7 Jul, 2023 | ecommerce development company

Your Ultimate Guide to Best Ecommerce Platform Development

One-Stop Ecommerce Website Building Solution for Any Small Business Owner in the UK

Need help translating your idea of a one-stop shopping destination for your customers into a dazzling reality of an ecommerce website? You’ve come to the right place, WeDoWebApps can do that for you effectively (without burning a hole in your wallet). Building an ecommerce website is never a piece of cake; we know, especially as a small business owner, you might be struggling to establish a solid presence in your market. There’s no lack of ecommerce platforms to choose from. Countless competitors are fighting for the attention of your customer out there. In a digital age where attention spans last mere seconds, you need to entice your customer fast and without any heavy work on their part. Your product listing should be easy to read, digestible and, above all, a convenient ecommerce shopping experience for your customers.

Choosing an Ecommerce Platform Aligned to Your Vision

Finances can be heavy as a small business, and a cost-effective website that doesn’t overwhelm you can be a godsent respite from heaven. You can even get started with free website templates from ecommerce platforms like Wix and Shopify to kickstart your online journey. The cheapest ecommerce website builder in UK doesn’t mean you’re compromising on quality! The top ecommerce platforms are often the most affordable, as they cater to various customers who don’t have the resources to invest in building a website from scratch. Many leading brands also hire experts for them, as they can better direct the website flow with their experience in ecommerce website building. WeDoWebApps, one of the best ecommerce development agency in the UK, specializes in ecommerce website development, working on client-friendly platforms like Wix and Shopify.

The Best Ecommerce Website Builder for You

Now, plenty of ecommerce website builders provide a wide array of services. But how do you know which is the best for you as a small business owner in the UK? By the end of this blog, you’ll know the best ecommerce platforms in the UK, which ones best suit your needs as a small business, how you can leverage free website building guides to come up with a suitable website plan, and how WeDoWebApps can help you create the best ecommerce site for your small business.

Getting into the Nitty-Gritty Details: Ecommerce Models, Business Idea and Plan

Before you get into the technical and design aspects of your ecommerce site, you’ll want to clearly define your ecommerce business idea and model. Who is it for? What’s the business goal you want to achieve with ecommerce? How many resources are you planning to dedicate to building your ecommerce website? When you know the answers, you can create an ecommerce site that works well for you.

Ecommerce Model

The ecommerce space is vast, and having clarity in your vision will help you establish your presence and target the right audience. The following are the types of ecommerce models:

Business-to-consumer (B2C): This is a standard business model where businesses sell directly to consumers a variety of things. Businesses can sell numerous brands under one umbrella, like Amazon and Alibaba.
Business-to-business (B2B): In this model, businesses sell their products or services to others like Amazon Business and Alibaba.
Consumer-to-consumer (C2C): In this model, consumers sell or exchange their goods or services with other services like eBay and Etsy.
Consumer-to-business (C2B): In C2B model, consumers sell their goods or services to businesses like Upwork and Shutterstock.

After deciding on an ecommerce model, you should also consider what kind of delivery method you would like to use.

Business Plan

A vision is what gets translated into reality, but only if clear, understandable goals are defined. As a small business owner, a clear objective and roadmap can help you make better decisions about website development, finances and marketing.

Best Ecommerce Platforms for Small Businesses

There are three types of ecommerce platforms for you to choose from:

Open-Source Ecommerce Platform

In short, it means you can modify and control almost everything. This is the best option for technology-heavy companies with a dedicated developer team.

SaaS (software as a service) Ecommerce Platform

These work on a subscription model where you pay for platform access in exchange for ecommerce services. They offer a wide range of built-in features, customisation, and technical expertise and are scalable as your business grows.

Headless Ecommerce Platform

A headless ecommerce platform decouples the front end (customer-facing) from the back end (business logic). It organises and distributes content as a service. It gives you the reigns to develop customisable experiences on both ends.

How to Know Which Ecommerce Platform is Right for You

Answering these questions can help you get an idea of what kind of ecommerce platform suits your needs the best.

What are the essential features I need from my ecommerce platform?

How easy is it to set up customer-facing components on it?

How intuitive is the navigation?

Is this letting me create the ecommerce storefront I want?

Creating and managing an online store is no easy feat, but extremely rewarding if you ace it. Your platform for ecommerce should be able to uplift your business with its functionalities. The biggest platforms offer the cheapest ecommerce website in the UK market, as their prices need to be comparable. The cost of ecommerce software depends on many things like the type of business, the bandwidth of your site, and functionality. For a small business, we recommend SaaS ecommerce platforms, like Wix and Shopify, due to their scalable solutions.

Criteria for Selecting an Ecommerce Platform

The best ecommerce platform for small businesses caters to their budding needs. There are four main things you should consider while choosing an ecommerce platform:

Your Budget

Other than specific platform tasks, ecommerce has a lot of hidden maintenance costs. Your ecommerce costs can scale when ecommerce platforms increase your market share. You should consider the costs of web design, cybersecurity, development, monthly hosting, licensing and maintenance.

Target Market

As tempting as it may be, don’t get lost in the maze of trying your hand at every possibility of ecommerce. Always keep your target customer in mind, after all, the whole point of taking your small business online is to reach your target audience quicker and generate sales.

Scalability

When you’re grabbing opportunities as they come, make sure your ecommerce platform isn’t holding you back. Affordable scalability of your ecommerce platform should be at the heart of your growth plans.

Support from Provider

Always choose a platform with reliable customer service, security and maintenance. If a problem arises, you’d want a swift solution with minimal hassle. You should choose a service provider that would help you by checking its reputation and other users’ reviews.

Free Website Builders for Small Businesses

Wix and Shopify are two of the most widely used SaaS ecommerce platforms that let you build sites with a free, basic plan. They are amongst the best website builder for small businesses in UK due to their inclusive solutions. If you’re looking for Wix or Shopify website builders, we at WeDoWebApps provide flexible ecommerce development solutions for Wix and Shopify catered to your unique needs. Whether you’re a small business newly foraying into the world of ecommerce or looking to upgrade your ecommerce visibility, we have a solution to boost your small business in the UK. From custom ecommerce designs and online store optimizations to platform migration, we got you covered.

Wix

Wix is the most customisable ecommerce website builder, with a vast library of template designs. Wix ecommerce pricing is on the higher end. Its lowest plan is a bit limiting, but with free apps and plugins you can extend your site’s functionality. Its higher priced plans include SEO and analytical tools.

Wix Features:

Drag-and-drop builder
Highly customisable
Secure and reliable
24/7 customer support
Dropshipping features

Shopify

Shopify is the most popular SaaS ecommerce platform because it is easy to use. It is an all-inclusive website builder platform that’s user-friendly with a great range of customisation options. It’s one of the market leaders for small businesses looking to start their ecommerce business. If you value a convenient and all-in-one solution, then Shopify is the ecommerce builder for you. You could be wondering about the Shopify pricing in UK. The Shopify pricing has different plans depending on your business needs.

Shopify features:

Help you set up a storefront quickly
24/7 customer support
All-in-one solution
Secure and reliable
Plug and play solutions such as inventory management and payment processing

Build the Ecommerce of your Dreams with WeDoWebApps LTD

As an ambitious pack of enigmatic players, we use our multidisciplinary skill set to elevate your brand in the ecommerce world. If you want to stand out and high above your competitors in this dynamic industry, WeDoWebApps LTD can give you the right edge. After sorting through the ecommerce essential checklist, all you’re left with is the development part. Hiring an expert here can save you resources and give you a launchpad towards your sales. At WeDoWebApps, we have a solution for each of your needs. With endless options, and a creative team power packed with a finesse for developing websites true to your core, rest easy that you’re in capable hands.

How WeDoWebApps LTD Empowers Small Businesses with Ecommerce Websites

With us, your digital voyage will be smooth sailing. Ecommerce can be a great way to reach your customers- if you do it right. WeDoWebApps makes sure you get it right from the get-go.

Experienced Ecommerce Wizards

With our experienced ecommerce developers and a talent for developing unique and engaging websites, we can accelerate your business, especially if you’re a small business newly venturing into the digital world.

Unique Ecommerce Toolkit

We utilize the best functionalities and features to customize an ecommerce website unique to your needs.

Unique to You

We understand your brand vision and goals in depth to help you extend your online presence with an ecommerce platform that truly benefits you.

Ecommerce Site Maintenance and Support

We don’t leave you hanging after launching the site! We pride ourselves in our quality maintenance and support service post deployment, so you can be on top of your ecommerce game, consistently.

Custom Ecommerce Development Services

We also offer custom ecommerce development services that are all about creating an online store from scratch and expanding its reach to wider audiences.

Counted Among the Top Ecommerce Development Agencies in London

WeDoWebApps LTD is proudly counted amongst the top ecommerce development agencies in London and we’ve achieved this accolade by delivering quality services to numerous clients. We have worked with numerous brands across industries like healthcare, food and beverage, sports, education, entertainment, travel and hospitality, banking and finance and helped them establish a magnetic digital presence with the best ecommerce website builders in UK. Explore our plans and let’s get in touch to see how we can scale up your ecommerce presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which online website builder is the best in the UK?

We would say Shopify and Wix, followed closely by Squarespace, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Weebly and GoDaddy. These are the best free ecommerce website builders.

2. What can be the best ecommerce solution in the UK for a small business?

The best ecommerce solution for a small business in the UK would be a SaaS-based ecommerce platform like Shopify and Wix.

3. Generally, what is the pricing for website builders?

Website builders generally charge a monthly subscription fee and it depends on the website plan you choose. The price can range anywhere from under £7 per month for the basic plan, to over £36 per month for niche features of ecommerce and SEO functionality.

Written by Mike

Mike is a Graphic Designer at WEDOWEBAPPS. Having demonstrated experience in UI/UX graphic designs, his work is well appreciated by clients. He enjoys exploring different design trends and designing research for different projects.