Your ecommerce platform makes or breaks the success of your store. From design to maintenance, your choice should be based on the unique needs of your business, the number of products you sell, and the volume of traffic your site will need to handle. You’ll also want to consider your level of expertise when it comes to building and managing your site, and how much you’ll need to know to maximize the use of your platform. Making the right choice is critical—but it doesn’t need to be stressful. You need the right information to understand your options.
Your online store is essentially a website with a shopping cart that’s able to accept payments. However, when you look below the surface, you may argue that it’s so much more. Your storefront represents your brand and impacts your perceived value. An easy and enjoyable shopping experience increases the number of satisfied and return customers you can service and allows you to build your brand reputation. It all comes down to the extras—features, functions, look and feel. And this lies with your ecommerce platform.
Today, in our BigCommerce review, we will discuss the pros and cons of the platform. We will also provide a pricing comparison to other leading ecommerce technologies for 2019.
BigCommerce: Advantages (Pros)
BigCommerce is billed as a turnkey platform with integrated features and easy-to-use customizations. And with BigCommerce as your platform of choice, you’ll access the following:
Robust library of features. When it comes to functionality, if you need it, BigCommerce probably offers it! With a comprehensive array of built-in features, you can easily customize your storefront to fit your needs. With this platform, you can manage inventory, take payments (with software integrated into the platform), create coupon codes, allow discounts, calculate shipping, and much more. Plus, BigCommerce’s features are easy to use without extensive design experience.
Online educational resources. Have a question? This platform provides users with plenty of self-help how-to advice with BigCommerce University. You’ll tap into plenty of information about how to build and run a successful online store, including videos, guides (available right from your dashboard), and a “set-up wizard.” For additional support, you can use their live chat feature, or visit active forums and social media.
Speed. Shoppers expect quick loading times and will abandon carts when page take too long; therefore, speed is essential to maintain successful conversion rates. Though not as fast as other turnkey platforms such as Spotify, BigCommerce still provides adequate speed to meet the needs of customers. And satisfied customers are often return shoppers, helping to boost the profits of your ecommerce business. (However, if you do encounter abandoned carts, BigCommerce also offers a cart retrieval feature).
Security. With customers using credit cards to complete sales, you need to ensure your online storefront is secure. And to help you build the credibility similar to ecommerce giants like Amazon, BigCommerce provides multiple layers of security. The platform even allows you to integrate features such as PayPal or Google Wallet, for those shoppers who are especially skeptical. Plus, the professionals at BigCommerce will handle all your security and compliance concerns on the backend, so you don’t have to.
Impressive marketing functions. If you build it, they will come—as long as you advertise, that is. Marketing is just as critical to your store’s success as its functionality, and for this reason, BigCommerce provides an impressive suite of integrated marketing functions. You’ll access an SEO-friendly page set-up, plus ad generator and integration with both Google Shopping and eBay.
Efficient customer service. What happens when you need help or more information? No worries—the helpful customer support at BigCommerce has you covered. You can reach out by phone or email for answers to your inquiries, and you’ll even be assigned a dedicated customer support team member as your consultant. Add to this the array of online support, and you’ll find that no customer service stone is left unturned.
BigCommerce: Disadvantages (Cons)
Alas, no solution is 100 percent perfect. It helps to weight the pros alongside the cons:
Pricing. Though BigCommerce is transparent about its pricing and offers a monthly subscription fee, extra charges drive the price up. In addition to your monthly payment, you’ll tack on credit card fees and other add-ons, such as apps and plugins. This can make BigCommerce a pricey choice depending on all the features you’ll need.
There may not be an app for that. Though BigCommerce offers an app store, the availability of apps is limited compared to its competitors.
Too many choices. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the functionality offered by BigCommerce is so extensive, it can be overwhelming. It helps to go in with a plan and stick to it, as the limitless options can be a downfall as you build your store.
Pricing Comparison 2019
The BigCommerce standard plan starts at $29.95/month. It goes up from there based on the extras you select. You also have the option of a 15-day free trial before you make your final decision.
Final Thoughts on BigCommerce
If you choose BigCommerce but don’t want to dedicate time to design and maintenance, you can leave your ecommerce site in the hands of the experts. Jarvis Cole can help! We’re your trusted BigCommerce recruitment partner. We’ll work with you find, hire and onboard the right staff to meet your business needs. From designers to project leads, you’ll get the candidates you need to keep the business running smoothly. To learn more, contact us today!