In the U.S. and indeed throughout the world, e-commerce is constantly increasing its market share. This is partly down to the fact that more and more consumers have easy access to goods and services online through their smartphones, and partly down to the fact that there are lots of e-commerce software solutions that make getting started easier than ever.
Thanks to these e-commerce software solutions, it is possible to get an online store up and running in as little as one day in some cases. Additionally, as more and more people spend more and more money online, the number of online stores coming into existence thanks to e-commerce software will only continue to grow.
Simply put, everybody wants in on this growing trend.
If you have a great product, now is a time better than ever to utilize e-commerce software and start your very own online store.
3 E-Commerce Software Solutions You May Need
There are plenty of options when it comes to e-commerce software. From fully-fledged e-commerce platforms that let you build a webstore in minutes to third-party integrations that make accounting a breeze, there certainly is no shortage.
1. An e-commerce platform
If you want to do away with the need to source your own hosting provider, have a bespoke theme made, and deal the hassle of finding a suitable e-commerce integration that will let you sell products, an e-commerce platform might be right for you.
There are plenty to choose from—from Shopify to Etsy—and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. E-commerce platforms may not be e-commerce software per se, but they are where most online stores get started.
With e-commerce platforms, you can build your own beautiful, responsive website in a matter of hours and get launched much quicker. Still, we recommend taking your time!
2. Accounting software
It’s all fun and games until it comes to tax season and you haven’t been keeping track of your company’s finances. Given that finances are the number one reason why many start-ups fail, accounting is something you need to pay attention to.
Keeping track of all your income, spending, and other financial information might sound like a challenge, but it really is not. One of the most valuable bits of e-commerce software you can invest in is accounting software, and there is a lot for you to choose form.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of an accountant—in most cases, they can save you more money than you spend on their services. It’s a win-win.
3. SEO Tools
“If you build it, they will come” is unfortunately not something that applies to e-commerce (or websites in general.) The fact of the matter is that the internet, particularly the e-commerce space, is crowded with millions of different actors all vying for the attention of their target markets.
This makes it very, very hard to get noticed.
One way you can improve your chances of being noticed and attracting the attention of your target market is through SEO and marketing. No business today can survive without having some form of digital marketing strategy and most, if not all, digital marketing strategies involve some degree of SEO and use of analytical tools.
By optimizing your website for search engines, you appear highly in search results. This, in turn, means more motivated people who form part of your target market can find you.
While there is no all-in-one SEO or analytics tool, there are plenty that you can use depending on what your e-commerce setup is. For example, if you use WordPress and WooCommerce to sell your products, you can always use tools like Yoast. If you use Shopify, there are integrations for Google Analytics.
The number of e-commerce software tools to aid SEO, marketing, and analytics is endless. We always recommend speaking to an expert digital marketer for the very best advice and results, however.
It’s All About E-Commerce Software
Sure, it’s all well and good having a beautiful site and great products.
Without the right tools behind you, however, you will find it difficult to get established and experience long-term growth.
There are lots of different e-commerce tools you can use. The three above represent just a few of the hundreds available.
