| Ecommerce or electronic commerce is easily defined | | | | packages allow you customise the interface your |
| as, operating a business and obtaining new | | | | customer sees and also the data you collect from |
| customers, using the internet. | | | | your customer at the time of purchase. |
| There are four essential components you need to | | | | However, be aware that many people are still wary |
| build a successful ecommerce web site. | | | | of buying online and if you ask for too many details |
| Ecommerce Web Site Design | | | | they may think twice and back out of your site. |
| Did you know potential customers decide in a matter | | | | Better to stick to the usual name, email and postal |
| of milliseconds on whether to explore your site or hit | | | | address fields. |
| the back button? | | | | Ecommerce Merchant Account |
| A practical, welcoming web site design is essential. | | | | To get the customer's money into your own bank |
| Customers need to hit your site and instinctively | | | | account you will need the services of an ecommerce |
| know how to explore it. | | | | merchant account provider. |
| You do this of course with an easy to follow style of | | | | This service may be provided by your bank or |
| presentation and a clear, obvious navigation system. | | | | independent financial institutions, failing that you can |
| You must ensure that all hyperlinks work on all pages | | | | make use of the most popular online account |
| of your site. | | | | provider, Paypal. |
| Professional Ecommerce Web Site Hosting | | | | The ecommerce merchant account is an essential |
| You must have professional web site hosting to | | | | interface between your shopping cart and your bank |
| ensure your ecommerce web site is available 99% of | | | | account that takes care of the credit and debit card |
| the time. I'm afraid budget or free hosting just won't | | | | processing. You cannot do this part yourself, you |
| be good enough here. | | | | need to use an authorized financial institution. |
| You do not want to pay good money on advertising | | | | Your Choices |
| encouraging potential customers to view your site | | | | You need to carefully research the various providers |
| only for them to find it is unavailable due to | | | | of the four ecommerce web site components |
| unplanned maintenance. They will not return. | | | | discussed. |
| You also need to have your own domain name and | | | | Most of all research not only one off fees, but the |
| not one that is part of another web site. You can | | | | ongoing costs too, such as transaction charges and |
| buy a new domain name for under $10 so why skimp | | | | look for hidden components. Also be aware that |
| on this aspect? | | | | some merchant account providers can charge high |
| Ecommerce Shopping Cart Software | | | | transaction fees, it pays to shop around. |
| Shopping cart software is the part of your web site | | | | The above gives you a quick guide to ecommerce |
| that actually processes your customers' payment. | | | | web sites, for a more in depth analysis visit our web |
| Naturally you want reliable, easy to use software | | | | site detailed below. |
| here but a word of warning, the better ecommerce | | | | |