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When starting an online store the most important thing that will determine how successfully you will be able to run it is the platform you choose. From a customer’s point of view an online store should be user friendly and up to date. It should have easy check out and shipping features and easy payment options as well. From an administrators point of view the online store should have a simple administrative panel, which will enable them to edit and manage the store easily.

With so many ecommerce platforms available in the market it is very difficult for a person to choose the best. But if you make a list of your requirements and conduct deep research of the services available you will be able to find the right platform for your e-store. Make one thing very clear in your mind - going for an expensive platform or CMS will not necessarily bring you success. It might even turn out to be the reason for your failure.

There are a few things one must consider when choosing an ecommerce platform or CMS for their online stores. They are the following:

1.Security:

First off, the most important thing is the security of the store. Choose a platform which offers a certified shopping cart. Usually platforms offer 256 bit SSL security which is the highest security certification in the market. This is generally a standard for all online stores which involve credit card or PayPal transactions. If your store is running without security or a certified platform, you will be putting yourself and your customers in danger of scams and may lead to fines by online authority.

2.Accessibility:

The platform should allow 24 hour accessibility to the store and to the administration panel. The administrator should be able to make changes to the store any time he/she feels necessary. The customers should be able to make a purchase at anytime they see fit.

3.Scalability:

Your platform should have the flexibility to allow plugins and add on features. If in the future you decide to add or remove a feature you should be able to do it without a major fuss.

4.SEO Friendly:

The platform your use should be SEO friendly in order to promote your store. This will help your store climb up the search engine ratings and become easier for users to find. With the right service you will soon be getting heavy traffic.

5.Stability:

In business time is money, so you can’t afford for your store to be down for even a minute. The platform you choose should be reliable even in case of failures; it should have a backup server which should start if the primary server fails.

6.Third Party Integration:

The platform should support addition of other software to the existing system. Examples of other software are trackers, email marketing tools, and social networking sites.

7.Easy Checkout:

Users should be provided with an easy checkout. If possible the owner can take advantage of the one page checkout facility.

8.Shipping System:

The platform should allow the integration of local postage services. It will allow the customers to find the cost for different type of shipping services remaining on the page.

9.Currency Conversion:

These days almost all platforms come with a currency conversion system. This allows international customers to calculate the cost in their own currency.

10.Support:

Choosing a platform which has a support unit will be a definite advantage. You can get support through telephone, email, chat and various other facilities.

Written by Richard who is a Magento developer, a famous eCommerce software platform. He helps business owners to successfully set up and run their business online. If you want to contribute your writings to this blog then check the guest posting guidelines