Create an E-commerce Web Site
Many small, retail business owners are thinking about expanding to an online
e-commerce web site. If you are one of these here are a few things you need to think about before you make the decision.
Merchant Account: If you are going to invest in an e-commerce
web site you have to have your own merchant account. Trust is the
biggest issue with most online shoppers and having your own merchant
account gives you that little added "validity" factor. Most retailers are familiar with merchant accounts. What you may not know is that some retail merchant accounts do not allow mail order or online purchases to be processed through those accounts. Before you start looking at an online
e-commerce site check with your merchant account bank or financial institution to see. If not we have a number of possibilities that can possibly save you some money.
Payment Gateway: Payment gateways are simply interfaces between your online
e-commerce site and your merchant account. While not mandatory they will reduce the amount of time it takes you to process your online orders. In many cases, we can provide you an online merchant account and a payment gateway for less than some places charge for one or the other.
Online E-commerce Solution: Before you make your decision about which
e-commerce solution to use check with a few of their customers to see what they think about the software solutions you are considering. Also check to see what kind of support you can expect. You may also check to see how much time they spend managing the site, processing orders and managing their product listings.
Marketing: The most important aspect of a small business
e-commerce site is marketing. Small businesses seldom have huge amounts of dollars for online marketing. Make sure the companies you choose to work with can also help you market your site.
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