Inside Magento: Open-Source eCommerce

In under a year’s time, Magento, an open-source eCommerce platform, has become the top-searched eCommerce system online, overtaking popular platforms such as osCommerce and Zen Cart. Not only has Magento impressed business owners, but developers are singing its praises as well. But what’s so great about Magento, and how did it push aside its competitors so quickly? We at The Website Owner’s Manual are here to give you the scoop on Magento, and will help you decide if this popular eCommerce platform is right for your business or development undertaking.

For Businesses

Magento is open-source,  so it’s FREE to download (individual support comes at a price, but the online support forum is free to use)! The search engine optimization (SEO) features are top-of-the-line in comparison to other platforms.  For example,  Magneto allows merchants to create their own URLs for products on the administrator control panel. Most platforms create a product URL upon creation, which are often times unreadable for the search engines. Google Analytics,  a free tool that allows in-depth tracking of website statistics,  comes integrated with the download. Multiple stores can be maintained across different domains using only one Magento installation. The capability to zoom-in on product images is included. Rates for USPS, FedEx, and UPS are integrated at real time, so shipping and handling quotes are always up-to-date. Customers can compare products side-by-side. There is a one-page checkout system,  so customers are only a click away from ordering products.