The future and survival of businesses is online. Every business owner wants to launch their businesses online to increase sales. Many users find it difficult to choose an eCommerce platform. It’s so overwhelming to have many website options to choose from and especially if you don’t know what to look for when weighing options.
Whether to buy or sell products or services, you’re probably here to learn and assess different online store builders.
So before selecting an online store builder in Kenya, there are a few things you need to note.
- Each online store builder is known for certain types of business
- There are startup online store builders which are unsophisticated
- Some online stores restrict the number of products
- Each online store has some unique features and benefits
- Some platforms are not compatible with growing business
- Different pricing on every platform
- Some online stores require technical skills
Now that we know things to consider first, the following are some questions to guide you to narrow down your suitable choice.
- What is your budget? Always choose the website that is most affordable for your business.
- What kind of online store builder do you want?
- What kind of features and tools can it offer? The best online store builder will have all the features and tools you need.
- Does the online store builder require tech-savvy? When choosing an online store builder always choose one that is easy to use.
- Does it have a great support system? You must choose the online store builder with support options available. It also needs to have a dedicated customer support team available 24/7.
- Can I link my website and social media? Always choose the website builder that allows you to integrate your website and social media pages. This gives you an advantage in communicating with your clients.
An online store is a great way to run a business and the most convenient way to reach your target audience and clients, hence the need to have an online store builder.
Benefits of online store builders in Kenya.
a). Value for money
Creating an online store builder for your business is very affordable. There is a website builder that you can get started with no fee at all. You only pay to add more features.
b). Ease of use
Online store builders are simple to use. You don’t need knowledge of web development.
c). Numerous features
Online store builders in Kenya have numerous features that you can use to customize your site the way you want.
d). Website features
It comes with tons of features that will allow you to customize your site to look exactly as you want it to look.
e). It makes your site look professional
It doesn’t require you to be a tech expert when it comes to coding and programming.
f). Social media integration
You can link to your website and social media. When people search your business, both your website and social media pages will show up and this might make potential customers visit your site
7 Best Online Store Builders in Kenya
We have analyzed several online store builders and listed the best in Kenya. This article will help you select the most suitable for your business.
#1. OLITT
Olitt is a website drag and drop builder platform that is very simple to use. It provides free hosting for websites and online stores.
It is the most convenient online store builder in Kenya for entrepreneurs and startups because it is user-friendly. It has various templates with extra free features to build your site quickly and easily.
The templates allow you to design your site to look exactly as you want it to be. It has an option to link your website and social media.
The best thing about Olitt is that it allows custom domain connection on its free plan, unlike other platforms.
#2. SHOPIFY
Shopify is the best eCommerce platform for creating websites, customizing, and managing online stores.
It has certified partners who offer support 24/7 in case you have troubleshooting issues.
Shopify is built to scale with you. Whether small or large business, you’ll be able to access technology and features to create your site.
It can handle large inventory. It integrates with social media and also integrates with many payment options.
However, many of Shopify’s features and benefits cost a dime. It has three pricing plans with the basic plan starting from $29 per month.
#3. BIG CARTEL
Big Cartel is a web-based eCommerce platform suitable for small businesses and individuals.
Just like Shopify, Big cartel allows users to create an online retail store with features. It provides both free packages and premium plans.
The big cartel online store builder in Kenya doesn’t charge transaction fees; you only pay processing fees from PayPal or stripe. However, it limits the number of products you can add to your online store.
#4. WEEBLY
Weebly is a web hosting service suitable for websites that want to stay small.
It is beginner-friendly, provides step-by-step guidance, it has a free plan and a fordable premium package. Weebly comes with a great app store meaning you can add extra tools to your site.
These Weebly apps expand the functionality of your website.
Weebly comes with useful SEO and marketing tools. The only problem with using the free plan is a limitation, you only get 6 pages and you cannot change the layout at all.
#5. SHIFT4SHOP
Shift4shop, which was formerly 3d Cart, is an eCommerce online store builder offering tons of features at a flexible pricing system.
Compared to other platforms, 3D Cart doesn’t require credit card details to get started. It is an ideal choice for an eCommerce store that wants to get off the ground and would like to scale its operations.
3D Cart offers support where clients can call or contact the help desk via email or a chat service. Most of 3D Cart’s themes are mobile compatible.
#6. SQUARE ONLINE
Square Online Is an easy-to-use affordable eCommerce website builder designed and targeted primarily at restaurants.
It has great features at reasonable prices but doesn’t offer a large library of templates.
Square Online allows you to sell both online and in-person by syncing the inventory. It has various ready-to-use templates and doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy to build a website. It is not ideal for big firms with huge transactions.
#7. ECWID
Ecwid is a SaaS tool for building your online store. It integrates seamlessly into the existing website without any coding. It also has a built-in capacity to sell on social sites and market place.
The best thing about Ecwid is that it has a forever-free plan, but you can only add up to 10 items.
However, it has premium packages that allow you to add more than 10 items.
And the level of customer support you get from Ecwid depends on the type of plan you are using. The free version doesn’t allow access to any of the SEO features.
Final Thoughts
Some online store builders in Kenya have a lot of features that you can use to customize your site. They are easy to use and provide great value for money. The best thing about them is their flexibility and the ability to integrate social media and mobile apps.
It is important to consider that each online store builder has its own benefits and disadvantages, so it is always good to look into the options available before making any final choice on the best online store builder in Kenya.
The best way to choose an online store builder in Kenya is by trial and error. Use as many platforms as possible, try all their features, see how they work with your business, then make a decision based on what suits your business goals best.
