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So, you want to sell products online but can’t decide which platform is right for you. Let’s explore three main options for online businesses: WordPress, Shopify, and Big Cartel.

What Are They?

Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform that launched in 2005. The company is 100% independent and dedicated to helping artists, makers, and small brands open a store and start making a living doing what they love.

Shopify is a cloud-based, SaaS shopping cart solution. Users pay a monthly fee to gain access to an admin panel where they can enter store data, add products, and process orders. Shopify allows you to integrate your online store with some of the biggest online channels out there.

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system based on PHP & MySQL. Features include a plugin architecture and a template system. It is most associated with blogging but supports other types of web content including more traditional mailing lists and forums, media galleries, and online stores.

Decision Time

One cool thing about WordPress is that it comes with a lot of free plug-ins that allow you to create an online store environment on your site. When it comes to making the decision, it’s also important to consider whether you’ll be creating content, in addition to selling products. Shopify isn’t necessarily the best if you’re going to employ a content marketing strategy. Another factor to consider: payments. Big Cartel doesn’t offer the best options when it comes to payments.

Ultimately, you’ll need to map out your strategy, target audience, and your level of expertise in order to decide what’s best for you. As for Insomnicat, we favor WordPress and Shopify when it comes to selling products online.

Check out the video, below: Insomnicat’s Beginner’s Guide to Selling Products Online, with Bryan DeLuca and let us know what your experience has been like selling on these platforms.

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