Atlantic Business Technologies, Inc.

Author: Lorelei Canne

  • The Right Reasons: Will it be Shopify or Etsy?

    You’ve started your own business. What a wild ride it’s been. You’ve faced long days, dealt with setbacks, and needed a glass of wine (or two). There have been high-flying successes and unforeseen twists. Fireworks and tears. Your journey of self-discovery has led you to this very special occasion; choosing the best eCommerce platform for your small business. You’re nervous. You can’t help it! This is the moment of decision. Like The Bachelor, you only have one rose to give and so much to consider. After perusing many options, you’ve narrowed it down to two; Shopify and Etsy.

    They’re both wonderful, with winning smiles and just a hint of crazy in their eyes. As you stare pensively into your possible future together, you think of the time you’ve spent getting to know them. You ponder what you’ve learned, and what it all means. Which eCommerce platform is the right match for you?      

    What Shopify and Etsy each bring to the table

    One on One

    It’s hard to forget the first time you met Etsy. You’d heard about Etsy (who hasn’t?) but now Etsy was hearing about you. It was no longer a site other people used. Now it could be a site you relied on. Your business could have the tools and exposure needed to make that first impression a great one. Etsy comes with its own brand recognition and built-in consumer base, which makes marketing much easier. Setting up shop on Etsy is simple. Your business can be up and running in mere minutes—as long as you follow the rules.

    Ah yes, the rules. Etsy has ets-pectations. You can’t just sell anything. Etsy is a marketplace specifically for handmade crafts and custom-made goods, as well as vintage items. Anything that falls outside of those parameters is a no go. Luckily, you’re selling t-shirts with cat hair shoulderpads, rather than curses (which is a service and therefore not allowed). Etsy remains a viable option.

    Joining Etsy is free, but there are fees involved for sellers. Listing, transaction, and payment processing fees are affordable, especially at the onset. Unfortunately, they can eat into profits once your shop brings in more revenue. The financial relationship between you and Etsy is bound to cause tension as your business grows. Still, it’s difficult to imagine any hardships down the line because the Etsy in front of you is so quirky and fun! Maybe this could work…

    Then Shopify appeared, all sparkles and charm, and you were smitten. A webstore platform with a history of dependability, Shopify believed you were strong enough to be autonomous. You would never be just another shop in a marketplace. Getting started with Shopify is easier thanks to its outstanding 24/7 customer service available to its users. The only question Shopify will ask about your merchandise is ‘Is it legal?’. This platform provides support for stores at every level of success, maintaining a strong foundation for small businesses as they evolve. You can rely on Shopify to ensure you have all kinds of tools and plugins to help your business reach the top.  However, if you want to make it there, you have to be invested.

    In order for you and Shopify to be a team, you’ll have to be willing to give both time and money. All users pay a subscription cost that can range from $29/month to $299/month, depending on how extensive you want to make your relationship. Larger businesses can choose Shopify Plus. Someone who just wants to stick their toe into the eCommerce waters can dabble with Shopify Lite. There are no payment fees when processing a sale, but users do have to cover credit card rates. While Etsy is very easy to manage on your own, you might feel inspired to call in experts for assistance with Shopify. Web designers and SEO/marketing consultants who know how to utilize Shopify are a solid investment. Is it one you’re ready for? 

    Speaking of marketing, you’ll have to do that on your own. There is no main Shopify hub where potential customers can stumble upon your store. Introducing your brand to the world is a process. It takes time, patience, and savvy creativity. Could such a stable platform be too high maintenance for what you need right now?

    How Shopify and Etsy Manage a Crowd

    Group Date

    After learning Shopify and Etsy’s compelling origin stories, you want to know how they would get along with others, particularly your potential customers. Etsy, always the extrovert, is immensely popular. A high-ranking SEO and stellar reputation consistently precedes Etsy. You gain access to numerous future consumers. Customers would also be able to easily navigate your shop. There would be nothing new or unique to learn as they browse and make purchases. Even better, Etsy makes it simple to offer and apply discounts and promotions. Happiness for everyone!  

    But if you want to go where everybody knows your name, Etsy wouldn’t be the platform for that. When asked where they bought a product, customers usually default to saying ‘I got it on Etsy’. They often don’t share or remember the name of your shop. Narrowing one’s shopping focus in a marketplace with over 45 million items for sale can be daunting for a buyer who isn’t quite sure what they’re looking for yet.  Also, Etsy doesn’t have eyes only for your store. The competition throughout the marketplace would be intense. Standing out in the crowd isn’t easily achieved when you’re entrenched in a preordained process. Still, it is hard to beat that natural, Etsy appeal.

    Shopify, on the other hand, is the strong and silent type. Customers who would visit your store on Shopify would more likely be there for a specific reason, with a clear intent to buy your product. You would have to craft your own marketing strategy, but Shopify wanted to support you there. Apps were available that helped to elevate the shopping experience. Yotpo allowed customers to leave reviews. Loyalty Lion enabled sellers to give rewards for purchases and referrals. Wishlist gave an opportunity for shoppers to create just that. KISSmetrics was also available to help you analyze the productivity of your store as well as consumer activities and habits.

    Shopify also gives your customers a wider variety of payment options. Driving customers to your store requires more work. Once they arrive, however, they will encounter an optimized UX that you could be proud of. You also know your brand would be singular, rather than falling under the banner of Shopify. Despite the potential marketing mountain, you could develop a rapport with your customers, creating consumer relationships that could only make your brand stronger. Shopify could be worth the effort.

    How Shopify and Etsy Reflect Your Brand

    Hometowns

    When the time comes to introduce Shopify and Etsy to your business, be ready for each platform to make its own impression. Etsy will be ready to go with a format that’s accessible and straightforward. All you need to do is answer a few questions about your business and products then provide pictures of your merchandise. The process is a breeze.  You might notice, though, that your shop looks exactly like everyone else’s.

    Ever caring, Etsy notices this issue and gives you a present. Etsy Pattern is a new platform that allows you to make a small shop of your own. A subscription of $15/month gets you started creating a store that visually speaks to your brand. More than just pictures with descriptions, Pattern gives you room for self expression. It allows customers to know your brand’s character as well as its products. While Pattern does allow your Etsy shop inventory to sync with your new store, it remains a completely different web destination for customers. Your Pattern store is not promised the traffic seen on the marketplace. Since many clients may associate your product with Etsy rather than you, it’s not a guarantee that Etsy shop customers will seek out your store. It is nice, though, to have options that best reflect you and what you believe your brand can be.

    In comparison, Shopify is all about you from the beginning. It can be a bit daunting at times, slightly obsessive even. However, since the goal of the relationship is the clear establishment of your business, Shopify never had any qualms about it. From the start, you have your own custom domain name and URL structure. It’s important to remember Shopify isn’t just a platform program to build off of. It is software for you to use, to create an eCommerce store that looks and functions exactly the way you want.

    If you’re unsure about your web design skills and not ready to invest in hiring a company to assist you, worry not. There are pre-designed templates galore to choose from. Having anyone on your team who knows how to best utilize the Shopify software is a huge creative win. The top priority would be your vision and concept. Shopify also allows you to sync all your inventory in one place. This  allows communication between your eCommerce branch and any brick and mortar store you may have. It also includes business done with local shops and marketplaces. Support for future success is naturally built in. Shopify works for small businesses aiming to take their goals to the next level.

    Now here you are. The choice is yours. After the most dramatic thought process you’ve gone through yet, who will get the final rose? If you’re still feeling unsure about what your business goals are and want to take small steps into the world of eCommerce, Etsy could be an excellent option. If you already have a solid business plan, vision, and drive, you might be ready for Shopify and the opportunity it provides for brand engagement and growth.

    Whenever you’re ready.

    If you’ve given your rose to Shopify and would like to put a ring on it, Atlantic BT is here to help. We have the experience, knowledge, and creativity needed to help your eCommerce site thrive.

  • Celebrating International Women’s Day with the Ladies of Atlantic BT

    The women of Atlantic BT run the world.

    They are leaders, doers, creators, and visionaries.

    They are daughters, sisters, partners, and moms.

    They are managers, developers, accountants, researchers, writers, artists, and strategists.

    In honor of International Women’s Day, we celebrate the team of women whose contributions help shape the work and culture that make up Atlantic BT. In their own words, they share what their experience  means to them and champion the work of women here and around the world.

     

    ” When you think of a strong woman, who do you think of? For me, the first person who comes to mind is probably Beyoncé. Each lady at ABT is a Beyoncé in her own right.”

      –Maris Hall, UX Desinger

     

    “The ladies of ABT know how to work and play hard. From running a meeting to running the trails, we’re always pushing the limits.”

    – Erin Rabatin, Project Manager 

     

    “Something I say often is HTFU, which a lot of ladies do here. They are tough as nails and I wouldn’t mess with any of them.”

    –Jessica Altvater, QA Analyst 

     

    “Each lady here is like one of those magical automatic doors at Target. Everything she has to offer inside is pure genius and she’s always open to give insight, go the extra mile, or lend a helping hand.”

    –Rachel McKay, Office Administrator 

     

    “In the world of CQS, our ladies are always a 10”

    –Kate Geisler, Project Manager

     

    “Whether it’s at Reading Between the Wines or in the Cellar, the ladies of ABT know how to have a good time.”

    –Karen Handy, Senior Project Manager

     

    “As the only female backend developer, I know how to keep up with the boys”

    –Ria Manglani, .Net Developer

     

    “I am continually inspired by the women I work with; by their intelligence and kindness, talent and work ethic. They empower me to be better at what I do inside the office and out. Today, I celebrate them and all that they have accomplished and the incredible things that are in store because we are lucky enough to have them.”

    – Lorelei Canne, Content Strategist 

     

    “While women are a minority in our industry, we are mighty. The ladies of ABT prove everyday why women kick ass; we are strong, smart, driven, and chock-full of talent that will change the world. Get on board or get out of our way!”

    –Townsley Minton, Senior Account Executive 

     

    “I think it’s an important time in our country. As women, we have the power and influence to invoke change. It’s not just today. I get the pleasure of seeing it every day. I get to work with some of the most brilliant, amazing, talented women in our industry. These women support our community and through their knowledge continue to eliminate the gender stereotypes. It makes me proud to be a woman and gives me great hope that my daughters will have the chance to fulfill their dreams, whatever they may be.”

    –Eileen Allen, VP Strategy

     

    “ABT women would make the Women’s Rights Movement proud as we are a group of women who are strong, supportive, encouraging, diverse, and accepting of one another as equals.”

    –Amy Sullivan, Project Manager 

     

    “Every woman at ABT is a trailblazer in her own right. Each day she writes another inspiring chapter of HERstory in history as we move closer to gender equality in our industry. #PressForProgress.”

    – Yolanda Hyman, QA Manager 

     

    (We wanted to get a quote from Project Manager Andrea Osborn, but she was too busy raising the next generation of feminists.)

     

    Happy International Women’s Day!  We look forward to all of the great things the future has in store.

     

     

     

  • Speaking Up on Accessibility and 508 Compliance

    As the deadline for Section 508 compliancy approaches, it’s important to remember that making a website more accessible isn’t just another task on the to-do list. It matters to people you see every day, perhaps even people you know well but never suspected needed a web experience different from yours. People like me.

    I never thought of my hearing impairment as a barrier when I was a child; it was simply a part of who I was. In middle school, that special time of security and confidence, it suddenly became more obvious. My fairly discreet hearing aids were being hooked up to an F.M. system, complete with attachable wires and a fanny pack to elevate my total lack of fashion. My teachers would wear a microphone, which allowed their voices (and occasional bathroom breaks) to supercede any outside noise and be broadcast directly into my ears. This was great for my education, but I was terribly self-conscious. I was different and now everyone knew.

    Oh, how I tried to be cool about it, but bravado has never been my calling card. If someone was becoming frustrated by having to repeat themselves, I would ask if they could communicate via the beauty of interpretive dance. This only made me weirder. My teachers were rarely subtle about what I needed and while I was grateful for their help, this often caused me to shrink away.  

    Balance: Manage Accessibility and Inclusivity

    It’s a given that UX manifests itself in a variety of ways. How accessibility is approached by an organization affects the experience an impaired user may have. It should be considered with the same thoughtfulness and care that any design element would require. Being knowledgeable and prepared, thanks to a strong vision and the right team to implement it, can provide accessibility without the ironic isolationism that can sometimes come with it.

    Accessibility services helped me stay on track, but I was always pulled away from the rest of my class in order to do so. Having to be forthcoming about my hearing loss was panic-inducing. In response, people often raised their voices to an abnormal level and spoke slowly, as if it was my comprehension skills that were lacking. I felt like a burden.

    Adaptation: Like Nicholas Cage, But Not

    Years later I decided that with enough focus and some decent lip reading skills, I could pretend that my hearing loss didn’t exist. This was achieved with varying levels of success. I no longer felt like a weight on the patience of my friends and family but now I was the one removing myself from certain situations in order to get by. I still couldn’t really be in the same room as everyone else.

    Now, as a fairly competent adult, I no longer struggle as I did with insecurity surrounding my hearing. It provokes some anxiety here and there but I’ve learned how to adapt and how to ask for help without shame. Friends often respond with surprise when they learn that my ears are more decorative than they are functional. I don’t strike them as someone who needs any assistance to be on the same page as everyone else. They don’t think I’m a person who is gleeful about captions on a video or the volume of a microphone being turned up just a hair more. The truth is, I am.

    Room for Everyone: Improving UX for Your Entire Base

    The number of people who will directly benefit from website accessibility is staggering. According to the World Health Organization, 253 million people are visually impaired, preventing them from reading web content without assistance. 360 million people are deaf or hearing impaired. For the sake of perspective, the population of the United States is 323 million people.

    Accessibility is also valuable to those with cognitive impairments, those with a temporary disability due to accident or illness, and to the elderly. Advocacy groups, like The A11Y Project, are hard at work raising awareness and providing resources, in an effort to implement change. Section 508 is more than a law to be followed; it’s the right thing to do.

    The Art of Accessibility: Taking A11y Action

    The benefits of accessibility are not lost on many technology leaders. Red Hat is dedicated to the cause as well as Shopify, who has embraced it as part of their culture. Closed captions on video, audio options for images, and support for assistive technology programs are just some of the ways that a website can be made easier to navigate for all users. An increase in engaged users is a win for everyone.

    Inclusivity is vital to the strengthening of our community. This is especially true of web content as our lives and social interactions become more digitalized. The internet is a place where we gather to share information, tell our stories, and help each other. Everyone should be able to be in the same room together.

    If you have questions about how to provide accessibility to your organization’s website, visit our page on 508 Compliance.