| Most of us have put up a regular website, an online | | | | get your package sent. Every company along the |
| brochure that has no ecommerce capability. But, | | | | way takes a little slice of the profits. An ecommerce |
| putting up one that accepts credit cards and allows | | | | website hosting company will help you to integrate all |
| visitors to put items in a shopping cart is an entirely | | | | of those different parts. Without a company that is |
| different thing. For this, you will need ecommerce | | | | dedicated to online commerce, you could find |
| website hosting to help you on your way. | | | | yourself in serious trouble, with certain parts of your |
| There are multiple pieces in the credit card | | | | ecommerce stream not talking to others. |
| transaction process, most of which you never see | | | | Another thing to keep in mind when choosing an |
| when you are buying something online. When you go | | | | ecommerce website hosting company is that you |
| to an online store and make a purchase, you are | | | | may, at some time, need to increase the number of |
| using their shopping cart which transmits your credit | | | | products you are selling, or plan for increased |
| card information to the credit card company (or | | | | numbers of purchasers. Make sure that the company |
| bank), to make sure you have the funds for the | | | | you choose is able to grow with you, without |
| purchase. That information is sent to the fulfillment | | | | bleeding you of all your profits. You will be in a |
| folks, either in-house or at a separate warehouse, | | | | partnership with this company, hopefully for a long |
| where the package is put together. | | | | time, and you will need to make sure that they can |
| The information is then sent to a delivery company | | | | keep up with your company's growth. |
| (UPS, USPS, FedEx) to get a tracking number and | | | | |