How to Choose the Perfect Shopping Cart for Your Online Store
As an ecommerce business owner, selecting the right shopping cart platform is one of the most important decisions you will make. The shopping cart you choose will shape your customers’ experience on your website and impact your business operations and success. With so many options on the market, determining the solution that is the best fit for your unique needs can be an overwhelming process. However, by evaluating your business requirements, assessing the pros and cons of different carts, and testing platforms, you can find an option tailored to your company. This guide will walk you through the key factors to consider to help you choose a shopping cart that will support your online store’s growth and set you up for long term success. Click Here
What to Look for in an Online Shopping Cart
To choose an online shopping cart that will meet the needs of your business, there are several factors to consider:
Features and Integrations
The features and integrations offered by the shopping cart platform are important to evaluate. Look for a cart that provides the core features you need to operate your store, such as a product catalog, checkout process, payment processing, and order management. Also consider what third-party integrations are available, e.g. shipping, accounting, email marketing, etc. The more integrations offered, the more you can scale and automate your business.
Ease of Use
A shopping cart that is intuitive and easy to use will save you time and frustration. Look for a cart with a simple, clean interface that allows you to quickly add products, update listings, process orders, and run reports. Consider how much technical skill is required to set up and maintain the cart. If you lack technical resources, choose a cart that is easy for non-developers to work with.
Reliability and Security
Your customers expect a trusted and secure shopping experience. Choose a cart that utilizes SSL encryption and PCI compliant payment processing to protect sensitive customer data. Examine the uptime and load capacity to ensure the cart can handle traffic surges without interrupting service. Reliable and secure carts will instill confidence in your customers and safeguard your business.
Cost
Shopping cart pricing varies widely depending on the features and capabilities. You’ll need to determine a budget and find a cart that provides good value for the money. Consider one-time setup fees as well as ongoing monthly subscription or transaction fees. Look for a cart with a pricing model that suits a business of your size. Some carts charge higher fees for more advanced features, so make sure you only pay for what you need.
Support
Good support is essential when launching and maintaining an online store. Evaluate what support options are offered with each shopping cart, e.g. phone, email, live chat, video tutorials. Look for 24/7 support availability as well as a knowledge base with helpful documentation. Support can help get your store up and running as well as address any issues that arise.
Standalone Shopping Carts: Pros and Cons
When choosing a shopping cart for your online store, you have two main options: standalone shopping carts or integrated shopping carts. Both have advantages and disadvantages to consider based on your business needs and technical skills.
Standalone Shopping Carts: Pros and Cons
Standalone shopping carts are separate pieces of software you integrate into your website. Some well-known standalone options include Shopify, BigCommerce, and Volusion.
Pros:
- More control and flexibility. You have full control over the look, features, and functionality. You can customize it to match your brand.
- Typically easier to set up. The carts are designed for non-technical users. The setup process is usually very intuitive.
- Often more affordable. Standalone carts usually charge a monthly fee based on the number of products. The fees are often lower than integrated cart options.
Cons:
- Requires technical skills to integrate. You’ll need to have some web development knowledge to properly integrate the cart into your site. If not, you’ll need to hire a web developer.
- Limited design options. Although customizable, the options are more limited than building a custom cart from scratch. The templates may not match your desired look and feel.
- Additional fees for advanced features. Many carts charge extra for things like shipping integration, abandoned cart recovery, and product reviews. The costs can add up quickly.
- May require switching platforms if you outgrow it. If your business takes off and you need more advanced features, you’ll have to migrate to a new cart and re-integrate it into your site.
In summary, standalone shopping carts can be an easy, affordable way to start selling online, especially if you have limited technical skills or budget. However, you may find their functionality and design options limiting as your business grows. Conducting thorough research on different carts and their features can help you determine if a standalone cart meets your current and future ecommerce needs.
Key Shopping Cart Features You Can’t Live Without
When choosing an online shopping cart for your e-commerce store, certain features are essential. The right cart will provide a seamless customer experience and the tools you need to operate efficiently.
Payment Processing
A shopping cart must integrate with a payment gateway to accept customer payments. Look for carts that offer a choice of major payment processors, such as PayPal, Stripe or Braintree, so you can choose the right option for your business. The ability to accept multiple payment methods, including major credit cards as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, is ideal.
Order Management
Managing incoming orders is key to running an online store. An effective cart will provide tools to view, update and fulfill orders with ease. Features like filtering or searching orders by date, customer or product can save time. The option to print packing slips, invoices and shipping labels directly from the cart is useful. APIs that integrate with shipping carriers to calculate rates and print labels improve the fulfillment process.
Products & Inventory
A full-featured cart gives you control over your product catalog and inventory. You’ll want the ability to add images, descriptions, prices and SKUs for each product. Inventory management tools like low stock alerts, the option to set reorder points, and APIs to integrate with suppliers are helpful, especially for stores with a large number of SKUs. The option to upload products in bulk using spreadsheets can save time.
Customer Experience
Don’t underestimate the importance of the customer experience. A cart with features like saved customer profiles, order histories, product reviews and ratings, recommendations, and loyalty programs will keep shoppers engaged and encourage repeat purchases. Options for discounts, coupons, gift cards, and affiliate programs also enhance the customer experience.
Reporting & Analytics
Access to data about sales, customers, traffic, and more allows you to optimize your business. Look for a cart with built-in reports on metrics such as conversion rates, average order values, top selling products, and sales by channel. The option to export reports for further analysis is useful. APIs that integrate with third-party analytics tools provide even more insight.
Choosing a shopping cart with features that meet both your operational needs as well as your customers’ expectations is key to success. Carefully evaluate different solutions to find one with the capabilities to support your business now and in the future. With the right cart in place, you’ll be equipped to provide a great shopping experience and efficiently manage your online store.
Optimizing Your Shopping Cart for Conversions
To optimize your online store’s shopping cart for the highest conversion rates, there are several key factors to consider:
Clear Product Information
Shoppers want details about what they’re buying. Provide high-quality product images, thorough descriptions, specifications and attributes for each item. This allows customers to evaluate items and make informed buying decisions, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.
Streamlined Checkout
A long, complicated checkout process results in abandoned carts. Simplify checkout by requiring as little information as possible. Offer guest checkout and save information for repeat customers. Allow shoppers to checkout using digital wallets like PayPal to bypass entering payment and shipping details. Fewer fields and a minimal number of clicks will convert more customers.
Trust Indicators
Help shoppers feel secure by prominently displaying trust logos, security certifications and guarantees on your site. Offering free returns, live support chat and secure payment processing also builds trust. When customers feel confident in a store’s security and policies, they are more willing to complete a purchase.
Promotions and Discounts
Running sales, coupons and promotions gives shoppers an incentive to buy and increases conversion rates. Offer first-time customer discounts, bulk discounts on multiple items, free shipping over a minimum order amount, or promo codes for newsletter subscribers. Timed sales also create a sense of urgency that motivates shoppers to checkout before the promotion ends.
An optimized shopping cart, combined with a seamless buying experience, inspires shopper confidence and motivates customers to complete their purchases. By providing the information, ease of use and incentives shoppers need, you’ll boost conversions and see more carts become sales. Small changes can have a big impact on your bottom line.
Conclusion
Choosing the right shopping cart is a crucial decision that will shape your business for years to come. Do your research, determine your key priorities, and evaluate the options thoroughly. As you review the available offerings, keep your business goals and target customer in mind. Select a solution with the features you need to provide an exceptional experience for your shoppers. With the ideal shopping cart powering your online store, you’ll be set up for success and ready to start serving your customers and growing your business. The perfect shopping cart for your needs is out there—you just have to find it. With time and effort, you’ll choose a solution to help your business thrive.