In the year 2008, an estimated $204 billion dollars were spent by consumers who shopped online. People are enjoying the convenience of being able to shop from home or the office, and have their products delivered directly to them. If they don’t buy online from you, then they are probably going to buy online from someone else. Selling products online allows you to increase your customer base, compete more effectively, and reduce your costs. However, while there are many advantages to selling products over the internet, setting up an online store can become overwhelming and frustrating without taking the right steps.
There are many eCommerce solutions out there to help you with your online business. However, if you are planning to open an independent, professional looking online store, the first place to start is with a web hosting company. Before anything else, you must select a hosting company with the features that your business needs and register a domain name with them. Some of the features to look at include, price bandwidth, space limitations, and eCommerce tools. Many web hosting companies come with one click installation to free software programs with design templates, shopping carts, and more.
After selecting a hosting company and registering a domain name, the next step is to build the web site. Once again, there are many different programs to choose from. You can choose to build it yourself or have an outside company design it for you. There are open source software programs that are free of charge, or you can invest some money into one of the many shopping cart programs that are for sale. . When selecting a shopping cart program one thing to remember is that while templates make it easier, a customized appearance can draw more attention from your consumers. Other considerations include security features, the ability to integrate them with merchant accounts, and marketing tools.
In addition to a web site and shopping cart, you need a merchant account and/or payment gateway. These items will allow you to authorize and process credit cards or other forms of payments online. Transaction and set up fees vary, so it is a good idea to shop around. Plus, you must find a company that is compatible with your shopping cart program.
A hosting company, a catalog design, a shopping cart, a merchant account and a payment gateway are the main components to setting up an online store. In addition you will want to obtain an SSL certificate, a tax ID number, and some marketing strategies, before you can start selling. If you run into trouble, there are many eCommerce companies that offer solutions and web sites that offer how-to advise. Although it may seem challenging, selling products online can be a profitable way to establish or improve a business.
