Free ecommerce site: should I create it?

Do you want to create an ecommerce site and the free tools made available on the web seem like a good solution? That's when it's good to use them and when not.

Those who want to create an ecommerce site for their business using the free tools on the web should first ask themselves: is it really worth creating it this way? Now we will find out together the answer to this crucial question for a company's business.

Free or cheap ecommerce sites: what the web offers

The software to create an inexpensive or free ecommerce site currently on the web has several contraindications:

·         They are often owned by third parties and therefore do not give the possibility of accessing the source code. This has several complications: you cannot make any additions (such as, for example, the one with marketplace), you cannot work on SEO optimization and, moreover, once you decide not to continue the activity on that platform, the data is lost.

·         Software is rarely found to create ecommerce sites totally free : most of the programs on the web, in fact, offer a free basic version or a free trial period and then, in addition, advanced paid packages or monthly fees .

The open source CMS to create free ecommerce

At the website development level, the Internet provides some open source CMS that allow you to create free e-commerce sites that can be managed in all their parts. However, you must be able to install and configure the software correctly.

Compared to the solutions examined previously, these open source CMS provide the source code (with all the positive consequences connected with it) and do not provide for any maintenance fee. In addition, they also have extensions (some for free, some for a fee) for more advanced features.

Should I create a free ecommerce site?

Once you have analyzed what the web currently offers, it is easier to answer the initial question.

We start from an assumption: if the goal is to increase sales already made in the traditional physical store by selling only a few products online (and to an already loyal clientele), one could also be satisfied with one of the many free or cheap software on Internet.

On the contrary, those who intend to create a real professional ecommerce site should in principle avoid those types of software. To create a professional ecommerce business, such that online sales become the main form of income, an investment similar to that required for opening a physical store is in fact necessary. In addition, the main investment does not concern the construction of the site, but the subsequent phase relating to business organization and marketing.

It is important that, at the base of an ecommerce site, there is an in-depth analysis of the competition and the market and a business plan. In addition, the site must be responsive, optimized from an SEO NYC  point of view, captivating from a graphic point of view and easily usable by users.

Opening an ecommerce is a great opportunity to grow a company's business, make products known beyond local borders and thus expand the customer base. Knowing how to do it right, therefore, is essential.