Category: College of Business

Introduction:

If you want to sell things online, you have two main options:

1. E-Commerce Platforms (Shopify)

What it is: These are websites made just for running online stores, like Shopify or Magento.

Pros:

• Easy to use: These platforms are made to sell things, so everything you need (like payments, shipping, and products) is already built-in.
• No worries about security: They handle the tech stuff like keeping your store safe.
• Good customer support: If something goes wrong, they have help available 24/7.

Cons:

• Costs money: You have to pay monthly fees, and sometimes extra for features you want.
• Limited customization: You can’t change things as much as you might want.

2. WordPress-Embedded E-Commerce

What it is: This lets you add a store to your existing WordPress website using a plugin like WooCommerce.

Pros:

• Cheaper: WordPress is free, and WooCommerce is also free to start with.
• Customizable: You can change your store however you want and add more features as needed.
• Easy to manage: If you already use WordPress, it’s simple to add a store to the same site.

Cons:

• You do the work: You’ll need to handle hosting, security, and updates yourself.
• Can get tricky: If your store grows big, you might need extra help to keep it running smoothly.

Conclusion:

• If you want a simple, ready-to-go store with support, Shopify or Magento is a good choice.
• If you already use WordPress and want to save money or have more control, WooCommerce (or another WordPress plugin) is a great option.

Both are good, depending on what you need!