Can You Commit to e-commerce?
As with any new distribution channel, you'll
need to commit some of your company's resources to e-commerce
to ensure you're able to provide the appropriate levels of service
and support. You will need to handle additional sales coming
over the Web, as well as tasks associated with keeping your site
operating smoothly.
These include:
- Managing outgoing customer communications
- Handling customer inquiries
- Updating site inventory
- Arranging shipping logistics and options
- Conducting regular site maintenance
- Establishing and maintaining site security
To reap the most benefit from your online sales channel, it's
a good idea to create a plan for handling these tasks before
you build your site, including who in your organization will
own each item.
Development Criteria?
There are a few questions
that you will have to take address to set up an online store
or a web site that receives currency through the World Wide Web.
- Is your current Web site running on UNIX server, Windows
server, or Other Type?
- Do you currently have a merchant account?
- How many products do you anticipate selling?
- Do you have/need images for your products?...if yes what
format are they?
- Do they need to be scanned?...or are they in web ready
format?
- Do you need to track orders?
- Do you need to be able to update certain parts of your
Web site on your own?
- What countries would you be selling products and services
in?
- Do you want to create a client name and e-mail database?
- What are your marketing goals?
Online Payment Processing
Accepting
credit cards online is imperative for successful e-commerce.
It makes it easy for customers to purchase from you, encourages
impulse buying, reinforces your company's professionalism and
increases your chance of closing a sale.
To accept credit cards online, you
will have to fulfill two requirements. These are:
- Internet Merchant Account
- Payment Service Provider
(PSP)
Merchant Account
Step One, requires you to talk to your
bank about setting up an Internet Merchant Account which will
allow you to accept funds from credit card transactions over
the Internet.
Payment Service Provider
Step Two, requires you to organize a Payment
Service Provider. A Payment Service Provider is responsible for
providing the real-time credit card transation technology for
your website. For instance, when a customer enters their credit
card details on your site, the PSP will talk to their bank and
authorise or decline the credit card. If the transaction is accepted,
the funds will be deposited to your account, and the transaction
will be complete.
Ecommerce Web Hosting Provider
Consider hosting to be your digital
address. To set up an ecommerce web site, you will require Ecommerce
enabled web servers. Completecents offers Ecommerce plans on
both Linux and Windows Platforms. We also design and develop
ecommerce sites. For more information, please click
here.
Promote Your Ecommerce
Site
Once you have set up your web site domain
and hosting, and developed a store front that allows visitors
to puruse your wares, the final step is to promote your web site
throughout the Web. A web site is only as effective as the number
of visitors that arrive, try and buy. For more information on
marketing you web site, please click
here.
Ready For Ecommerce?
Ready to set up an ecommerce web site? Contact us.
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