When you’re venturing into the world of ecommerce, you have a major choice to make with regard to the platform your store is built on. There are a number of top options available, but today we take the time to look at Shopify and what it offers. We want to be impartial, though, so we’ll give you what we think, warts and all!
So as to not waste any time unnecessarily, we now dive straight in and take a look at the pros and cons of using the platform.
Pro #1 – Getting Going is Easy
As you get to find out pretty early on as a new Shopify customer, it’s easy to construct a website with no prior knowledge or experience. Using one of the countless templates you’ll find on the site, within just a few clicks, you can have your site up and running with images and videos. Getting started is super easy.
Pro #2 – It’s Super User-Friendly
We mean it when we say that the standard features are designed so that ANYONE can put a nice-looking website together. Sure, the more advanced features require help, but it is possible to get most of the legwork done yourself before you start involving professional Shopify experts.
Pro #3 – A Wide Array of Themes
Some templated website providers like this one limit you in terms of the availability of themes and colour schemes. Not so with Shopify, as it offers you dozens of options to choose from, so you’re certain to find a combination that suits you and your business.
Now, let’s take a look at some drawbacks…
Con #1 – Customization is Limited Without Help
If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for from among the templated options you find, it’s going to be necessary to pay for some customization expertise. Try this on your own without prior training, and there’s a very good chance you’ll cause yourself problems.
Con #2 – It Can Work Out Expensive
When you start off with a basic Shopify store, the costs are nice and low. However, as you might expect, the more complicated your store is in terms of features, the more you’re going to pay to a) have the customizations added and b) have those customizations maintained. It adds up.
Con #3 – Transaction Fees
Something else that some people don’t understand about Shopify is that they charge you a fee for what you sell from their platform. Basic Shopify charges 2% of each transaction, 1% with standard Shopify and half that with Advanced Shopify. It’s an important fact to note, as it can mean having to pay a lot of money out – depending on the value of what you’re selling.
The Choice You Make Is Ultimately Yours
Is Shopify a platform that suits every business? No. Is it one of the best options for eCommerce store owners? Absolutely. However, even then, the decision on which website option to take is your own, accounting for all of your business needs and objectives.
However, Shopify is popular for a reason. It’s really easy to use (most of the time) and comes with a bunch of features. It can still cost you a packet, but so can improve your own website, so ultimately, you have to weigh up the pros and cons to get to your answer.
