When starting your online business, you probably want to do everything you can to make it succeed. Even if you are a seasoned veteran, there are still chances that your new venture will fail.
With so many online platforms available, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.
If you are looking to get started with an online business in the UK but don’t know where to begin, this article is for you.
Once you understand the differences between various business platforms in the UK, it will be easier to choose the one that suits your needs and goals the best.
What is an Online Business Platform?
An online business platform is basically an online tool that allows you to manage, market, and sell your products or services. The platform can be free or paid depending on the type of service.
You can find several options when it comes to choosing the right online platform for your business. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best platforms in the UK that you can use to start your own online business.
Understand the Difference between Online Platforms in the UK
There are a lot of platforms out there, and it can be hard to know which ones are best for your specific situation. This is why it’s important to understand how they differ from one another.
To give you a complete picture, we will review them under major categories:
1). E-commerce Platforms
These are platforms that allow you to sell products and services using your own website. They are great for those who want to start a business online and don’t have the time or skill to design their own website.
Here are some of the best eCommerce platforms in the UK:
a). WooCommerce
WooCommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the UK. It is used by millions of people worldwide and is used by over 1.5 million websites. It’s a fully-featured eCommerce platform that allows you to sell products and services using your own website.
b). Shopify
Shopify is another popular platform that you can use to start your own online business. It’s easy to install, has a wide range of features, and has an amazing user base. You can build a beautiful shopping cart on Shopify and start selling online with it in no time at all.
c). Magento
Magento is another great eCommerce platform that you can use to start your own online business. It’s very easy to set up, has a huge number of features, and is used by millions of websites around the world. If you are looking for an eCommerce platform that will give you full control over every aspect of your business, Magento is the one for you!
d). OLITT
OLITT is another one of the best eCommerce platforms in the UK. Though new to the market, OLITT has quickly become the go-to eCommerce platform for small businesses. It is easy to use, comes with some fantastic features, and is backed by a really solid developer community.
e). Bigcommerce
Bigcommerce is another great eCommerce platform that you can use to start your own online business. It’s one of the most feature-rich eCommerce platforms in the market today and has been used by over 3 million websites.
You can import your existing products from Amazon, eBay, Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, or any other eCommerce platform into Bigcommerce in no time at all!
2). Blogging Platforms in the UK
There are dozens of blogging platforms that you can use to start your own online business. Popular options include WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, and TypePad.
a). WordPress
WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the UK. It’s easy to use, has a huge community, and loads of fantastic functions.
If you are looking for a blogging platform that will allow you to add imagery, videos, and other media to your posts without having to worry about plugins or other complicated stuff, WordPress is the one for you!
b). Tumblr
Tumblr is another one of the best blogging platforms in the UK.
Though it’s a bit different from WordPress or Blogger (it doesn’t have a lot of features like plugins), it still has its own charm and works really well as an alternative blogging platform.
If you are looking for a platform that is focused on the social aspect, Tumblr might be the right option for you!
c). Blogger
Blogger is another great blogging platform in the UK that you can use to start your own online business.
It has some great features including an easy-to-use dashboard and an attractive theme that makes it easy for bloggers to create unique & attractive blogs.
If you are looking for something simple but functional then Blogger might be perfect for you!
d). TypePad
TypePad is another one of the best blogging platforms in the UK that you can use to start your own online business.
Though not as popular as Blogger or Tumblr, it is still a great platform that can help you create a professional blog. If you are looking for something simple but functional then TypePad might be the right option for you!
e). Ghost
Ghost is another blogging platform that you can use to start your own online business.
Though it is not as popular as WordPress or Blogger, it is still a great alternative for bloggers who are looking for something simple but functional.
If you are looking for a blogging platform that is focused on content creators, then Ghost might be the right option for you!
3). Dropshipping Platforms in the UK
Dropshipping is a great way to start an online business. It allows you to sell your products directly from your website without having to stock and ship the products yourself.
All you have to do is find a supplier in China, fill out their order form, and wait for them to send over the product (which can take up to 3 weeks).
There are some popular dropshipping platforms you can use to start an online business in the UK.
a). Oberlo
Oberlo is a great way to quickly create and manage your eCommerce store. You can use it to create beautiful landing pages, manage all of your orders, and even integrate it with popular shopping cart software like Shopify.
b). Volusion
Volusion is another great platform that you can use to start a dropshipping business in the UK. You can create beautiful eCommerce websites on the platform, and even sell your products through the Volusion Marketplace.
c). Spocket
Spocket is a handy database app for dropshipping goods that works perfectly in the US and beyond. You can filter by country and upload the products into your Shopify store using Spocket’s app.
d). Alibaba.com
If you want to start a dropshipping business in the UK, then Alibaba.com is where you need to be. You can find thousands of suppliers on the platform, and all you have to do is place an order for the products and wait for them to arrive.
4). Digital Product Platforms in the UK
Digital product platforms are a relatively new type of online business platform that allows you to sell digital products such as eBooks and membership sites. You can also sell online courses easily.
With this type of platform, you can set your own prices and price your products accordingly. You can also sell additional services that you offer to your customers as well.
Here are some of the best digital product platforms in the UK:
a). Udemy.com
Udemy is a leading online platform that offers courses and lessons on a wide range of topics. You can find courses on business, marketing, web development, and many more. The platform is free to join and you can make money by selling your own products on the site.
b). ClickBank Affiliate Network
ClickBank Affiliate Network is an online platform that allows you to earn commissions by selling products on ClickBank. You can also sell other services that you offer to your customers.
d). Teachable
Teachable is a platform that allows you to create and sell online courses. You can create your own courses for topics such as web design, programming, and many more.
e). Gumroad
Gumroad is another online platform that lets you sell digital products such as eBooks, music, and software. You can also sell services that you offer to your customers.
f). Skillshare
Skillshare allows you to create and sell online courses. Unlike Udemy, Skillshare does not provide any tools for creating your own course. You can however find a large number of courses on the platform.
g). Themeforest
Themeforest is a platform that provides you with ready-made templates to sell digital products. You can choose from hundreds of themes and start selling.
i). CodeCanyon
CodeCanyon is another online platform that lets you sell digital products such as eBooks and software. You can also sell services that you offer to your customers.
j). Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade goods and vintage items. You can create a store on the platform and sell your own handmade goods or vintage items to other sellers on the platform.
How to Pick the Best Online Business Platform
a). Learn Your Online Business Goals
Before you choose a platform, you need to understand what your online business goals are. What do you hope to accomplish with an online business? If you’re looking to make money, you’ll need to make sure you choose a platform that will help you achieve your goals.
b). What are Your Needs?
You also need to understand what your needs are when it comes to starting an online business.
Do you want a platform that will allow you to manage multiple products and services?
Do you want to be able to start from scratch or do you want a ready-made solution? Depending on your needs, the best platform for your online business may vary.
c). Learn About the Platform
Once you understand the goals of your online business and the needs of your company, it’s time to learn more about each platform. You can learn more about each platform by searching on Google or by reading reviews on sites like Amazon and Trustpilot.
You can also ask other people who have used each platform before or talk with someone at the company when they offer support services in person.
d). Consider the Support
Another thing to consider when choosing an online business platform is the level of support available. Some platforms may offer great support while others may not. If you’re interested in having great support, make sure to ask the company about their customer service.
e). Do You Have a Budget?
If you are thinking about starting an online business, you’ll need to determine if it is within your budget before moving forward with the process. There are many different aspects to running an online business and you may want to decide which one is most important for your needs and wants before investing money into your business.
f). Will You Need Additional Training?
Another thing to think about is if you have any additional training that will be required for your business. If so, it might be worth investing in training that will help you learn how to use the platform more effectively or how to manage the different aspects of your business more effectively.