When deciding between starting an online shop on Telegram, a website, or Instagram, it’s important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each platform. Of course, there are many other social media for ecommerce, but so far, these three have proved to be the best of all. In the following essay, we have compared the features of Instagram, Telegram, and websites to help you decide which of them is the best ecommerce platform.
Pros and Cons of Using Telegram for Starting an Online Shop
As one of the best messaging apps in the world, Telegram can help shop owners develop and design a store bot in just a few steps. Telegram is easy to use, secure, and diverse but it also has some negative sides that may hinder you from running an online store. Here are the pros and cons of having an online shop on Telegram.
Pros of Telegram as ecommerce platform
It allows direct interaction with the customers.
Telegram allows you to interact directly with customers through chat, which can improve your customer service. People tend to rely on online shops that answer their questions or solve their problems quickly and accurately, so this feature can be a great help for beginners who rely on their conversion rates. Plus, you can personalize messages and interact with customers individually or in groups to build a closer relationship with your audience.
Telegram is secure.
Telegram provides secure, encrypted communication. With this magnificent feature, you and your customers are sure that your data and transactions are protected. Telegram also offers privacy features like self-destructing messages. Many Telegram users believe that this messenger is the best of its kind because their sensitive information is handled securely.
Telegram bots save your time by automating tasks.
Telegram bots can automate many tasks in your shop, such as getting orders, processing payments, answering customers’ queries, notifying the admins about the inventory’s storage, managing the reservations, etc. This will save you time, so you can focus on more important things, like creating quality content, improving products or services, adding new features to your store, and many more.
People will be notified of what’s going on in your shop.
Telegram channels and groups keep your audience engaged with your business. Whatever you do in your online shop will be broadcast to the subscribers right away. Therefore, if you share lots of content and updates in your channel and want your users to see them immediately, Telegram is the best ecommerce platform for you.
Other Pros of Telegram
You can share different types of media.
You can use various media types like PDFs, Excel, images, videos, and polls on Telegram to engage the customers. Also, Telegram is accessible on various devices (smartphones, tablets, desktops), allowing you to manage your shop from anywhere.
Telegram shops have low operating costs.
Telegram is free to use, which can significantly reduce the initial costs of running an online business. Moreover, unlike many e-commerce platforms that charge transaction fees, Telegram does not charge on sales made through the app. This feature makes Telegram the best ecommerce platform for those starting their business on a low budget.
It is easy to use.
Setting up a shop on Telegram is relatively straightforward, without the need for extensive technical knowledge. Although this messenger is regularly updated, it still has a simple structure, so even the “not tech-savvies” can figure it out. Also, this messenger supports different languages, so people will not have a problem using it.
You can analyze your shop.
Telegram bots have a feature that helps you track sales performance, customer engagement, and other metrics. The store bots on SmartBotsLand have a specific section where you can get daily, monthly, and yearly reports about how many new customers have joined you, how many products you have sold, and many more.
Cons of Telegram as ecommerce platform
Telegram has limited users.
While Telegram is popular, fewer people use it than other platforms like Instagram or other websites. However, this platform is still a good one if you want to reach customers worldwide without geographical limitations.
Telegram has limited payment options.
Unless you use store bots, your customers should use third-party payment methods to shop on Telegram.
It is hard to find a product on a channel or group.
Browsing products through Telegram channels or chats is hard. Many customers may find it harder to compare products, read reviews, or access product details easily. That’s why many shop owners either use a coding system (give each product a code, like #1) or use a shop bot.
Some people don’t recognize Telegram as a shopping platform.
Some customers may find shopping via Telegram informal or less trustworthy compared to established e-commerce platforms, like websites. So, Telegram may not be a proper ecommerce platform for some businesses.
Setting a shipping method on Telegram is almost impossible.
Offering shipping options to customers on Telegram can be more complicated than e-commerce platforms. Fortunately, SmartBotsLand has thought of it and designed a system that lets your customers choose a shipping method (that you have defined beforehand). You, as the shop owner, can also track deliveries and change their status whenever necessary. For instance, if there is a problem with the delivery, you can automatically let the customer know.
Telegram has limited e-commerce features.
Basically, Telegram is not designed for shopping; therefore it doesn’t have important features like product catalogs, payment gateways, inventory management, and order tracking. For this reason, you should rely on bots for doing these.
Pros and Cons of Using Websites for Starting an Online Shop
There are tens of websites for setting up an online shop, each offering different features depending on your needs. The top 10 websites for creating an online shop are as follows:
- Shopify
- WooCommerce (WordPress)
- BigCommerce
- Wix eCommerce
- Squarespace
- Etsy
- Weebly
- Magento (Adobe Commerce)
- Ecwid
- PrestaShop
Pros of website as ecommerce platform
You have full control over your shop.
A website gives you complete control over design, user experience, and features. This means that you can customize the shop based on your needs. The websites usually provide various templates and themes, all you have to do is manage its UI/UX.
They can be optimized for search engines.
You can use SEO practices to attract organic traffic through search engines. With SEO techniques, you will continuously have new visitors to your website.
They are scalable.
Websites are highly scalable and can grow with your business. So, they can support a wide range of products, services, and customer interactions.
They look professional.
A well-established website often gives credibility to your online shop. This feature of websites is what makes them the best ecommerce platform.
You have full control over customers’ data.
When you run your online shop on a website, you own the customer data. This allows you to collect emails, track user behavior, and build long-term relationships through marketing strategies like email campaigns.
You can use various tools for your online shop.
Almost all the above-mentioned websites allow using third-party tools for marketing (email campaigns, analytics, social media), payments, and shipping.
Websites support all types of media.
As with Telegram store bots, you can upload different types of documents and media on your website.
Cons of website as ecommerce platform
Developing a website is costly.
Developing a website can be costly, especially if you want to customize it and add e-commerce features and security measures to it. Moreover, a website requires regular maintenance, including updates, security patches, and backups. While platforms like Shopify or WIX are user-friendly, other ones like WooCommerce, Magento, or custom-built websites require technical knowledge to manage their security, databases, and troubleshooting.
You need marketing techniques to drive customers.
A website doesn’t attract customers on its own. So you’ll need to invest in marketing (SEO, ads, social media marketing, email campaigns, etc.) to drive traffic.
You need third-party tools and apps.
Whatever your online shop is, you will need additional tools and applications for processing payment, analysing the customers’ behavior, tracking orders and deliveries, answering users’ questions (customer service), handling returns, etc.
You should maintain the customers’ security.
When running an online shop, you are responsible for the security of your customer data, including their payment information. To make sure that your website is secure, you need to use SSL certificates, secure payment gateways, and many more. This can be overwhelming for non-technical users.
Pros and Cons of Using Instagram for Starting an Online Shop
Instagram is one of the best ecommerce platforms in 2024, especially for businesses that focus on visual products and want to engage directly with customers. However, you have to consider the following pros and cons before starting your business there.
Pros of Instagram as ecommerce platform
Instagram is a perfect platform for showcasing products.
Instagram is highly visual, making it ideal for showcasing products, particularly for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands.
It has a large number of users.
Instagram has over 1 billion active users. That’s a shocking number! With its massive users, you can reach potential customers without much marketing effort.
Instagram increases engagement with customers.
Instagram’s features, such as Stories, Reels, and Shopping allow you to engage with customers more. With Instagram Shopping, you can tag products in posts and stories. The users can click and view product details directly within the app. Moreover, they can purchase items through the app if you set up Instagram Checkout (available in some regions).
It is free.
Instagram is free to join and start using for your online shop. You don’t need an initial investment to create a profile, which is great for small businesses with limited budgets.
You can ask the influencers to advertise your brand or products.
There are countless influencers on Instagram who can advertise your products or services. This feature is great for small, local businesses that want to reach locals, like restaurants, cafes, and hair salons.
Cons of Instagram as ecommerce platform
Instagram does not allow much customization.
While Instagram offers e-commerce tools, the customization options are limited compared to a website.
Instagram is not made for ecommerce.
While Instagram has numerous shopping features, it is not a complete e-commerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce. It lacks advanced e-commerce tools like inventory management or abandoned cart recovery.
Your online shop depends on Instagram’s algorithms.
Instagram’s algorithm determines what users see in their feeds. Without investing in paid ads or constantly producing high-quality content, your posts may not reach your target audience.
Managing an online shop on Instagram is time-consuming.
In order to have a successful online store on Instagram, you need to regularly post high-quality photos, videos, and stories. Creating content, especially video ones, is time-consuming. Plus, replying to comments, DMs, and contacting followers requires lots of time, particularly for small businesses with limited staff.
Instagram has strict regulations towards some products.
Instagram has strict policies on advertising for certain products like alcohol, tobacco, and supplements. so, it could limit your ability to sell those products.
Conclusion
All the three above-mentioned ecommerce platforms are good for starting an online shop. Telegram is best for businesses that prioritize direct, personal interaction with customers. The shop owners can also benefit from automation tools and bots. Websites, on the other hand, are ideal for businesses looking for full control over their shops while Instagram is perfect for online stores that want to reach a wide audience. In any case, consider the following 4 points when choosing the best ecommerce platform for your business.
- Your business size and needs.
- The level of customization you demand.
- Your budget.
- Your technical skills.
So far, Telegram bots have proved to be the best ecommerce platform for online shops with limited budgets and low technical skills. If you’d like to have a perfect Telegram store bot, visit our website and check out our services and prices.
We will be happy to answer your questions about store bot on Telegram and other related subjects. Feel free to leave a comment below.
