How to understand that it's time to create an online store

You've probably heard that creating an online store is a serious investment. And it's true. Development, design, platform, integrations - all this takes time and money. But doesn't a great business start with smart decisions?

Social networks and marketplaces often become a launching pad for entrepreneurs. They allow you to quickly enter the market and test your offer. However, later many people encounter the limitations of such platforms. Below we will analyze the pros and cons of each tool.

Social networks: a launching pad, but not the finish line

Social networks have long become an integral part of modern business. For many entrepreneurs, they are the first platform for starting sales, because creating a page or launching advertising seems like a simple and affordable solution.

At first glance, everything seems ideal: a quick start, direct contact with customers, the ability to respond to inquiries quickly. On social networks, you can easily talk about the product, publish beautiful photos and immediately receive the first orders. This is a great way to test your product or service on the market.

However, behind all this simplicity are several important limitations.

1. Not all subscribers see your posts, and algorithms are constantly changing. Buyers generally have limited opportunities to clearly monitor the current assortment, prices and promotions.
2. Accepting orders, managing the assortment and communicating with customers have to be done manually.
3. Social networks cannot offer advanced sales capabilities, such as synchronization with accounting and warehouse programs or automatic delivery.
4. One wrong post or complaint and your business page could be blocked.

Selling through social media is convenient for businesses with a small range, but as your company grows, the platform’s limitations can hold back growth.

Marketplaces: a wide audience, but on your own terms

Marketplaces have become the next step after social media for many entrepreneurs. These platforms offer a huge audience ready to buy and a clear infrastructure to work with. You don’t need to worry about creating a separate website – just upload the product, set the price and description, and your product is already available to thousands of users.

A huge advantage of marketplaces is their authority. People trust large platforms, as they provide secure payments, customer support, and delivery guarantees. This is especially important for young brands that do not yet have their own reputation. In addition, sales platforms have been on the market for a long time, so they have many integrations with third-party resources, such as CRMs or accounting programs.

However, cooperation with marketplaces also has its drawbacks:

1. high competition;
2. commissions;
3. limited control over work;
4. platform dependence.

So what do you do when your business is ready for the next level? It's time to create your own online store.

Your own online store: freedom that brings income

Your own online store is your chance to break free from the restrictions of third-party platforms. This is an online space that you control. If you want to create something that fully meets your needs and goals, this is the best choice for business development.

Advantages of an online store:

1. no restrictions on management;
2. individual approach to customers (your promotions, bonus system);
3. you only need automation (connecting modules, integrations);
4. independence from the rules of third-party platforms;
5. increasing your professional image;
6. potential for scaling.

However, creating an online store requires significant financial investments. It is worth considering not only the development of the site, but also its further support, hosting, domain, security certificate, and, if necessary, the purchase of additional modules or licenses. 

Developing an online store is an investment, even if you choose the option with a ready-made template on the CMS. But modern platforms offer a lot of integrations and modules that allow you to create a truly functional and automated site. We compared two popular platforms for creating stores to help you decide. Details at the link.

Important! Your own site, for which you are responsible yourself, can be scaled infinitely with the help of a marketing and technical team.

Conclusion

Social networks and marketplaces wonderfully complement the sales strategy, but only your own site can become the basis of your business, guarantee stability and constant growth.

Contacts of our web studio can be found at this link.