| Many of your competitors are already doing | | | | always talk to a live person if anything goes |
| business through the Internet. You read | | | | wrong. |
| that yearly growth rate of e-commerce is over | | | | |
| 25 percent. E-commerce segment for the | | | | 3. Different Payment Methods Although credit |
| businesses that sells to other businesses | | | | cards are by far the most acceptable means of |
| or B2B, as it is called, is escalating even | | | | payments on the Internet, you should |
| in a better pace. Naturally, at one point, | | | | definitely consider other methods as well. |
| you too decide that you need to have a | | | | For small payments, Paypal is becoming |
| piece of this action! But, what are the main | | | | increasingly a popular mode. All e-commerce |
| characteristics of a good e-commerce site | | | | sites should integrate this to their |
| that you must consider even before you | | | | payment methods. More options include: |
| build one? | | | | Electronic checks, e-bullion, Offline bank |
| | | | transfer etc. |
| A small research will show that there are | | | | |
| numerous choices for you to make your | | | | 4. Shopping Cart with Tax Calculation In |
| business presence online. In fact, you can be | | | | your search for shopping carts look for the |
| overwhelmed with all the possibilities that | | | | ones, which have different tax calculation |
| are available on the Internet to build an | | | | mechanisms inbuilt. If you are located in a |
| e-commerce website. | | | | province or state where your regional tax |
| | | | gets calculated on top of the federal or vice |
| However, it is important to plan your website | | | | versa, your shopping cart should have the |
| before even shop around for tools to build | | | | ability to calculate them correctly. |
| your site. There are some basic components | | | | |
| that all e-commerce sites include, such as | | | | 5. Guarantees As money back guarantees are |
| product or service description pages, a | | | | becoming increasingly common on online |
| shopping cart - so that buyers can select | | | | sales you should consider prominently posting |
| and keep items from your product list till | | | | your money back guarantee on you website. |
| they generate a purchase order or an | | | | Be sure to make your money back guarantee |
| invoice, a payment mechanism: so that | | | | generous! Customers are becoming pickier on |
| buyers can pay for your products online or | | | | this issue. For example if you sell knowledge |
| offline. But, you also need to pay | | | | base products like e-books, reports etc. |
| attention to the following crucial aspects: | | | | make your hundred percent guarantees at |
| | | | least of two months. For tangible products, |
| 1. Product information Buyers take their | | | | after sales warrantees should be also |
| decision whether to buy a product from your | | | | considerably generous. Customers should |
| site or not depending on the information that | | | | feel completely secured to buy at your |
| you provide. That's why the product should | | | | website. |
| have a clear and high-quality picture, | | | | |
| short and detailed specifications. If | | | | 6. Privacy Policy Your website must have a |
| necessary add attachments of diagrams, | | | | privacy policy. Customers are very |
| sketches, video etc. along with the product | | | | concerned about the information that they are |
| specification. Write clearly and prominently | | | | relaying to you. You must clearly explain |
| all sales terms and after sales supports | | | | them what you plan to do with the various |
| terms, etc. | | | | information that you collect from your |
| | | | customers. If your site is planning to use |
| If you have many products, it is better to | | | | cookies, make sure that you covered this |
| use an industry standard classification | | | | aspect in your privacy policy too. |
| system to categorize your products. The | | | | |
| goal is to have all the information related | | | | 7. Security If your website collects |
| to the product available on the website, so | | | | sensitive information from your customers, |
| that the customer can take a positive | | | | you should use security systems like SSL |
| buying decision instantly. | | | | (Secure Socket Layer). This guarantees that |
| | | | the data provided by your customer will not |
| 2. Different Ordering Methods The ultimate | | | | fall into the hand of a malicious hacker |
| goal of your e-commerce site is to make | | | | while transferring from his computer to the |
| sales. Many people still do not feel | | | | web server. This also will reassure your |
| comfortable to make payments through online | | | | customers that you are truly concerned about |
| transactions. You would be better off if you | | | | the security of their personal and |
| include ordering processes by fax, telephone | | | | sensitive information. |
| and ordinary mail. In fact, to have a | | | | |
| telephone number for customer support and | | | | Once you know how to handle all the above |
| order is a must for any e-commerce site as it | | | | mentioned aspects, go ahead and look for a |
| gives buyers some extra feelings of | | | | great tool to build your dream e-commerce |
| security. That way they know that they can | | | | website and make money online! |