Guide to Ecommerce Solutions Basics

Start your e commerce business with a few simple steps

By Autumn Rivers, Lead Copywriter, Webflo Studios

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a domain name for your e-commerce business

You already know you will need a website for your e-commerce business, but you might wonder what the first step to obtaining a site is. Typically, it is a good idea to buy a domain main prior to creating a website. The sooner you can think of a proper domain name for your business and buy it, the better. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that someone else will create a domain with your desired name.

I recommend: GoDaddy.com is well-known for inexpensive, reliable domain names. Network Solutions also sells domain names to business owners.

Select a web designer to create an e-commerce website for your business

All ecommerce businesses need a website, and most business professionals are not well-versed enough to create their own ecommerce site. It is best to obtain a custom site through an established web design company. Make sure the company you select has the ability to add ecommerce staples, like a business-to-business shopping cart. This will make purchasing your products easy for visitors to your website.

I recommend: A web design company like Webflo Studios or Affordable Web Design and E-Commerce can develop a site for your ecommerce business.

Develop a marketing plan to promote your ecommerce company

Like any other business venture, marketing is a must. Before you do any business, you need to get your name out there. When starting an ecommerce business, be aware that online marketing is particularly important, but marketing offline as well does not hurt. You have many options, such as Internet ad banners, pay-per-click marketing and search engine optimization on your site. However, creating business cards, brochures and print ads can be helpful too.

I recommend: If you can handle marketing on your own, check out Web Marketing Today for more than 30 ways to market your website. If you want the help of ecommerce software, NetSuite can assist you in running your business, including Internet marketing.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you need to save money when just starting out, consider ecommerce templates when creating a website. In the long run, it is best to create a custom site that is different from those of competitors, but a template will get you online quickly while saving money.

Guide to Getting Started In Ecommerce

Get wired to expand your business with e-commerce

By John Henshell, Writer/Editor/Communications Consultant, John Henshell

Adding e-commerce to your existing business can help you:

1. Extend your reach to customers around the world
2. Offer a wider variety of products
3. Entice new customers to visit a retail location

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Register a domain name

Take advantage of any brand recognition and name awareness you've already built by using the name of your existing company for your domain name. However, if the name is already taken, you'll need to come up with an alternative that fits with your corporate identity.

I recommend: Check on the availability of names and register at GoDaddy.com, Register.com or MyDomain.com.

Select a hosting service

Be aware that some hosting services offer bare-bones services geared to personal Web sites. Be sure to select a hosting service that's geared to e-commerce and includes adequate server space, e-mail aliases and security systems to protect customer data.

I recommend: A good place to start is with the company that currently provides your business Internet and email services. Yahoo!, Network Solutions and Affinity Internet offer comprehensive hosting packages designed especially for small businesses.

Build your Web site

Web site design has been simplified thanks to user-friendly software programs that let you choose from a number of templates. If you don't feel comfortable taking on this task, or you don't have the time, hire a designer to take the lead. No matter who takes on design duties, make sure your site reflects your existing brand.

I recommend: Do it yourself with Macromedia's Dreamweaver, Microsoft's FrontPage and Softpress's Freeway.

Select a shopping-cart service

Shopping-cart software makes it easier for your customers to place orders online. A shopping cart can determine shipping costs, calculate sales tax and automatically send order confirmations to your customers.

I recommend: Leading shopping-cart providers include ShopSite, GoEcart and 1Shoppingcart.

Promote your site

Incorporate your Web site into your existing offline marketing and advertising strategies. Be sure to include your URL on all marketing materials and in all advertising.

I recommend: Microsoft shows the key steps of a Web site marketing campaign.

Secure your site

Develop a privacy policy and secure means of accepting payment online so customer data is protected and customers feel like they can trust you.

I recommend: The eCom Resource Center has guidelines for developing privacy and security policies. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology protects customer information by encrypting and authenticating it; trusted SSL certificates are available from VeriSign, Comodo and GoDaddy.

Establish customer service policies and procedures

Develop customer service policies that mirror the level of service you provide in your existing business. Set policies regarding returns, such as if you'll allow customers to return items purchased online to one of your retail locations. Implement customer service options such as Web-based, e-mail or toll-free telephone support.

I recommend: WorkZ.com details the considerations for developing an online customer service plan.

Accept paper and plastic

Offer customers flexible and convenient ways to pay you and establish the means to accept and track online payments. Start by adding an Internet merchant account to your existing merchant account at your bank. This will allow you to accept online credit card payments. To process payments, you'll need to set up a payment gateway account.

I recommend: Popular gateway service providers include Authorize.Net and CyberSource. PayPal offers a free service for sending and receiving online payments.

Process orders

Decide who will fulfill orders – you, employees or a third party – and determine how you will receive, warehouse, package and distribute your products.

I recommend: Track packages using UPS OnLine Tools, just one of many small business solutions from the shipping provider.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Research search engine optimization strategies to improve your site's visibility.
• •  Consider a 'store' on an online auction site as a supplement or lower-cost alternative to having your own site.
• •  Use your site to cross-promote in-store sales and events.
• •  Advertise special online-only sales in your retail locations to drive traffic to your site.

Guide to Making the Most of Ecommerce Solutions

Find unique tips to set your ecommerce services apart

By Autumn Rivers, Lead Copywriter, Webflo Studios

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain an online merchant account for your ecommerce business solution website

If your site is difficult to navigate and even harder to purchase products from, most potential customers will give up and buy elsewhere. Prevent this from happening with a merchant account that is easy for everyone to use and inexpensive for you to provide. Having one will allow you to accept credit cards easily at a low cost to you. You simply need to apply for an account, so having good credit is beneficial in obtaining one.

I recommend: Merchant Accounts Express allows ecommerce businesses to sell products online while being charged reasonable fees for the service. Authorize.Net lets business owners accept many forms of payment, from credit cards and gift cards to debit cards and electronic checks.

Choose a business e-commerce shopping cart for your site

When customers peruse your website and are ready to check out, they will often look for a shopping cart icon. Make it easy for customers to purchase your products while getting creative with a customized shopping cart for your site. Many web design studios offer this service and allow your input as well.

I recommend: A shopping cart from KingCart boasts many features, such as several price breaks, currency options and different pricing for retail customers and dealers. You can also buy shopping cart software with many unique features, such as the kind from 1ShoppingCart.com.

Assure your customers with a secure ecommerce services site

One way to attract customers to buying your products is to let them know your site is secure. Most Internet-savvy visitors will look for a small closed padlock at the bottom of the screen, as well as an 's' after the 'http' in the checkout address. This signifies that your site uses encryption technology that scrambles any information it sends to your computer, which prevents hackers from grabbing credit card numbers and addresses while the transaction is transferred. Your computer will then unscramble the code using certain access privileges. This is just another way to put customers at ease on your site.

I recommend: You can buy an SSL certificate from VeriSign, which will allow you to display a secured seal. You can do the same through GeoTrust.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your ecommerce site content and design can catch and keep a visitor's attention. Most Internet users spend about 10 seconds on a site before deciding if it is interesting enough to continue reading, so keep this in mind if you expect success.

Guide to E-commerce Solutions Key Terms

Understand e-commerce solutions to give your online business a better chance at success

By Tai G., Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Product management

Product management is the process of finding, viewing and searching for products. This is a very important aspect of e-commerce. If a customer has a hard time finding a product, he or she will give up and find a site that is better organized.

I recommend: SEO-Cart presents its product management e-commerce solution, which includes store structure and inventory features.

Order management

Order management is the process by which customer orders are managed from the time the first order is put in, right until he order is complete. This timeframe includes how orders are tracked and whether they can be archived so that customers can view their order history.

I recommend: SolidCactus expands upon the features and benefits of its order management product.

Shopping cart

The shopping cart allows customers to pick items and stores them while the customer continues to shop. Additionally, it automatically totals the items and should allow the customer to delete items and change quantities.

I recommend: WebsiteTips.com offers suggestions for choosing the right shopping cart for your e-commerce solutions.

Checkout

Checkout is the point of the customer shopping experience where items are processed, and taxes and shipping are added. Payment options are also included here.

I recommend: Trialpay offers "5 Ways to Optimize your e-Commerce Checkout," which includes discussions on shipping costs and payment options.

Security

A very significant section in the e-commerce shopping experience, e-commerce security provides safe and secure payment solutions. This is an essential tool in the age of stolen identities.

I recommend: Network Solutions lists the benefits of incorporating SiteSafe and MessageGuard to your e-commerce site.

Merchandising

A method of enhancing sales by using techniques such as cross selling, personalizing site appearance and taking advantage of imaging capabilities.

I recommend: OrderDynamics focuses on benefits of dynamic merchandising, including successful techniques and increasing efficiency.