Tag: ecommerce developer sydney

An eCommerce Platform Comparison Guide

Posted on by Teresa Pham

If you are looking to make your footprint on the online world by opening an eCommerce store, it might be difficult to make the decision of which platform you will use to serve your customers online. In this article, we’ll be looking at the four most common eCommerce platforms and outlining their pros and cons. At the end, you will have your perfect eCommerce solution. So let’s begin!

We’ll be taking a look at Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce and Drupal Commerce.

Magento

Magento is the superstar of eCommerce platforms. According to builtWith, over half a million online shops are built using Magento.

Scalable

Its Community Edition is completely open source and free. This version is usually suited for most online businesses, but if you are after a more robust solution, they also offer an Enterprise Edition at $15 000/year. This means that Magento is able to scale as you scale.

Customisation

If it’s features that you’re after, Magento has a huge collection of free and paid plugins that you can add to your site. That means a huge deal of customisation in terms of functionality.

Not only are your options limitless for functionality, but you’ll be able to make your site stand out with a fully customisable design. Your website will definitely be able to stand out and align your site with your brand.

Complex Build

The flexibility of Magento does come at an expected cost of a higher complexity, with a higher financial investment (for its build and hosting), longer timeline, and the requirement of a specialist team.

However, if you’re after a robust and highly customisable platform to build your eCommerce site, you will quickly realise your return on investment.

Shopify

Shopify is the perfect eCommerce solution for a business that is just dipping their toes in the eCommerce space. It has everything you need to operate a simple store-front and get an online cash flow.

Cost Effective to Set Up

If you’ve got simple products to sell, Shopify may be the perfect solution for you. It is pretty much a hassle free setup process if you do not require much in the customisation department. You will have your eCommerce store up and running in no time.

Hosted with Shopify

Hosting can sometimes be a confusing mess to work out. Unlike many other eCommerce solutions, Shopify offers web hosting for your store. With all their packages, all sites can be hosted with unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds and security.

Hit and Miss Customisation

Although Shopify is quite flexible in terms of design, it may be a little difficult to have more complicated functionalities integrated and change existing functionalities. If you’re after customisation, you will definitely need some Shopify specialists.

Ongoing Cost

In order to continue using Shopify, businesses will need to pay a monthly fee, with 3 different tiers depending on the size of your store. Over time, these costs add up, especially if you require more premium features.

WooCommerce

Woocommerce is WordPress’ answer to an eCommerce solution. It is a very promising up-and-coming platform in the eCommerce space.

Customisation and Flexibility

Thanks mostly to the open-source community, there have been significant developments in additional plugins and features to allow for vast customisations. However, some may need one-time payments to unlock. Design is also quite flexible, so your brand’s image can shine through your store as well. But, as with all customisation, it may be difficult to do them yourself without a strong technical team.

Intuitive Backend Management

Since it is directly integrated with WordPress, it uses the same backend system that is incredibly easy to use. You’ll be able to easily organise and update your inventory, prices and content. This means less time navigating through a complicated website backend and more time focused on business growth.

Not eCommerce Focused

At its core, WordPress is a content management system, so Woocommerce is really just an extension of its fundamental purpose of delivering flexible content. This is why it’s the perfect solution for businesses who already have a WordPress site or those who are looking to also build a comprehensive content side to the business.

Drupal Commerce

Robust and reliable are two words that you would use to describe the Drupal Commerce platform. Similarly to Woocommerce, Drupal Commerce integrates directly with the open-source Drupal CMS. If you have a website that already uses the Drupal backend, or you’re looking to use an advanced CMS, this may be the eCommerce platform you are looking for.

Customisation in Design and Functionality

As stated previously, Drupal is an incredibly robust eCommerce platform. This means that you’ll be able to customise your store to a great degree, without compromising quality in design or functionality. You will need the help of Drupal specialists, who can tell you what’s possible and what’s not, but if you can think it, it probably can happen.

Customisation may be Costly

Like other platforms, customisation means enlisting the services of a design and technical team that can implement the customisations and flexibilities you desire for your store. However, with any investment in your business, if you have your customers’ experience at the forefront, you’ll get your return in no time.

Summary

That was a lot of information, but we’ve prepared a little summary chart that contains the highlights of the eCommerce solutions discussed.

ecommerce comparison table

Download the PDF here.

If you would like some further information about which eCommerce platform is perfect for you, or you’re ready to hire some eCommerce specialists, contact us! We are a dedicated team of eCommerce website designers and designers and can help you get started.

6 Ways to Reduce your Website’s Bounce Rate

Posted on by Brian Lam

A bounce rate represents the percentage of single-page visitors to a website, according to Google Analytics. In other words, it shows the number of visitors who leave your website without visiting any other page other than the page that they landed on.

Unfortunately, high bounce rates are an indicator that either your website visitors aren’t looking for more content on your site. This may mean that you are not effectively targeting the right audience. In some cases, it could also indicate technical issues that are preventing users from accessing or viewing it correctly.

Whatever the case may be, maintaining a low bounce rate on your website is essential to the productivity of your business.

 

What is a good bounce rate?

The most important thing to be aware of is that you have to set realistic expectations for yourself. As every business domain has its own particular benchmarks, so will the bounce rate differ from one industry to another. Ultimately, you should be tracking bounce rate against your own historical performance and goals.

Here are the correspondent benchmark averages for website bounce rates:

  • Content website: 40-60%
  • Lead generation: 30-50%
  • Blogs: 70-98%
  • Retails sites: 20-40%
  • Service sites: 10-30%
  • Landing pages: 70-90%

If you want to lower the bounce rate for your website, you first need to understand why it is important and then identify the changes that you can make to reduce it as much as possible.

 

1.       Attract the right visitors

There are a number of ways you can go about achieving this.

  • Keywords are a very important part of this process. If you are looking to attract and engage a high number of visitors, you will have to choose the right keywords to match your content.
  • Create multiple landing pages that have unique content and keywords for every type of visitor that arrives on your page.
  • Maintain top rankings for your branded terms. Again, this is where keywords play an important role.
  • Write attractive, useful Meta Descriptions for search engine users. Once again, use the correct and relevant keywords to optimise.
  • Improve the targeting of your online advertising campaigns by choosing a relevant audience: location, age, marital status, income, interests, etc.

 

2.       Enhance website usability

Make it easier for your visitors to enjoy and understand the message your website is sending, by using proper text and organisation techniques which include: larger fonts, bulleted lists, white space, good colour contrast and large headlines.

You can also use well-organised and responsive layouts if you want your visitors to be able to quickly and easily navigate your website from all screens and browsers.

Get a personalised responsive website that is fully customised to your brand.

 

3.       Reduce the website’s load time

Did you know that 73% of mobile internet users say that they have encountered a website that was loading too slowly? From a more technical point of view, a 1 second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. As an example, if an e-commerce site is making $100,000 per day, a 1 second page delay could potentially cost you $2.5 million in lost sales every year!

Needless to say website visitors tend to care more about speed than any additional features your website may have. An easy way you can achieve this is by simply compressing and resizing your images in order to decrease the speed. Or, you can make sure to get rid of any plugins you no longer use.’

Discover how you can reduce the website load time by contacting one of the EB Pearls specialists today.

 

4.       A mobile friendly website

A recent Google survey of mobile users found that approximately 74% say they are more likely to revisit mobile-friendly sites, with 67% saying mobile-friendly sites make them more likely to buy a product or use a service. There are plenty of customers who visit websites using mobile devices, so this is another great opportunity to attract new buyers.

Don’t have a mobile friendly website or a mobile app for your business? The benefits are immediate, so let’s discuss how you can boost your online presence.

 

5.       Provide Quality Content

The information you provide to your visitors needs to have an obvious central message. There are several ways to achieve that:

  • Use clear headings and subheadings
  • Tailor content to specific types of visitors (target audience)
  • Use catchy, modern copy and images
  • Make your content error-free
  • Include a clear call-to-actions and add links to indicate the next steps your visitors should take

 

6.       Consider your Ad placement

Do as much as you can to avoid the standard ad units on your webpage, mainly because of two reasons:

Ad blindness: Banner blindness, or ad blindness as it is commonly referred to, is when visitors consciously or subconsciously ignore the banner information displayed on your page.

Penalty matters: Google has also started to penalise pages that have too many ad units above the fold.

Useful tip: Some of the high-performing niche ad networks do not have an abundance of intrusive ads.

 

If you are looking for optimised solutions that can reduce the bounce rate on your website, feel free to contact us here.

Clever eCommerce Web Design: A Review of Animal Box

Posted on by Akash Shakya

If a brand is lucky, it manages to tap into consumer demand and pair what the customer wants with the method in which they’re mostly likely to interact or use the website. Hitting that sweet spot isn’t easily managed – but it would appear that Animal Box has managed to do just that, by delivering healthy meals and snacks for the kids of busy parents, ordered at the click of a button.

 

Here’s some insight into what makes Animal Box successful, and how you can apply the same principles to your business idea:

They fill a need. Family life is getting busier by the day, while at the same time the need for nutritious food is becoming more clear every time a new study comes out that denounces junk and convenience foods. This leaves busy parents even more put-upon and feeling as though they’re falling short. Animal Box provides the sort of nutritious food parents wish they themselves had the time to prepare.

They are convenient. By making the ordering process as simple as clicking a few items, then delivering straight to the customer’s door, Animal Box removes any extra work for the customer. The customer doesn’t even need to be home when the food is delivered – instead, food is placed in an esky in order to keep it fresh and left on the doorstep. This process removes any further barriers – there’s no inconvenience which might make a visitor think twice before ordering.

They keep the customer in mind at all times. Customers can arrange standing orders for regular delivery, rather than ordering every day. By eliminating the need to even remember to place an order by the cut-off time, Animal Box makes themselves nearly impossible to resist. Who hasn’t experienced a moment of panic when remembering an unfinished task at the end of the day, after all?

They maintain a strong brand. Another way of appealing to the target market, while maintaining a strong and environmentally conscious brand, is by enforcing the concept of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. For example, a reusable esky is much easier on the environment than disposable alternatives – while still keeping food safe. Maintaining the brand from concept through execution encourages trust.

Animal Box is proving that when service to the customer is kept at the forefront, success follows. And pairing an excellent concept with the right presentation, via an app or website, creates an unbeatable combination.

Ingredients for eCommerce Success

Posted on by Akash Shakya

The recipe for a profitable ecommerce site or app may seem elusive, but there are a series of ingredients which when utilized will make your virtual storefront successful:

Who is your customer? Where does your ideal customer shop? What appeals to them? Where else do they spend time? Keying in on these points will give you an idea of the website or app that will most appeal to your target audience and keep them coming back for more.

Identify competitors. Who else is currently in your market, interacting with your potential customers? How do they promote themselves? What do their apps look like? Of course there’s plenty of room for everyone, so no copying – instead, identify places where you can do things better. See what’s working for them and brainstorm ways to model their success for yourself.

Appeal to your customers. Audiences love a story – it helps them to identify with a brand and develop a sense of trust. This relationship promotes loyalty and turns prospects into customers.How can you tell your story in a way that appeals to your audience? Knowing your target audience will help you to understand what they want to hear and how they’ll identify with you.

Promote your app. This goes without saying, right? The sticking point for so many is identifying where and how to promote. Use social media to promote your products, then steer followers to your app to make a purchase.

Track your progress. Any marketing plan should be continually tested and improved. Google provides analytics tools for both websites and apps, so check where your traffic is coming from and focus your efforts on those areas, while at the same time tightening your game elsewhere.

Design your app with the user in mind. Of course, getting people to download and visit your app is the first step – the next is to encourage visitors to make a purchase. This falls on the shoulders of your designers but should be informed by you and your trusted beta testers. Are your products enticingly displayed? Is it easy to make a selection and add it to a cart? Is the design intuitive enough so that the user can navigate easily without being prompted?

The right idea, the right products and the right design team are sure to combine to create the right app – one that’s profitable for you and just the thing your customers need.

How to Build A Success Online Kids Store

Posted on by Akash Shakya

Starting an online business can be a risky venture, and the process itself, overwhelming. Success stories begin with a well constructed business plan, including a user friendly ecommerce application: preferably one with a fully hosted, subscription based shopping cart, such as Shopify. Being in business 24 hours a day has its benefits, but prosperity and longevity require more than just being available around the clock, especially in the highly competitive children’s market, catering to parents and grandparents.

Growth Strategies

  1. Formulate your business plan.Without a solid business plan in place, your online children’s store is doomed to fail. The key components of your plan should include:
    General description – Describe your business here in detail; what sets you apart, what types of products you intend to sell, and what types of consumers you think you’ll attract.
    Market analysis – Get to know your target market, and how to appeal to your customer base.
    Day-to-day operations. Where will your business be based? Where will inventory be stored, and how will you keep track of it? Who will look after the accounting? Knowing the answers to these questions and more, will help keep your business running professionally and efficiently.
    Management. Whether your staff consists of 1 or 100, make sure everyone knows where they fit in, and who is responsible for what.
    Products and/or services. While you can diversify or scale your business down the road, know what you’re selling now, inside and out, so that you can best describe it to your online customers in your ecommerce application.
    Financial forecast. Set some short term and long term goals, for both motivational and investment purposes.
  2. Choose your ecommerce application. Rather than focusing your energy and efforts on a complicated interface with a steep learning curve, opt for an ecommerce application that is easy to use, both for you and your customers. A fully hosted shopping cart looks after the technical intricacies, payment details, security and hosting, freeing up your valuable time to focus on what’s really important: growing your business.
  3. Get online. The sooner you’re online, the sooner you can start selling. Your website should be user friendly, easy to navigate, and pleasing to the eye, catering to your target market – but make sure you know who that is. Once you begin selling, you can better identify where your customers are coming from, how to keep them, and what it takes to bring in new ones.
  4. Market yourself. Once your website is up and running, ecommerce application loaded and ready to go, it’s time to market yourself. With hundreds of thousands of websites already catering to children’s clothing, toys and accessories, it’s imperative that you focus a great deal of energy towards putting your business on the map, and gaining your market share. Effective solutions include social media marketing, SEO (search engine optimisation) and pay per click advertising.

A Tale of Success 

One amazing example of what the right ecommerce application can do for your online business, is StickerKid. They are a true global enterprise, selling their stickers to families around the world for the past 10 years, with over one hundred thousand satisfied customers. Due to the unique nature and customisation requirements of their product line, creative ecommerce solutions were implemented by the team at ebPearls, making the StickerKid website not only easy to use, but easy on the eyes as well.

Building a successful online children’s store takes more than just a desire to succeed. Working with a partner like EB Pearls is an investment in your future, along with choosing the right ecommerce application to showcase and sell your merchandise.