{"id":28923,"date":"2022-02-02T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T01:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.oom.com.sg\/?p=28923"},"modified":"2023-03-08T11:38:13","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T03:38:13","slug":"ecommerce-platform-vs-marketplace-which-is-better-for-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.oom.com.sg\/ecommerce-platform-vs-marketplace-which-is-better-for-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecommerce Platform Vs Marketplace: Which Is Better For Small Businesses?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Singapore is one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of ecommerce. Many changes in 2021 have impacted the ecommerce and <\/span>digital marketing<\/span> industry, paving the way for business owners to shift from physical to online retailing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Digital transformation has become\u00a0 more widespread than ever for the past two years, and it is not surprising. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the way enterprises conduct operations. As a result, many businesses have decided to transform digitally through digital channels such as <\/span>ecommerce<\/span> and digital strategies, including <\/span>SEO,<\/span> to increase their profits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Online sales have skyrocketed. Many consumers prefer to buy their products online since it is safer and more convenient. According to <\/span>Straits Times<\/span><\/a>, 74% of consumers have purchased more since the Covid-19 began. This shift in customer behaviour is an opportunity for small businesses to grow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you want to ensure your business and income will not be adversely affected by the changes in regulations, perhaps ecommerce is the ideal solution for that. Here is why ecommerce is beneficial for small businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Importance of Ecommerce For Small Businesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Out of all the different enterprises and companies, <\/span>small businesses have suffered the most<\/span><\/a> because of the pandemic. Even though the current economy is already improving, you cannot deny the negative impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has left on small businesses. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Small businesses can rely on <\/span>ecommerce<\/span> and <\/span>SEO<\/span> strategies in <\/span>Singapore<\/span> to sustain their needs and increase profits. By setting up an online business, you can:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Ecommerce<\/p>\n

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Moreover, owning a physical storefront is expensive. Aside from paying for your establishment, you also have to consider your employees\u2019 salaries and benefits, electricity bills, inventory, and space. With ecommerce, there is no need to worry about all of that. If you decide to transform your small business digitally to ecommerce, you can reduce your operational costs. There is also less risk involved by starting a business online, so it is a good way for new entrants to test the market.<\/span><\/p>\n

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ALSO READ: <\/b>16 Top Ecommerce Marketing Trends In Singapore for 2022<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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When it comes to running an online business, you have two choices: <\/span>selling on an online marketplace or an ecommerce platform<\/span>\u00a0 Both of these choices are slightly different from each other and offer unique pros and cons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out the advantages and disadvantages of using an <\/span>ecommerce platform<\/span> and <\/span>online marketplace<\/span> to know which one is best for your small business.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Is An Ecommerce Platform?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

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An <\/span>ecommerce platform in Singapore<\/span> is a solution that provides online retailers with various tools and options for managing their business. Because of its wide range of features, using an <\/span>ecommerce platform<\/span> is a highly recommended choice for running an online business. Small business owners can either use it as an extended part of their physical storefront or conduct their entire operations online.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why is it a good idea to utilise an <\/span><\/i>ecommerce platform<\/span><\/i> for your small business?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Managing an online business may be difficult if you do not use the correct ecommerce platform. If this is the situation for your online store, find an ecommerce platform with simple web design and features that will make managing your business operations easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

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LEARN MORE:<\/b> 14 Essential Web Design Features In Your Ecommerce Website<\/span><\/p>\n

You can choose from a variety of ecommerce platforms to build your ecommerce website, all of which offer unique features. Here are some of the most popular ecommerce platforms that you can use to manage your online business and increase your search engine rankings with <\/span>ecommerce SEO.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Examples Of Ecommerce Platforms<\/strong><\/h3>\n

WooCommerce<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"WooCommerce\"<\/p>\n

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If you are already using WordPress, perhaps you might want to choose <\/span>WooCommerce<\/span><\/a> as your <\/span>ecommerce platform<\/span>. WooCommerce started as a plugin for WordPress in 2011. It quickly became a fan-favourite platform for online retailers due to its selection of customisation options.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The best part is that WooCommerce is free to use.aYou can pick any WordPress theme to display an unlimited number of products and items on your website. You can also optimise your ecommerce website to rank higher on search results and improve your web visibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Furthermore, WooCommerce boasts hundreds of extensions and thousands of plugins. These give you the freedom to personalise your website and represent your brand image in the most suitable way possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you are interested in using WooCommerce as your ecommerce platform, here are its pros and cons:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shopify<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\"Shopify\"<\/p>\n

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Founded in 2006, Shopify is now one of the world\u2019s leading ecommerce platforms. Currently, it has more than 3.8<\/span>8 million live websites running on Shopify<\/span><\/a>, which is a testament to the brand\u2019s reputation when it comes to ecommerce.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shopify is a standalone <\/span>ecommerce platform<\/span> with a wide range of features including social media integrations, reporting, analytics, and <\/span>ecommerce SEO<\/span><\/a>. Its simplicity of usage makes Shopify a great starting point for beginners who wish to dive into ecommerce. Shopify also offers countless beautiful themes that let you customise your website in any way you want.<\/span><\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/b> A Guide To Using Shopify In Singapore<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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In summary, the pros and cons of using Shopify as your ecommerce platform are:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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BigCommerce<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\"BigCommerce\"<\/p>\n

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BigCommerce<\/span><\/a> provides online retailers with efficient software solutions, including store creation, <\/span>SEO<\/span>, and cybersecurity. You can set up an online store and sell your products without worrying about web hosting since BigCommerce runs its servers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Also, BigCommerce is a software as a service (SaaS) platform, meaning you cannot own the software. Instead, you must pay a monthly subscription to use BigCommerce. Listed below are the prices of the plans the <\/span>ecommerce platform<\/span> is offering.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"bigcommerce-pricing\"<\/p>\n

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Nonetheless, BigCommerce is perfect for both beginners and tech-savvy experts. You can contact their customer support if you need help building your online store.<\/span><\/p>\n

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LEARN MORE:<\/b> SaaS eCommerce Platforms: Are They Suitable For Your Online Business?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Here are the pros and cons of BigCommerce:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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Squarespace<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\"Squarespace\"<\/p>\n

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Squarespace was founded in 2003 at the University of Maryland, and since then, the company has grown to more than a thousand professionals. This award-winning company offers some of the best website building and blogging tools on the market. With their help, you can also build a mobile-friendly online store.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choosing <\/span>Squarespace<\/span><\/a> for your online store is a wise choice. For approximately S$55 a month, you can build an advanced online store, complete with the best ecommerce features.\u00a0 Other than that, Squarespace is easy to use.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Artboard<\/p>\n

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Wix<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\"Wix\"<\/p>\n

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Building a unique online presence is challenging, especially if you lack the necessary tools. The good news is that WiX has almost everything you need to create your very own online store in any way you want. From blogging and online bookings to designer-made templates and custom domains, you can get the complete package by using WiX for ecommerce.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The best part is Wix is SEO-friendly. You can edit your pages\u2019 title tags and meta descriptions to ensure customers discover your products on search results easily. WiX even offers a dashboard that lets you manage your Google My Business (GMB) profile so you can improve your online presence locally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here are the pros and cons of this <\/span>ecommerce platform<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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The Pros And Cons Of Ecommerce Platforms<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\"Pros<\/p>\n

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Pro #1: You Have Full Control Over Your Ecommerce Website<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Everything is under your control. You can customise and optimise your <\/span>ecommerce<\/span> website for <\/span>SEO in Singapore<\/span><\/a> in any way that is best for your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Having a variety of options is essential for running a thriving ecommerce business. For example, one of the many objectives of customising your online store is to improve user experience, which will in turn lead to an increase in conversion rate and website dwell time, as well as reduction in bounce rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Furthermore, with total control over your ecommerce website, you can build an online store that is truly unique and different compared to other ecommerce websites. You can focus on building your brand identity to establish your credibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pro #2: There Is No Competition On The Same Platform<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Your ecommerce platform is only yours to use. That means no one else can sell on your website. Use this to your advantage by showcasing your best products without competing against other sellers on your online store. Focus on increasing your search engine rankings through <\/span>SEO<\/span> so potential customers can visit your website.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pro #3: Use Built-In Payment Systems<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Most ecommerce platforms have built-in payment systems that allow you to manage your customers\u2019 transactions. Depending on your platform of choice, you can select from various payment options, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n