E-commerce is just what it sounds like: the internet’s version of commerce. The same as it is in the physical world, e-commerce is the buying and selling of products and services online. With the growing number of people using the internet, many companies have moved partially – or entirely – online. You can now buy take-out, clothes, electronics, vehicles, vacations and even houses online. Most successful businesses have some form of online shopping available. Infact, you could likely finish your Christmas shopping online tonight – and order dinner to be delivered – without leaving your computer chair. Examples of highly successful e-commerce sites are: Amazon, Ebay, Dell and L.L.Bean. There are many small businesses out there too. Check out the inspiration and motivation links for some unlikely but awesome success stories.
I once worked for a small business that had an online presence. Their software was the store’s phone number and the clerks had to input orders into the point of sale terminal then run to the post office at the other side of the mall for rates. Trust me, you don’t want this to be you. Check out several different packages and evaluate what will benefit you the most. There are a few things to look at when deciding what software company to use to launch your business online.
First off, what kind of storefront do they offer? Can it be tailored to suit your brand? Is it easy to navigate for the type of product you will be selling? What kinds of features do they have? How many clients can it handle at a time?
How well does it operate from behind the scenes? How well does it keep track of stock on hand? Does it keep detailed records of sales that you can incorporate into your accounting software? Can it handle multiple customers looking at the same products at the same time? Will it be able to deal with foreign currency or out of province/country shipping details? Will it be able to handle different taxation rates?
Is it easy to build? The last thing you want to do is have to hire a programmer to figure out the ecommerce software you bought. Can you customize your shipping rates? Will it link with local shipping companies to give you rates?
Does it integrate with shipping and payment systems? Many consumers still don’t trust the internet (for good reasons). If the only way you can make a sale is by taking the customer’s credit card number over the internet, you’re hurting your business. Find a system that uses PayPal. Does it automatically log a pick up order with the necessary post company and compile your order as it progresses?
How are you charged for this service? How much is it just to buy the setup? Is there a monthly fee, or is it per transaction? Are additional services extra or included? Will you be charged for upgrades and if so how much?
What kind of support is included? Is there someone you can contact at all times? Is there a charge to use this service? Is it through email or can you speak to someone on the phone if you need to?
Once you’ve got yourself set up make sure you’ve looked at optimizing the chances of people finding you online. Search engine tags use features such as headings, alt tags (notes in the coding of your site), word repetition (don’t go overboard or it will work against you), and relevant traffic and other sites that link to yours. Now go forth and be successful!
