What is BigCommerce?

Understanding BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a fully hosted e-commerce platform. What does that mean, exactly? It means BigCommerce provides all the software and infrastructure you need to run your online store. You don’t have to worry about finding a web host, installing software, or managing server updates. BigCommerce handles all of that for you. This lets you focus on what’s most important: growing your business.

BigCommerce is designed to scale. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, BigCommerce can likely handle your needs. It offers a range of plans with different features and pricing, so you can choose the one that best fits your current stage of growth and your future ambitions.

Key Features of BigCommerce

BigCommerce comes packed with features to help you build and manage a successful online store. Let’s dive into some of the most important ones.

Storefront Design

Your online store’s design is crucial. It’s the first impression many customers will have of your brand. BigCommerce offers a variety of customizable themes. You can use their design tools to create a unique and professional-looking storefront.

• Themes: Choose from a selection of responsive themes. These themes adapt to different screen sizes, so your store will look great on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Customization: BigCommerce’s customization options let you change colors, fonts, layouts, and more. You can tailor your store’s appearance to match your brand identity.
• Page Builder: Some BigCommerce themes include a drag-and-drop page builder. This feature makes it easy to create custom pages without needing to write code.

Product Management

Adding and managing products is a core part of running an online store. BigCommerce provides tools to streamline this process.

• Inventory Management: Keep track of your stock levels, so you know when it’s time to reorder. BigCommerce can also help you manage product variations, such as size and color.
• Product Organization: Organize your products into categories and subcategories. This helps customers find what they’re looking for.
• Bulk Editing: If you have a large number of products, you can use bulk editing tools to make changes quickly. This can save you a lot of time.
• Digital Products: BigCommerce supports the sale of digital products, like ebooks and software.

Order Management

Efficiently managing orders is essential for customer satisfaction. BigCommerce provides tools to help you process orders, track shipments, and handle returns.

• Order Processing: BigCommerce simplifies the order processing workflow. You can view order details, update order statuses, and print packing slips.
• Shipping Integration: BigCommerce integrates with major shipping carriers. This lets you calculate shipping costs and track shipments.
• Returns Management: Handle returns and refunds efficiently. This is crucial for building customer trust.

Marketing Tools

Driving traffic to your online store is key to generating sales. BigCommerce offers a range of built-in marketing tools.

• SEO Tools: BigCommerce includes features to help you optimize your store for search engines. This can improve your store’s visibility in search results.
• Email Marketing: Connect with your customers through email marketing. BigCommerce integrates with popular email marketing services.
• Promotions and Discounts: Create coupons, discounts, and other promotions to encourage purchases.
• Social Media Integration: Connect your store with social media platforms to reach a wider audience.

Payment Gateways

Offering a variety of payment options is important. BigCommerce integrates with many popular payment gateways.

• Payment Options: Accept credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and other payment methods.
• Security: BigCommerce prioritizes security. They use secure payment gateways to protect your customers’ financial information.

Shipping Options

Shipping can be complex, but BigCommerce aims to simplify it.

• Real-Time Shipping Quotes: Provide customers with accurate shipping costs at checkout.
• Shipping Carriers: Integrate with major shipping carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS.
• Shipping Rules: Set up shipping rules based on factors like product weight, destination, and order total.

Analytics and Reporting

Tracking your store’s performance is crucial for making informed decisions. BigCommerce provides analytics and reporting tools.

• Sales Reports: Monitor your sales trends, track revenue, and identify top-selling products.
• Customer Reports: Gain insights into customer behavior, such as purchase patterns and demographics.
• Marketing Reports: Measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce offers several pricing plans. These plans cater to different business sizes and needs. Generally, the plans vary in terms of:

• Sales Volume: The amount of online sales you can process per year.
• Features: Access to advanced features like customer segmentation and abandoned cart recovery.
• Support: The level of support provided.

It’s important to carefully review the pricing plans on the BigCommerce website to determine which one is the best fit for your business.

BigCommerce: Pros and Cons

Like any platform, BigCommerce has its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s weigh the pros and cons.

Pros

• Scalability: BigCommerce can grow with your business.
• Feature-Rich: It offers a wide range of built-in features.
• Fully Hosted: BigCommerce handles the technical aspects of running your store.
• Strong SEO Tools: It provides tools to help you optimize your store for search engines.
• Multi-Channel Selling: You can sell on multiple platforms, such as Amazon and eBay.

Cons

• Pricing: BigCommerce can be more expensive than some other platforms, especially as your sales grow.
• Complexity: The wide range of features can be overwhelming for beginners.
• Limited Free Themes: While there are free themes, the selection isn’t as extensive as on some other platforms.

Who is BigCommerce For?

BigCommerce is a good fit for businesses that:

• Are experiencing rapid growth and need a scalable solution.
• Require advanced features, such as multi-channel selling and customer segmentation.
• Prefer a fully hosted platform and don’t want to manage the technical aspects of their store.
• Have the budget to invest in a robust e-commerce platform.

Getting Started with BigCommerce

Ready to get started with BigCommerce? Here’s a basic overview of the process.

Setting Up Your Store

1. Sign Up: Create a BigCommerce account and choose a pricing plan.
2. Store Name: Choose a name for your online store.
3. Initial Setup: Follow the prompts to set up your store’s basic settings, such as currency and location.

Customizing Your Storefront

1. Choose a Theme: Select a theme that matches your brand.
2. Customize the Design: Use the design tools to change colors, fonts, and layouts.
3. Add Your Logo: Upload your brand’s logo.
4. Create Pages: Add essential pages like “About Us,” “Contact Us,” and “Privacy Policy.”

Adding Products

1. Add Products: Enter product details, such as name, description, price, and images.
2. Organize Products: Categorize your products to make them easy to find.
3. Manage Inventory: Track your stock levels.

Configuring Payment and Shipping

1. Set Up Payment Gateway: Choose and connect a payment gateway.
2. Configure Shipping: Set up shipping options, carriers, and rates.
3. Set Up Taxes: Configure tax settings to comply with regulations.

BigCommerce Alternatives

While BigCommerce is a strong platform, it’s not the only option. Here are a few alternatives:

• Shopify: A popular platform known for its ease of use.
• WooCommerce: A WordPress plugin that turns your website into an online store.
• Squarespace: A website builder that also offers e-commerce functionality.

Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. The best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities.

Tips for Success with BigCommerce

Here are some tips to help you succeed with BigCommerce:

• Invest in Good Design: A professional-looking store builds trust and encourages sales.
• Optimize for Mobile: Make sure your store is mobile-friendly.
• Focus on SEO: Optimize your product pages and content for search engines.
• Provide Excellent Customer Service: Respond to customer questions quickly and solve problems efficiently.
• Use Analytics to Track Performance: Monitor your store’s metrics and make data-driven decisions.
• Market Your Store: Use a mix of marketing channels to drive traffic and sales.

Conclusion

BigCommerce is a powerful e-commerce platform that offers a comprehensive set of features. It’s a scalable solution that’s suitable for businesses of all sizes. While it may not be the cheapest option, its robust functionality and fully hosted nature can be a significant advantage. If you’re looking for a platform that can grow with your business and handle the complexities of online selling, BigCommerce is worth considering.