Overview of Volusion
Volusion is a comprehensive, fully hosted e-commerce platform designed to help businesses build, manage, and grow successful online stores. Founded in 1999, Volusion has become a trusted choice for over 30,000 merchants, particularly small to medium-sized businesses.
Key Features and Functionality
Store Setup and Design
Volusion offers a range of customizable templates and a user-friendly interface to help users create and design their online stores. The platform includes:
- Customizable storefront articles, checkout fields, and navigation styles.
- Extensive free and premium template libraries.
- Advanced HTML content editing and a WYSIWYG editor for visual content creation.
- Responsive design templates that ensure the store looks and functions well on mobile devices.
Product Management
Volusion provides robust tools for managing product catalogs, including:
- Unlimited product options and categories.
- Ability to add, edit, and organize product details.
- Inventory tracking and management.
- Pricing and discount management, including recurring pricing and quantity-based options.
Order Fulfillment and Management
The platform includes comprehensive order fulfillment capabilities such as:
- Drop shipping integration.
- Label printing for USPS, DHL, and FedEx.
- Live package tracking and automatic shipping confirmation emails.
- Inventory management tools, including backorder tracking and stock priority.
Payment and Shipping Integrations
Volusion supports multiple payment gateways, including credit cards, PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net. It also integrates with major shipping carriers to streamline shipping processes.
Marketing and SEO Tools
To help promote products, Volusion offers:
- Built-in SEO features to optimize the store for search engines, including customizable meta tags, URLs, and product descriptions.
- Marketing tools such as discount codes, social media integrations (including Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook), and email marketing.
Analytics and Reporting
The platform provides analytics and reporting features to track the store’s performance, including data on sales, customer behavior, and popular products. This helps businesses make informed decisions and optimize their marketing strategies.
Customer Support
Volusion offers 24×7 customer support through various channels, including live chat, phone, and email. Additionally, there is a knowledge base and community forum for users to find answers to common questions and connect with others.
Additional Features
Other notable features include:
- A coupon and discount system with customizable options.
- Built-in social media tools, including Facebook integration and social store builders.
- Gift wrap and gift note options.
- Automatic hide of out-of-stock products and “out of stock” notifications.
- Flexible and powerful product options, including option-based price differences and recurring price settings.
Pricing and Plans
Volusion offers several pricing plans tailored to different business needs:
- Personal Plan: Starts at about $35/month, allowing up to 100 products, unlimited bandwidth, and online support.
- Professional Plan: Starts at about $79/month, supporting up to 5,000 products and additional staff accounts.
- Business Plan: Priced at $299/month, supporting unlimited products and more extensive support.
- Prime Plan: A customized enterprise-level solution for larger businesses with advanced features like custom reports, API access, and priority support.
In summary, Volusion is a versatile e-commerce platform that provides a wide range of features and tools to help businesses establish and grow their online presence effectively.