eCommerce Basics: What is an online store builder?

The boom of online shopping in the Philippines has prompted a growing number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace online selling.

GlobalData analysts recently cited that the Philippine eCommerce market is on pace to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2 percent between 2024 and 2028 and reach P2.2 trillion or $39.5 billion in 2028.

What does this mean to you?

Well, it's never been better time to evaluate and invest in eCommerce to capture the HUGE market growth in the Philippines and around the world.

The problem is - you might be feeling stuck or unsure of where to start.

No worries!

We're here to guide you through the world of having your own eCommerce platform and online store.

Let's start with the basics.

What is an online store?

An online store builder is also known as an eCommerce website builder.

By it's most simplest definition, it's a website, app or digital platform that enables an individual or business to independently market and sell their products and services online over the internet directly to their consumers.

What's really cool is this...

...Essentially, it empowers SMEs to bring their products or services to a global audience through a user-friendly and efficient online platform.

In theory, you can simply choose a template, add your products, select your payment and shipping options, and then personalize your website to your brand and customer journey.

It’s supposed to be easy, right?

Well, when it comes to eCommerce platforms in the Philippines, unfortunately it seems that businesses of all sizes still struggle with this!!!

Why is an online store builder important to your business?

First and foremost, I'm sure that one of the reasons that you're here is because you want to grow your business!

If so, you need an online store builder.

Just look at the facts!

Philippine consumer behavior and demographics:

1. The average Filipino between 16 to 64 years old spends 8 hours and 52 minutes on the internet compared to the global average of 6 hours and 42 minutes.
2. The average Filipino spends 93.7% of their time on mobile phones when accessing the internet compared to Indonesia at 78.5%.
3. 33.9% of the average Filipinos between 16 to 64 years old make an online mobile purchase every week compared to the global average of 29.9%.
4. And, the average Filipino is 25 years old - so they are tech-babies who all grew up with mobile devices and the internet.
5. Recent reports show that direct-to-consumer (D2C) shopping in the Philippines is growing between 15% to 59% every year (depending on the category). Consumers have always wanted a direct line of communication with brands, manufacturers and distributers they buy from. Not only does it provide consumers with more selection but also serves as a way to connect and create long-term customers for life.

*Google, Temasek, Bain & Company e-Conomy SEA 2023 Report

The bottomline is, your business will either grow with the eCommerce Philippines economic growth trend...

...or, it won't.

What's so great about having your own online store builder?

It's more than just a tool that helps you create and manage your website.

It’s also your eCommerce platform to help you with every aspect of your online selling journey.

Now that you know what an online store builder is and why it's important, let's talk about what you need to look for when evaluating different platforms so that you can find the best online store builder for your business.

10 Key Components of an Online Store Builder

1. Intuitive Website Design: A user-friendly interface and customizable templates are essential features that enable SMEs to create visually appealing and professional-looking online stores that resonate with their brand identity.
2. Mobile Responsiveness: In today's mobile-driven world, an online store builder must prioritize mobile responsiveness to ensure seamless browsing and shopping experiences across various devices.
3. Secure Payment Gateways: The integration of secure payment gateways is paramount for building trust with customers and facilitating smooth transactions, thereby enhancing the overall shopping experience.
4. Inventory Management: Efficient inventory management tools help SMEs keep track of stock levels, manage product variations, and streamline order fulfillment processes to prevent stockouts and delays.
5. Manage Fulfillment: Online store platforms need robust features for efficient fulfillment & last-mile shipping. Automation saves time, reduces errors, & enhances customer satisfaction.
6. SEO Optimization: The best online store builder should offer built-in SEO tools that enable SMEs to optimize their store for search engines, driving organic traffic and improving visibility in search results.
7. Multi-Channel: The best online store platform with multi-channel capabilities can reach customers across various channels, boosting visibility, sales, and customer engagement efficiently.
8. Analytics and Reporting: Comprehensive analytics and reporting features provide valuable insights into customer behavior, sales performance, and marketing effectiveness, empowering SMEs to make data-driven decisions to grow their business.
9. Add-on Marketplace: A good online store platform company will work hard to keep its core functions simple with the option to an add-on more advanced features in their marketplace. This helps businesses by choosing and only paying for advanced features as needed, making it flexible and accessible to all, regardless of technical skills.
10. Customer Support: Access to reliable customer support services ensures that SMEs receive timely assistance and guidance in resolving any technical issues or challenges they may encounter while operating their online stores.

What is an Online Store Builder FAQs

Is it easy to create my own online store?

Yes. Our goal is to make creating an online store super easy for Philippine businesses. Prosperna offers you a couple of different ways to create your own website, depending on your goals. With our FREE (forever) account, you can use our point 'n click setup guide to create your online store with your colors and branding, start accepting all types of payments and manage shipping in one dashboard. With any of the Prosperna paid plans (starting at PhP 495/month), you can also browse our theme marketplace of free and paid professionally designed website templates then modify them to your exact branding and user experience using Prosperna's drag 'n drop online store builder.

Can I create an online store without knowing how to code?

Absolutely. Prosperna is a no-code online store builder that makes it possible to create a high-quality website without knowing how to code. In the Prosperna page builder, you can drag and drop any feature you want and customize it to match the look and feel of your site. Of course, if you do know how to code, you can also add advanced functionality to your site based on your needs.

Should I use an online store builder or hire a developer?

Prosperna's no-code online store builder is very east to use. However, if you are looking for expert help you can explore the Prosperna Marketplace to find a certified partner agency at a price that fits your budget.

How do I accept payments from customers with an online store platform?

With Prosperna, you can starting accepting all types of payments from customers without any coding skills and without filling out multiple applications and without waiting long periods of time for approval. With one signup, you will get access to payment methods like GCash, Maya, debit and credit cards, 7-Eleven over-the-counter, bank transfers, COD and more!

How do I ship products to customers with an online store platform?

With Prosperna, you can starting offering all types of shipping to your customers without any coding skills and without filling out multiple applications and without waiting long periods of time for approval. With one signup, you will get access to shipping methods like Lalamove, J&T Shipping, Grab Express and more!

How much does it cost to build an online store?

It depends. The cost of building a website varies depending on the features you need and whether you opt to build it yourself with an online store builder or pay a developer to build it for you. With an online store builder like Prosperna, you can build as many websites as you want for free, however, you’ll have to upgrade to any paid plan to connect a custom domain and get access to advanced business features. The cost of building an online store is significantly lower if you choose an all-in-one platform like Prosperna versus other platforms from abroad.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the core foundation of the best online store builder lies in its ability to empower SMEs with the tools and features necessary to establish a successful online presence and drive business growth in the competitive landscape of eCommerce.

By prioritizing key features such as intuitive design, mobile responsiveness, secure payment gateways, inventory management, SEO optimization, last-mile shipping partner integrations, analytics, and customer support, SMEs can leverage the full potential of an online store builder to achieve their business objectives and thrive in the digital marketplace.

Prosperna, Your Partner to eCommerce Success

Prosperna is an all-in-one AI-powered eCommerce platform for SMEs, entrepreneurs and digital creators. Our mission is to empower 1 million businesses with simple and affordable eCommerce software with the power of AI.

In fact, we are so passionate about helping small-to-medium sized businesses, entrepreneurs and content creators that we’re giving you a free account forever!

Want to create your online store?

Create your FREE-forever Prosperna account.