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Starting an e-commerce venture in the Philippines or anywhere else is no small feat. From conceptualizing the brand and sourcing products to managing inventories and customer relations, every component plays a critical role in the business's overall performance. One crucial yet often overlooked aspect entrepreneurs should consider is their choice of the right website builder. A poorly chosen platform can be the Achilles' heel that undoes all your hard work, be it through a confusing user interface, high transaction fees, or lack of customization options.
The decision becomes even more crucial when you consider how rapidly the e-commerce landscape evolves nowadays. Now that the industry is bigger than ever, online sales have become a major revenue stream even for businesses that continue to operate brick-and-mortar stores. Thus, picking the right platform can spell the difference between a store that sinks and one that sails.
If you’re still in the process of choosing a website builder for your e-commerce site, there are many reasons to consider Shopify. While a paid platform, this popular option offers both ease of use and a rich array of features designed to make your online business a success. Let’s look at some of the most compelling advantages it offers online entrepreneurs below:
Easy to Set Up and Use
The fast-paced, competitive nature of the e-commerce world means that you’ll need your store up and running at top speed if you want to succeed. Shopify understands these conditions and provides a platform that enables you to go live in a remarkably short period. A user-friendly dashboard and an intuitive interface allow even those with limited technical knowledge to build a professional-looking e-commerce store quickly. A range of customizable themes and templates also means you can have a store that reflects your brand's unique identity without having to hire an expensive designer or developer.
But you’ll want to be speedy about much more than the initial setup; running an e-commerce business requires constant monitoring and management. Thankfully, Shopify makes this easy too. The platform's straightforwardly designed admin panel makes tasks like adding products, setting up a Shopify payment gateway, and managing orders simple and quick. Its easily navigable menus minimize confusion and allow you to focus on what matters most—growing your business.
Multiple Payment Gateways
Accepting a diverse range of payment methods can significantly affect your store’s reach and customer experience. There are many more ways to pay for purchases these days than traditional cash or credit, and different customers will all have their own preferred methods. Allowing your customers to pay in the ways they find most convenient is thus a surefire way to strike up a positive impression and keep them coming back for more.
This becomes even more relevant in the Philippine market, where customers typically favor a blend of traditional and modern payment methods. While some prefer using credit cards, a significant demographic now relies on e-wallets or direct bank transfers. A significant portion also still prefer paying via cash on delivery, as it doesn’t require the buyer to share any personal or financial information online. Catering to these diverse preferences is essential for a broad market appeal.
To capture this wide-ranging customer preferences, there’s one third-party payment gateway Shopify users in the Philippines depend upon over other alternatives. Maya Checkout, an online payment solution developed by Maya Business, is a payment gateway that is designed specifically for the Philippine market and integrates seamlessly with Shopify via a simple plugin. Using this payment gateway, Shopify users can accept every form of digital payment currently available in the Philippines, from traditional credit and debit card transactions to QR Ph and e-wallet payments. The platform is also equipped with state-of-the-art security features, providing 24/7 fraud protection and guaranteeing a secure shopping experience for your customers.
Ultimately, it’s not difficult to see how Maya Checkout has become the Shopify payment gateway Philippines’ businesses depend on to optimize their payment processes. By offering such a comprehensive range of payment methods and security features, Maya Checkout not only enhances the customer experience but also synergizes with Shopify's existing payment ecosystem.
Multi-Channel Selling
The highly interconnected nature of the digital landscape means you don’t have to—and in fact shouldn’t—depend solely on your online store. Consumers now shop across multiple platforms and social media channels, and your presence in the places they favor most is critical if you’re aiming to maximize possible sales.
Shopify can help you tap into this flurry of activity with multi-channel selling. In just a few clicks, you can integrate your Shopify store with popular social media sites or other e-commerce platforms. You’ll also be able to manage all your activities on these channels from one centralized dashboard, making it easier than ever to reach potential customers wherever they spend their time online.
Flexible and Scalable
Flexibility is an often undervalued asset in e-commerce platforms, yet it’s crucial for businesses at every stage. Shopify is designed to cater to a broad range of needs, offering plans from basic setups for new stores to advanced plans for enterprises. Its app marketplace is rich with third-party apps and plugins, allowing you to add functionality to your store easily. Need a more effective email marketing solution or a more robust analytics tool? Chances are, you'll find it in the Shopify marketplace.
Scalability is another factor to consider, especially for businesses with ambitious growth plans. Shopify's architecture can handle increases in traffic and transactions effortlessly, ensuring your website remains fast and responsive even during peak sales periods. If you started with a basic plan, upgrading is hassle-free. Shopify's different pricing tiers are designed to provide more advanced features as your needs evolve, allowing your e-commerce platform to grow alongside your business.
Transparent Pricing
Let's face it: Nobody likes hidden costs or surprises when it comes to billing. Transparency in pricing is critical for business planning and financial forecasting. Shopify excels in this aspect, offering clearly defined pricing plans that outline the features and services included. There are no hidden charges or complicated pricing structures. Whether you’re a small business looking to take your first step into the online marketplace or a larger entity ready for an enterprise-level solution, Shopify provides upfront pricing that lets you know exactly what you’re getting for your investment.
Maximize Your Shopify Store’s Capabilities with Maya Business
If you choose to operate an e-commerce store out of Shopify, Maya Business can help you stand out and outpace your competitors. Create a Maya Business Manager account to access a broad array of business banking, payment, and cash flow solutions that can help drive your sales to greater heights.
Opening an account with Maya Business also grants you access to exclusive promos like the Maya 1-2-3 Grow bundle, an unbeatable three-in-one offer that enables new businesses to hit the ground running. To start with, an immediate 1% merchant discount rate on all QR Ph transactions for three months after your initial onboarding will give you the chance to grow your savings substantially. You’ll also receive a generous 2.5% p.a. interest rate on your Maya Business Deposit account should you choose to set it as your company’s settlement account. Lastly, within your first three months of signing, you’ll be entitled to a Maya Flexi Loan offer of up to PHP 2 million in additional capital for your business. Sign on with Maya Business today and you’ll enjoy all these perks and more!
