensive feature set make it easy for small businesses to set up and manage online stores.
Key Features of Shopify:
- Easy setup: Shopify’s onboarding process is intuitive and straightforward. Your online store can be up and running within minutes.
- Extensive app store: Shopify offers a vast selection of apps and integrations, allowing you to customize your store and add functionality as needed.
- Responsive themes: Choose from a wide range of professionally designed themes that are mobile-friendly and customizable to match your brand.
- Secure payment processing: Shopify provides secure payment gateways, allowing you to accept credit card payments with ease.
- Inventory management: Keep track of your inventory and receive notifications when products run low.
- SEO optimization: Shopify offers built-in SEO features to help your store rank higher in search engine results.
- 24/7 customer support: Shopify provides round-the-clock customer support to assist you with any issues or questions that may arise.
Square: Selling In-Person and Online
If you run a small business and want the flexibility to sell in-person and online, Square is known for its point-of-sale terminals, but it also offers a comprehensive e-commerce solution that seamlessly integrates with its hardware.
Key Features of Square:
- Omnichannel selling: With Square, you can sell your products online and in-person, providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
- Free plan: Square offers a free plan with unlimited products and a Square-branded site, making it an affordable option for small businesses.
- E-commerce and POS integration: Square’s e-commerce platform seamlessly integrates with their point-of-sale system, allowing you to manage orders, inventory, and customer data from a single dashboard.
- Shipping, fulfillment, and inventory management: Square offers shipping and fulfillment features to help you streamline your order management process. Along with inventory management to track product levels.
- Payment processing: Square provides secure payment processing options.
Ecwid by Lightspeed: Starting with a Free Plan—Then Growing
For small businesses looking to test the waters of e-commerce without a significant financial commitment, Ecwid by Lightspeed is an excellent choice. Ecwid offers a free plan that allows you to start selling your first five physical products, with affordable upgrade options as your business grows.
Key Features of Ecwid:
- Easy integration: Ecwid integrates seamlessly with popular website builders like WordPress, Weebly, and Drupal, making it easy to add e-commerce functionality to your existing website.
- Multi-channel selling: Sell your products not only on your Ecwid store but also on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.
- Flexible payment options: Ecwid supports a wide range of payment gateways, allowing you to offer your customers multiple payment options.
- Automated tax calculation: Ecwid automatically calculates sales tax based on your location and the location of your customers, saving you time and effort.
- Shipping and fulfillment: Ecwid offers shipping and fulfillment features to help you manage your orders and ensure timely delivery to your customers.
BigCommerce: Ideal for Large-Volume Sellers
If you’re a large seller or an established business looking to scale your e-commerce operations, BigCommerce is a powerful solution. With its robust features and scalability, It can handle high sales volumes and provide advanced functionality to meet your business needs.
Key Features of BigCommerce:
- Advanced features: BigCommerce offers advanced features, such as real-time shipping quotes, abandoned cart recovery, and customer segmentation, to help you optimize your online store.
- Responsive themes: Choose from a wide range of professionally designed themes that are mobile-friendly and customizable to match your brand.
- Integrations: BigCommerce integrates with various third-party tools and services, allowing you to extend the functionality of your online store.
- SEO optimization: BigCommerce offers built-in SEO features to help your store rank higher in search engine results.
- 24/7 customer support: BigCommerce provides round-the-clock customer support to assist you with any issues or questions that may arise.
WooCommerce: Adding a Shopping Cart to an Existing WordPress Site
If you already have a WordPress website and want to add e-commerce functionality, WooCommerce is the perfect solution. As a WordPress plugin, WooCommerce seamlessly integrates into your existing website, allowing you to leverage the power and flexibility of WordPress for your online store.
Key Features of WooCommerce:
- Customizability: With WooCommerce, you have complete control over the design and functionality of your online store. Choose from a variety of themes and extensions to create a unique and personalized shopping experience.
- Flexible payment options: WooCommerce supports various payment gateways, including popular options like PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
- Inventory management: Keep track of your inventory levels, set stock alerts, and easily manage product variations.
- SEO optimization: WooCommerce offers built-in SEO features, allowing you to optimize your store for search engines and increase your online visibility.
- Extensions and integrations: WooCommerce offers a vast selection of extensions and integrations to extend the functionality of your online store. Whether you need advanced shipping options, marketing tools, or CRM integration, WooCommerce has you covered.
Build Your Business’s Success with Bake More Pies
Selecting the best website builder for your e-commerce store is a critical decision that can significantly impact your business’s success. With the right platform, you can create a professional, user-friendly online store that attracts customers and drives sales. With the right website builder by your side, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful e-commerce store and growing your business online.
Building an e-commerce store is the first step to ensuring your business’s success. Discover how Bake More Pies can help you develop a well-rounded marketing approach to help your e-commerce store thrive in the competitive online marketplace. Contact us today to get started!
