Is Shopify the right ecommerce platform for your business?

Online stores are becoming popular with many people seeing them as a convenient way to shop and have their purchases delivered to their doorstep. Majority of these stores run on an e-commerce platform that enables their owners to organize their products and display them in a way that will attract customers leading to sales. Among the most popular e-commerce solutions available to those running a business online is Shopify, which has been in existence for a number of years. Shopify offers an e-commerce platform that makes it possible for business owners to set up their store and sell goods through it. The set up which is done within a short time helps customize the overall look of the store, organize products on sale, track orders and accept payments as well. The platform is the home to over one hundred thousand stores all over the world and has contributed to the success of their business over the years.

When compared to other well known e-commerce platforms, Shopify still comes out on top because of the unique features that it offers customers. Some of its most distinctive features are that it offers the lowest flat fee which is important for anyone trying to cut costs when setting up an online business. Furthermore, Shopify has a great support system that makes its overall set up much easier and faster for anyone seeking to start their business within a short term period.

Pros & Cons of using Shopify

To make a better decision on whether to use Shopify or not, it is advisable to have an idea of the advantages and disadvantages it offers you. Some of the advantages of using this e-commerce platform include:

  • Diverse themes – The theme system run by Shopify allows users to select the overall look of their website according to their needs. These Shopify themes can be customized by designers to create an ideal shop front.
  • Built in app store – Although Shopify offers basic features that allow the quick set up of an online store, it also offers extra ones for storeowners that may want to go beyond the norm. Some of these apps are free while others are offered at a cost.
  • Hosting security – Shopify has invested in professional security services that handle any issues that face their customers such as hacking and compliance matters among others. With proper security, shoppers can safely transact their business on the e-commerce site without fear of exposing their financial information.

Shopify also has some disadvantages associated with it, which include:

  • Difficult customization set up – Shopify has invested in an exclusive process when customizing their templates. This means that when using Shopify templates you will need to familiarize yourself with the set up before making any changes to the site.
  • Unfamiliar jargon – when setting up a Shopify store, you are likely to come across jargon that may not be familiar, especially if you have used other platforms before. The terminology introduce can pose a challenge to business owners that are using Shopify for the first time.