One-Stop Ecommerce Website Building Solution for Any Small Business Owner in the UKÂ
Need help translating your idea of a one-stop shopping destination for your customers into a dazzling reality of an ecommerce website? Youâve 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. Thereâs 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.ÂChoosing an Ecommerce Platform Aligned to Your VisionÂ
Finances can be heavy as a small business, and a cost-effective website that doesnât 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 doesnât mean youâre compromising on quality!  The top ecommerce platforms are often the most affordable, as they cater to various customers who donât 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.ÂThe Best Ecommerce Website Builder for YouÂ
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, youâll 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.ÂGetting into the Nitty-Gritty Details: Ecommerce Models, Business Idea and PlanÂ
Before you get into the technical and design aspects of your ecommerce site, youâll want to clearly define your ecommerce business idea and model. Who is it for? Whatâs 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.ÂEcommerce ModelÂ
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.Â
- Business-to-business (B2B): In this model, businesses sell their products or services to others like Amazon Business and Alibaba.Â
- Consumer-to-consumer (C2C): In this model, consumers sell or exchange their goods or services with other services like eBay and Etsy.Â
- Consumer-to-business (C2B): In C2B model, consumers sell their goods or services to businesses like Upwork and Shutterstock.Â
Business PlanÂ
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. ÂBest Ecommerce Platforms for Small BusinessesÂ
There are three types of ecommerce platforms for you to choose from:ÂOpen-Source Ecommerce PlatformÂ
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.ÂSaaS (software as a service) Ecommerce PlatformÂ
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. ÂHeadless Ecommerce PlatformÂ
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.ÂHow to Know Which Ecommerce Platform is Right for YouÂ
Answering these questions can help you get an idea of what kind of ecommerce platform suits your needs the best. ÂWhat are the essential features I need from my ecommerce platform?  Â
How easy is it to set up customer-facing components on it? Â
How intuitive is the navigation?Â
Is this letting me create the ecommerce storefront I want? Â
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. ÂCriteria for Selecting an Ecommerce PlatformÂ
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:ÂYour BudgetÂ
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.ÂTarget MarketÂ
As tempting as it may be, donât 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. ÂScalabilityÂ
When youâre grabbing opportunities as they come, make sure your ecommerce platform isnât holding you back. Affordable scalability of your ecommerce platform should be at the heart of your growth plans. ÂSupport from ProviderÂ
Always choose a platform with reliable customer service, security and maintenance. If a problem arises, youâd want a swift solution with minimal hassle. You should choose a service provider that would help you by checking its reputation and other usersâ reviews.Free Website Builders for Small BusinessesÂ
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 youâre 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 youâre 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.ÂWixÂ
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 siteâs functionality. Its higher priced plans include SEO and analytical tools.ÂWix Features:Â
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Highly customisableÂ
- Secure and reliableÂ
- 24/7 customer supportÂ
- Dropshipping featuresÂ
ShopifyÂ
Shopify is the most popular SaaS ecommerce platform because it is easy to use. It is an all-inclusive website builder platform thatâs user-friendly with a great range of customisation options. Itâs 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. ÂShopify features:Â
- Help you set up a storefront quicklyÂ
- 24/7 customer supportÂ
- All-in-one solutionÂ
- Secure and reliableÂ
- Plug and play solutions such as inventory management and payment processing Â