For those in the e-commerce realm, particularly Magento users, the recent revelation that Magento Go, eBay’s Magento subsidiary, is being discontinued has caused quite a stir. Magento Go has been a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seeking an affordable and user-friendly platform for their online stores. With the impending end of this service, current customers are left with only Magento Enterprise and Magento Community Edition to consider, neither of which is specifically tailored for SMBs. This raises questions: Why is Magento Go being phased out? And how can current Magento Go customers ensure their online stores remain viable?
Understanding Magento Go
Launched in February 2011, Magento Go positioned itself as a mid-tier shopping cart service. Its popularity in the SMB market stems from its adaptability, affordability, and ease of use. Being cloud-based, users don’t need to download software or manage their own hosting. Magento Go entered the scene in the same month eBay announced its significant investment in Magento, Inc., eventually acquiring full ownership by June 2011. eBay’s aim was to facilitate a seamless transition for larger eBay stores to e-commerce platforms. However, the landscape evolved, with eBay’s own stores and others increasingly moving to platforms like BigCommerce and Volusion.
Challenges Faced by Magento Go
Despite its popularity, Magento Go struggled to maintain its market share against established SaaS platforms such as BigCommerce, Volusion, and Shopify, as well as newer entrants like Yahoo and Amazon. eBay’s strategy now seems to be to concentrate its efforts on the Magento Community and Enterprise editions, which are better suited to larger operations. The limitations of Magento Go in terms of design and development flexibility, coupled with the popularity of the free and customizable Community Edition, contributed to its ultimate downfall.
Comparing Magento Community and Enterprise
For those who are current or potential Magento Go users, the Community and Enterprise editions may not suffice. The Community Edition is free but is geared towards designers and developers and requires additional hosting. It lacks company support and does not offer marketing features, conversion optimizations, design customizations, or SEO configurations that are typically found in alternative SaaS solutions starting at just $15 per month. Magento Enterprise, on the other hand, starts at over $15,000 annually and is best suited for businesses with multi-million-dollar revenues, a factor that eBay is addressing by shifting its focus away from Magento Go.
What to Do as a Magento Go Customer 
The discontinuation of Magento Go will undoubtedly present challenges for users. To alleviate these, eBay is collaborating with BigCommerce, a leading SaaS e-commerce provider, to assist in transitioning its customers. BigCommerce offers superior services at comparable prices and is committed to customer success. With its robust SEO compliance, extensive marketing tools, and customizable features, BigCommerce is a strong alternative for SMBs.
Choosing the Right Alternative
At Coalition Technologies, we have extensive experience working with all major e-commerce platforms, from simple open-source solutions to expansive big-business platforms. We have found that BigCommerce leads in SEO and is an excellent choice for local brick-and-mortar businesses looking to establish an online presence. Shopify is also a top pick, offering competitive pricing and seamless integration with existing records and analytics.
The Migration Challenge
Migrating from Magento Go will present certain challenges, regardless of the strategy employed. Key considerations include customer accounts, order history, product databases, and store configurations. Migrations also carry the risk of lost search engine rankings and indexed pages. Mitigating these risks is crucial.
Successfully Navigating the Migration
At Coalition Technologies, we specialize in assisting Magento customers with managing, transferring, and optimizing their online businesses. Our expert design, development, and SEO teams are well-versed in all major e-commerce platforms, including BigCommerce and Shopify. We can help maintain your online presence and ensure a seamless transition to a new platform. Contact Coalition Technologies at (310) 827-3890 for a free quote and a detailed plan on how we can facilitate your migration while maximizing your online sales potential. Don’t let your business become a victim of Magento Go’s discontinuation; we can help you thrive in your new e-commerce environment. Call us today.
