OK - Just What Is A Shopping Cart Supposed to Do?
Shopping carts are more commonly used as a way to display physical products, products like televisions, groceries, electronic equipment, clothes, and memorabilia, etc, NOT digital products. Shopping carts make it easy to cross-sell and up-sell your customers once they arrive at your store. Shopping carts typically handle the shipping and handling calculation, taxes and credit card processing. A good shopping cart handles all of these efficiently and securely.
Dynamic Operation
A good shopping cart program also creates dynamic order forms on the fly as the order takes place. The shopping cart should be totally dynamic; meaning it only executes code and retrieves products, images, and product descriptions from your database when your customers request it. During the checkout process it should also calculate shipping/handling and taxes for you.
Real-Time Credit Card Processing
Powerful CGI, PHP, CFM, ASP, etc, scripting, processes commands for you on secure servers when your customers place their orders. Don't get this confused with credit card processing. What I'm speaking of here is the passing of your customers' order information from a secure form, to your merchant or payment processor, using one of the scripting languages above. Your payment processor or merchant, like PayPal, 2CheckOut, or Authorize.Net will then process the credit card. If you don't currently have a merchant or payment processor, and you are going to be selling online, then you NEED one.
Usability
You can choose what options you want your customer to see. For instance, you can choose to display a search form on your shopping cart. A search form allows your customers to search your store for items by keyword or product name, etc. You can choose to display options like color, size and quantity, and even adjust the price based on the customer's selection. These are called options. Your shopping cart should also allow you to upload images of your products as well.
Stand-Alone -vs- Hosted Shopping Carts
However, you CAN purchase standalone shopping cart software or services. The stand alone software, of course, requires skill and expertise to install it on your web host or on your own server. Some of the shopping cart services, although it may not seem like it at first, limit you as to what you can and cannot do. These services are most commonly offered by web hosts as a way to entice you to host your site with them. When using these types of services, remember, you're locked into using that web host when you opt to use their shopping cart service. Your business is not portable and becomes a part of that web host. Make sure there is a simple export process that allows you to easily download your website and shopping cart if you no longer wish to use their services. In my opinion, the best option is to use a shopping cart that runs from your own website, independent of your web host. Both Prowebware and stand-alone shopping cart applications run from YOUR website, giving you both control and flexibility.
So, Which Is The Right System For You?
Choosing a shopping cart boils down to 4 things:
1 Your Budget - Is FREE your only option or are you serious about your business?
2 Your Skill-level - Do you have the expertise to edit & install scripts on your server?
3 Desired Functionality - Want a professional results oriented system or a display case?
4 Time - Have time to take away from your business to shape and mold a new program?
Whatever you decide, your cart should also permit you to follow-up with your customers automatically and even instantly auto-subscribe them to your mailing list.
To implement most out-of-the-box applications, you will need to know how to edit PHP, HTML, or ASP code and how to set up a MySQL database on your server for dynamic operation. Then, with some, all you need to know is how to copy/paste some simple code to your existing web pages or the template you're using. The system should also include some type of easy help or instructions, like an HTML file or contextual help menus that walk you through setting up your new cart.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
E-Commerce Hosting - Factors to Consider
So you have decided to take the plunge and take your business on the web. This most likely means you will need a reliable hosting service to host your e-Commerce website. What are the key factors that you should consider when considering various web hosting companies?
When considering a web hosting service you should consider at least three factors, how reliable the service actually is, how knowledgeable and prompt are their support staff and what is the actual cost of using this service. Let's break down each factor and really consider this situation in depth.
The reliability of the web hosting service is perhaps the most important to your business as a unreliable service can seriously hamper the reputation of your business. So how do you determine if a host is actually reliable? The first and perhaps the easiest way is to join a public newsgroup of web developers and simply ask them who they use to host their websites.
For instance if you should want to use a ASP/ASP.Net hosting service I would go to asp.net and simply ask who is the most reliable hosting service. Also, searching through these newsgroups will reveal quite a lot of information regarding how knowledgably and helpful the support staff is as well. Simply stay away from hosting providers that have a poor reputation as those service companies most likely are only concerned with separating your money from your wallet and not actually helping you grow your business.
How do you determine which service has the most knowledgeable and helpful staff? This one is again fairly easy to determine. If the staff of the company takes the time to answer questions on public newsgroups and is willing to share their time and knowledge to help out others then this is the company you should utilize. For instance I have noticed that on some public newsgroups or forums many of the questions being answered are from various web hosting services. This not only reinforces their reputation of being really knowledgeable and helpful but it allows the company to get some "free advertising" as well.
Lastly is the cost factor to consider. There are many low cost web hosting providers out there. All you have to do is a search on Google and you will obtain potentially millions of hits on that key term. However, even low cost web hosting services can turn out to be expensive when you consider the various add-ons that you may have to attach to your website to make it truly useful to you. So therefore when considering a web hosting service write down your exact requirements you need to make your website run. Also consider the amount of growth that you anticipate when using this website.
A website that may work for you now may not work for you in the near future if your business should really take off and you have not factored that consideration into account. Also take into account any cost of upgrading your service should you outgrow it or you need to move to a high end hosting solution.
When considering a e-Commerce hosting service or any web hosting service these are the key factors to consider before making any purchase. While certainly not an exhaustive listing of everything you need to consider this should get you on the right path to narrow your choices down to at least three or four services.
When considering a web hosting service you should consider at least three factors, how reliable the service actually is, how knowledgeable and prompt are their support staff and what is the actual cost of using this service. Let's break down each factor and really consider this situation in depth.
The reliability of the web hosting service is perhaps the most important to your business as a unreliable service can seriously hamper the reputation of your business. So how do you determine if a host is actually reliable? The first and perhaps the easiest way is to join a public newsgroup of web developers and simply ask them who they use to host their websites.
For instance if you should want to use a ASP/ASP.Net hosting service I would go to asp.net and simply ask who is the most reliable hosting service. Also, searching through these newsgroups will reveal quite a lot of information regarding how knowledgably and helpful the support staff is as well. Simply stay away from hosting providers that have a poor reputation as those service companies most likely are only concerned with separating your money from your wallet and not actually helping you grow your business.
How do you determine which service has the most knowledgeable and helpful staff? This one is again fairly easy to determine. If the staff of the company takes the time to answer questions on public newsgroups and is willing to share their time and knowledge to help out others then this is the company you should utilize. For instance I have noticed that on some public newsgroups or forums many of the questions being answered are from various web hosting services. This not only reinforces their reputation of being really knowledgeable and helpful but it allows the company to get some "free advertising" as well.
Lastly is the cost factor to consider. There are many low cost web hosting providers out there. All you have to do is a search on Google and you will obtain potentially millions of hits on that key term. However, even low cost web hosting services can turn out to be expensive when you consider the various add-ons that you may have to attach to your website to make it truly useful to you. So therefore when considering a web hosting service write down your exact requirements you need to make your website run. Also consider the amount of growth that you anticipate when using this website.
A website that may work for you now may not work for you in the near future if your business should really take off and you have not factored that consideration into account. Also take into account any cost of upgrading your service should you outgrow it or you need to move to a high end hosting solution.
When considering a e-Commerce hosting service or any web hosting service these are the key factors to consider before making any purchase. While certainly not an exhaustive listing of everything you need to consider this should get you on the right path to narrow your choices down to at least three or four services.
Beginner's Guide for Setting Up a Successful Online Store
Selling products online is by no means a simple task. To sell products online not only requires making use of high end marketing strategies but also involves lots of planning. This article is meant for those of you who intent to start an online store. It is intended to give you a fair idea of what you would need to do and what you need to avoid while planning an online selling business.
The following are the various steps that you would need to take in order to open a successful online store.
1.) Designing a website that sells.
The first important aspect of online selling is to have a professional looking web site that is designed to sell. You can chose to create the web site using web designers or simply chose readymade website templates. If you are purchasing web site templates, make sure the templates are professionally designed and have the option of shopping carts. Buying templates from providers who offer allied services like template customization, web hosting; SEO etc would be even better. Some template providers like ‘buytemplates.net’ offer allied services irrespective of where you actually purchased the template from. To get a idea of how your site should be designed you can take hints from successful online stores.
2.) Hosting your store online
There are many factors that you need to take into consideration before selecting your web host when it comes to online selling. Some of the major factors are discussed as follows.
a.) Secure servers
Firstly you got to make sure if your web host offers you with SSL encryption which is very important for secure money transactions online. Most web hosting companies would offer you with SSL secure server facilities along with a regular package whereas a few would charge you an extra amount for the service.
b.) Up time guarantees
Your business is only as good as it remains online. Make sure to go for web hosting service providers who promise you an uptime guarantee of 99 %. Also check to see as to how they back up their data and what kind of back up systems they have in place in case of emergencies.
c.) Private CGI-BIN
A CGI-BIN directory is a location on your web server where you can upload your binary scripts or interactive programs. This is very important for payment processing and shopping cart management. So be sure that the hosing company gives you a private CGI BIN directory.
d.) Web logs and web statistics
Web logs and statistics are vital for your online business. Studying the web logs can give you much needed information about your customers and your sales records. Understanding your customer behavior can help you retain customers and attract new customers.
e.) Customer support
Get information about the hosting company’s support policies and the type of support they offer. Chose web hosting companies that offer 24/7 customer support.
f.) References
Most web hosts promise you lots of goodies, but may not actually fulfill these promises. Make sure to test the web host’s credibility by asking them for references. The existing customers of the hosting company can give your first hand information on the service that you can expect to get.
In addition to this you should also look for services that offer you Mysql database and PHP scripting, unlimited emails and a minimum space of 10GB.
3.) Deciding on shopping carts
If you are selling more than a handful of products then having a shopping cart on your site is a good idea. You have three major options of getting yourself an online shopping cart. First one is buying a shopping cart software program, the second is using services of an ASP and the third is programming it yourself.
Your best option as a beginner would be to go for ASP services. These services are cheap and come with flexible options. As time passes and you online business develops, you can hire programmers to design yourself a customized shopping cart or buy shopping cart software programs that can be set up in your server. Some good ASP’s that offer shopping cart services are ‘SecureNetShop’ (SecureNetShop.com) and ‘GoEmerchant’ (GoEmerchant.com).
Shopping cart software programs are a costly option for beginners and can cost you anything between $ 150 - $ 800. Some good shopping cart software programs are ‘shopfactory 6’ (shopfactory.com) and ‘storefront’ (strorefront.net) One more option as already discussed above is making use of ecommerce website templates. These ecommerce templates have pre installed shopping cart systems and can help you set up a store in minutes. Some of these template providers also offer template customization services that would allow you to get your ordinary templates in selling modules.
4.) Deciding on how to accept payments
No matter what the speculation, credit cards are still the best way to accept payments. So make sure that your online business has facilities to accept credit cards. There was a time when you had to have a merchant account from a bank or financial institution to process credit card payments. But today there are enough options available that allow you to accept credit card payments even without a merchant account.
Paypal (paypal.com) is perhaps the best payment gateway and has no initial joining fees. Their service fees, per-transaction is very low and they allow you to accept payments from all over the world. In addition to Paypal some other good payment gateways are ‘2checkout’ (2checkout.com), ‘clickbank’ (clickbank.com) and ‘paysystems’ (paysystems.com).
Payment options other than credit cards
It is not certain that all your customers will have credit cards. As a matter of fact many of your customers don’t have credit cards, many don’t like to use credit cards, many have credit card phobias and the remaining may not wish to share their credit card information online. Under such a situation it would be best for you to provide alternate payment options.
The following are the various steps that you would need to take in order to open a successful online store.
1.) Designing a website that sells.
The first important aspect of online selling is to have a professional looking web site that is designed to sell. You can chose to create the web site using web designers or simply chose readymade website templates. If you are purchasing web site templates, make sure the templates are professionally designed and have the option of shopping carts. Buying templates from providers who offer allied services like template customization, web hosting; SEO etc would be even better. Some template providers like ‘buytemplates.net’ offer allied services irrespective of where you actually purchased the template from. To get a idea of how your site should be designed you can take hints from successful online stores.
2.) Hosting your store online
There are many factors that you need to take into consideration before selecting your web host when it comes to online selling. Some of the major factors are discussed as follows.
a.) Secure servers
Firstly you got to make sure if your web host offers you with SSL encryption which is very important for secure money transactions online. Most web hosting companies would offer you with SSL secure server facilities along with a regular package whereas a few would charge you an extra amount for the service.
b.) Up time guarantees
Your business is only as good as it remains online. Make sure to go for web hosting service providers who promise you an uptime guarantee of 99 %. Also check to see as to how they back up their data and what kind of back up systems they have in place in case of emergencies.
c.) Private CGI-BIN
A CGI-BIN directory is a location on your web server where you can upload your binary scripts or interactive programs. This is very important for payment processing and shopping cart management. So be sure that the hosing company gives you a private CGI BIN directory.
d.) Web logs and web statistics
Web logs and statistics are vital for your online business. Studying the web logs can give you much needed information about your customers and your sales records. Understanding your customer behavior can help you retain customers and attract new customers.
e.) Customer support
Get information about the hosting company’s support policies and the type of support they offer. Chose web hosting companies that offer 24/7 customer support.
f.) References
Most web hosts promise you lots of goodies, but may not actually fulfill these promises. Make sure to test the web host’s credibility by asking them for references. The existing customers of the hosting company can give your first hand information on the service that you can expect to get.
In addition to this you should also look for services that offer you Mysql database and PHP scripting, unlimited emails and a minimum space of 10GB.
3.) Deciding on shopping carts
If you are selling more than a handful of products then having a shopping cart on your site is a good idea. You have three major options of getting yourself an online shopping cart. First one is buying a shopping cart software program, the second is using services of an ASP and the third is programming it yourself.
Your best option as a beginner would be to go for ASP services. These services are cheap and come with flexible options. As time passes and you online business develops, you can hire programmers to design yourself a customized shopping cart or buy shopping cart software programs that can be set up in your server. Some good ASP’s that offer shopping cart services are ‘SecureNetShop’ (SecureNetShop.com) and ‘GoEmerchant’ (GoEmerchant.com).
Shopping cart software programs are a costly option for beginners and can cost you anything between $ 150 - $ 800. Some good shopping cart software programs are ‘shopfactory 6’ (shopfactory.com) and ‘storefront’ (strorefront.net) One more option as already discussed above is making use of ecommerce website templates. These ecommerce templates have pre installed shopping cart systems and can help you set up a store in minutes. Some of these template providers also offer template customization services that would allow you to get your ordinary templates in selling modules.
4.) Deciding on how to accept payments
No matter what the speculation, credit cards are still the best way to accept payments. So make sure that your online business has facilities to accept credit cards. There was a time when you had to have a merchant account from a bank or financial institution to process credit card payments. But today there are enough options available that allow you to accept credit card payments even without a merchant account.
Paypal (paypal.com) is perhaps the best payment gateway and has no initial joining fees. Their service fees, per-transaction is very low and they allow you to accept payments from all over the world. In addition to Paypal some other good payment gateways are ‘2checkout’ (2checkout.com), ‘clickbank’ (clickbank.com) and ‘paysystems’ (paysystems.com).
Payment options other than credit cards
It is not certain that all your customers will have credit cards. As a matter of fact many of your customers don’t have credit cards, many don’t like to use credit cards, many have credit card phobias and the remaining may not wish to share their credit card information online. Under such a situation it would be best for you to provide alternate payment options.
Online Shopping Through A Million Pixel Home Page - Will It Work?
Online Shopping is growing in higher numbers every year with new Online Shopping venues becoming available. The Million Pixel Home Page Online Shopping Mall may be the newest but will it work?
With the emergence of the Million-Pixel Advertising Home Page becoming a real option for Internet marketing. The ever quickly evolving platform is starting become more targeted for particular categories and themes. The Million Pixel Home Page as an Online Shopping mall for anything under the sun has really become a topic of discussion for both believers and skeptics.
The Million Pixel Advertising Online Shopping mall is a billboard of micro ads for website owners looking to create a new way of gaining exposure. The Million Pixel Online Shopping Home Page is thought as new platform to eliminate the days of page by page clicking seen by directories of the same theme. Skeptics have concerns of online surfers not adapting to this new concept and thought to be just a passing fad that won’t translate to online shopping.
Believers of the Million Pixel Advertising Home Page say creativity with ads in the Online Shopping platform may prove to be the biggest piece of importance for success. Grabbing the attention of visitors with smart and original micro ads are believed to be more affective than ordinary text ads.
Even as the Online Shopping advertising home page continues to show impressive numbers, opponents to the Million-Pixel sites doubt it will last. Visitors are coming and high traffic amounts are converting with the new changes and marketing plans. It is thought that once the buzz fades over time so will the traffic but at the current time The Online Shopping Pixel sites are holding there own.
So will the Pixel Online Shopping Mall work?
This new concept of The Million Pixel Home Page may very well change the way Internet Online Shopping and website promotion is done and The Million Pixel Home and Online Shopping may prove to be the perfect match but only time will tell.
With the emergence of the Million-Pixel Advertising Home Page becoming a real option for Internet marketing. The ever quickly evolving platform is starting become more targeted for particular categories and themes. The Million Pixel Home Page as an Online Shopping mall for anything under the sun has really become a topic of discussion for both believers and skeptics.
The Million Pixel Advertising Online Shopping mall is a billboard of micro ads for website owners looking to create a new way of gaining exposure. The Million Pixel Online Shopping Home Page is thought as new platform to eliminate the days of page by page clicking seen by directories of the same theme. Skeptics have concerns of online surfers not adapting to this new concept and thought to be just a passing fad that won’t translate to online shopping.
Believers of the Million Pixel Advertising Home Page say creativity with ads in the Online Shopping platform may prove to be the biggest piece of importance for success. Grabbing the attention of visitors with smart and original micro ads are believed to be more affective than ordinary text ads.
Even as the Online Shopping advertising home page continues to show impressive numbers, opponents to the Million-Pixel sites doubt it will last. Visitors are coming and high traffic amounts are converting with the new changes and marketing plans. It is thought that once the buzz fades over time so will the traffic but at the current time The Online Shopping Pixel sites are holding there own.
So will the Pixel Online Shopping Mall work?
This new concept of The Million Pixel Home Page may very well change the way Internet Online Shopping and website promotion is done and The Million Pixel Home and Online Shopping may prove to be the perfect match but only time will tell.
Priorities for ECommerce
The imprtance of providing what a customer wants can never be underesimated when it comes to online buying and selling. Once a website has been created, it fits into two basic categories. Those are information and ecommerce sites. Both types of website have a great deal in common, one of which is to gain the maximum amount of viewers who have an interest in the information or products provided.
However, there are numerous ways in which the website owner can attract visitors, and these have to be prioritised so as to provide the maximum benefit to the end user. Firstly, the site needs to be attractive to the viewer, with a balanced blend of colour, and an appealing layout. Each section of the website should be easy to navigate from one area to another, and absolute clarity throughout the pages regarding what is being portrayed.
Having designed the site in an appealing way, the next issue is the content. Many websites fail to provide either adequate content or indeed content of the right type. Many thousands of new websites are added to the internet each month, and so the choice for internet users is enormous. It is therefore more important each day that passes, that a website offers a distinct presentation and content.
The number one priority for any ecommerce website, is the customer. If the customer is innovated by what he or she sees, and feels that the site either is, or can be, of use to them, then success can be measured by return visits aswell as time spent on the site using the information available, and making purchases. It is extremely important to provide what a customer is searching for. Otherwise, the opportunity is lost, as the next website is only a click away!
An ecommerce website can be considered as a shopfront, except that there are two major differences. One is that the shopper does not have to walk out into the cold to look at another shop, and the other is that the products cannot be physically touched. Because of this, it is most important to present the product in the most beneficial way possible, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding what the product is, how much it costs, and how they can obtain it as quickly as possible.
Providing a clear set of terms and conditions, privacy policy, returns policy where applicable, together with information on the Company presenting the website, will add to the overall positive impression that people will have.
The viewing public quite likely have not taken into account just how much time is spent creating a website, promoting it, ensuring it is running efficiently, aswell as customer services, accounts, staff and all of the other things that running a business entails. Neither should they be concerned with these issues, as their time is spent perusing the internet, searching for what is of interest to them. Making a customer feel relaxed, and enjoy the experience of browsing your website, is the ultimate reward.
It is always best to be clear and concise, provide good content, and an easily navigable website. However, if the site can provide goods or services that are of use, are appealing, and are value for money, then these together with a well thought out presentation, will ensure eventual success, as in any commercial business.
However, there are numerous ways in which the website owner can attract visitors, and these have to be prioritised so as to provide the maximum benefit to the end user. Firstly, the site needs to be attractive to the viewer, with a balanced blend of colour, and an appealing layout. Each section of the website should be easy to navigate from one area to another, and absolute clarity throughout the pages regarding what is being portrayed.
Having designed the site in an appealing way, the next issue is the content. Many websites fail to provide either adequate content or indeed content of the right type. Many thousands of new websites are added to the internet each month, and so the choice for internet users is enormous. It is therefore more important each day that passes, that a website offers a distinct presentation and content.
The number one priority for any ecommerce website, is the customer. If the customer is innovated by what he or she sees, and feels that the site either is, or can be, of use to them, then success can be measured by return visits aswell as time spent on the site using the information available, and making purchases. It is extremely important to provide what a customer is searching for. Otherwise, the opportunity is lost, as the next website is only a click away!
An ecommerce website can be considered as a shopfront, except that there are two major differences. One is that the shopper does not have to walk out into the cold to look at another shop, and the other is that the products cannot be physically touched. Because of this, it is most important to present the product in the most beneficial way possible, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding what the product is, how much it costs, and how they can obtain it as quickly as possible.
Providing a clear set of terms and conditions, privacy policy, returns policy where applicable, together with information on the Company presenting the website, will add to the overall positive impression that people will have.
The viewing public quite likely have not taken into account just how much time is spent creating a website, promoting it, ensuring it is running efficiently, aswell as customer services, accounts, staff and all of the other things that running a business entails. Neither should they be concerned with these issues, as their time is spent perusing the internet, searching for what is of interest to them. Making a customer feel relaxed, and enjoy the experience of browsing your website, is the ultimate reward.
It is always best to be clear and concise, provide good content, and an easily navigable website. However, if the site can provide goods or services that are of use, are appealing, and are value for money, then these together with a well thought out presentation, will ensure eventual success, as in any commercial business.
Tips for Building Your First Online Shopping Cart
Starting your first online store?
Starting an online store can be extremely daunting for someone new to the world of online businesses, but, for a good reason. There are so many aspects which create success for a shopping cart in a world of powerful search engines, directories, affiliates and word of mouth, the chance of making it big can rely purely on a big budget or a brand new idea.
If you’re thinking of building your online extension of a current business or even starting a purely online business then hopefully the following will outline some of the most important aspects of getting started.
Market research Ask yourself, is there any point in setting up any kind of online business at all, if there is no demand or so much competition you will be lost in the crowd?
There have been a few exceptions in the past where small businesses are so well structured and marketed that they grow quickly and succeed, however this can be very difficult without the right support.
So how are you going to set yourself apart? What will be your image? And what are your goals?
These are questions you need to think about when you are researching. Find out if there is truly an opportunity for your company to succeed. The worst thing you can do is simply jump in and hope for the best, did the most successful companies in the world do that?
Setting Targets and Goals Figuring out where you will be in 5... 10... 15... 20 years from now plays an integral part in the way your shopping cart is structured, managed and performs now. Target and goal setting makes an incredible difference to the level of success or success at all a company can enjoy.
Start thinking about the steps your online store will make at each stage of it's life.
When it starts to grow needing new staff
When it needs financial assistance
When changes to tax structure is important
What new markets you wish to tap into
Your staff rewards when targets are met
Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sales targets
…and the list goes on. Think big! If you aim higher than the rest, the chance of your shopping cart being successful is also higher.
Setting up Your Store – general rules
- Business Contact information
The following information should be posted to the website in an easy to see location:
A corporate address
Product return address
An e-mail address
A contact number
Big detailed pictures pay off
Just like in a physical retail shop, your customers want to really know what they are buying and need to see it close up. Make sure you are uploading images larger than just the detailed product view. Upload at least 400 X 400 pixels and up to 700 X 700 pixels for every product image so your customer can get a clear detailed view of what they plan to buy from you, otherwise, they will simply click away.
Testimonials
Do testimonials work? Can testimonials be rigged and seem unauthentic? Sure. It seems like most testimonials are generic. If you include the first and last name as well as possibly an email address of the testimonial, you will earn trust and credibility.
- Graphics
While a flashy site with neat graphics may catch someone's eye, well written, descriptive, persuasive text is the ticket to sales conversions... it's the difference between the prospective buyer exiting your site and opening their pocketbook. Avoid any annoying music and long loading flash movies on your main pages.
- Only knowledgeable people to take phone calls
Consumers shopping online are no different than regular retail customers, they have questions about your product, your business and your delivery methods. It is important to greet any phone calls or emails with well trained staff who are knowledgeable about your company and products. The more your company can assist consumers, the better the conversion rates and repeat buying. Don't forget to cross sell and up-sell at this point!
- Return policies should be easy and fair
A good return policy can promote trust in the buyer and multiple orders. It is important to include return labels with the packaging and provide refunds when requested. Repeat business is your best business. Provide them with your best customer service and they will reward you for it by ordering from your shopping cart- not someone else's.
- Navigation
Make sure you maintain a simple navigation throughout your shopping cart. There should be no reason to steer customers more than two to three clicks deep within your site, the home page should always be only a click away. The clearer your site is presented, the more time customers can spend looking at all your products and info without getting frustrated. It is important that your build your shopping cart using a quality programmer and designer or well designed/built shopping cart software.
Starting an online store can be extremely daunting for someone new to the world of online businesses, but, for a good reason. There are so many aspects which create success for a shopping cart in a world of powerful search engines, directories, affiliates and word of mouth, the chance of making it big can rely purely on a big budget or a brand new idea.
If you’re thinking of building your online extension of a current business or even starting a purely online business then hopefully the following will outline some of the most important aspects of getting started.
Market research Ask yourself, is there any point in setting up any kind of online business at all, if there is no demand or so much competition you will be lost in the crowd?
There have been a few exceptions in the past where small businesses are so well structured and marketed that they grow quickly and succeed, however this can be very difficult without the right support.
So how are you going to set yourself apart? What will be your image? And what are your goals?
These are questions you need to think about when you are researching. Find out if there is truly an opportunity for your company to succeed. The worst thing you can do is simply jump in and hope for the best, did the most successful companies in the world do that?
Setting Targets and Goals Figuring out where you will be in 5... 10... 15... 20 years from now plays an integral part in the way your shopping cart is structured, managed and performs now. Target and goal setting makes an incredible difference to the level of success or success at all a company can enjoy.
Start thinking about the steps your online store will make at each stage of it's life.
When it starts to grow needing new staff
When it needs financial assistance
When changes to tax structure is important
What new markets you wish to tap into
Your staff rewards when targets are met
Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sales targets
…and the list goes on. Think big! If you aim higher than the rest, the chance of your shopping cart being successful is also higher.
Setting up Your Store – general rules
- Business Contact information
The following information should be posted to the website in an easy to see location:
A corporate address
Product return address
An e-mail address
A contact number
Big detailed pictures pay off
Just like in a physical retail shop, your customers want to really know what they are buying and need to see it close up. Make sure you are uploading images larger than just the detailed product view. Upload at least 400 X 400 pixels and up to 700 X 700 pixels for every product image so your customer can get a clear detailed view of what they plan to buy from you, otherwise, they will simply click away.
Testimonials
Do testimonials work? Can testimonials be rigged and seem unauthentic? Sure. It seems like most testimonials are generic. If you include the first and last name as well as possibly an email address of the testimonial, you will earn trust and credibility.
- Graphics
While a flashy site with neat graphics may catch someone's eye, well written, descriptive, persuasive text is the ticket to sales conversions... it's the difference between the prospective buyer exiting your site and opening their pocketbook. Avoid any annoying music and long loading flash movies on your main pages.
- Only knowledgeable people to take phone calls
Consumers shopping online are no different than regular retail customers, they have questions about your product, your business and your delivery methods. It is important to greet any phone calls or emails with well trained staff who are knowledgeable about your company and products. The more your company can assist consumers, the better the conversion rates and repeat buying. Don't forget to cross sell and up-sell at this point!
- Return policies should be easy and fair
A good return policy can promote trust in the buyer and multiple orders. It is important to include return labels with the packaging and provide refunds when requested. Repeat business is your best business. Provide them with your best customer service and they will reward you for it by ordering from your shopping cart- not someone else's.
- Navigation
Make sure you maintain a simple navigation throughout your shopping cart. There should be no reason to steer customers more than two to three clicks deep within your site, the home page should always be only a click away. The clearer your site is presented, the more time customers can spend looking at all your products and info without getting frustrated. It is important that your build your shopping cart using a quality programmer and designer or well designed/built shopping cart software.
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