How to Pick the Best eCommerce Shopping Cart?

Not all shopping cart software is equal, but it's very easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices today. Many times the difference between a successful online storefront and a failed one isn't even the products but how they are promoted. As you shop around for the best shopping cart software that will become the backbone of your store, here are some things you want to look for.

The Best Online Shopping Cart is SEO-Friendly

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is one of the most basic aspects of ecommerce marketing. While you can do a lot to make your content interesting, you won't have much control over search engine indexing. This means you want to choose an SEO-friendly ecommerce system, which will automatically rewrite your URLS. Along with integrated SEO, you also want marketing features like product feeds, newsletter marketing and possibly even the ability to include an affiliate program.

Coupon Code Support is a Must

The best online shopping cart will also support coupon codes. While this has been a must-have feature for almost 5 years, it's surprising how many shopping carts do not offer this function, or make you pay more for it. With the ability to set up coupon codes and discounts, you can better market your new storefront through websites like RetailMeNot.com, through social media and much more.

Customer Review Function

Does the shopping cart allow customers to leave reviews of your products? This is important because reviews encourage more sales and people view these reviews much like a peer recommendation. It allows you to let your customers market for you.

Similarly, shopping cart software should let visitors to your site email and share your products via social media. This means social media integration is very important, with icons that allow visitors to pin images on Pinterest, add them to Facebook and Twitter and more. Good software will even incorporate a wish list function along with registration.

How Images are Displayed?

Visitors are more likely to make a purchase if they see multiple images of your products with the ability to zoom in. If you shop online, consider how often you use this feature, and how important it is to your buying decision. Every product detail page should allow you to add images from several angles with the ability to pan and zoom.

Payment Gateway Options

Finally, make sure the shopping cart software accepts all major credit cards and payment methods. It should be integrated with a wide variety of payment processors so you can make your choice of merchant accounts and processors. If you already have a merchant account, make sure the software is compatible! Some software available today requires you to process payments through the software provider, which means a higher markup and more money out of your pocket.