E-Commerce Resources At Your Fingertips
If you have been wondering whether the commotion over
conducting your business online is something that you want to jump into, then
read on. Online shopping is nothing new these days. Everyone has
purchased something online at one time or another. This is much larger than it
seems and it isn’t going anywhere, so it’s better to jump on the wagon than
being left behind. We will explore the benefits and more to utilizing a
local resource for your e-commerce needs and not going overseas or to a big box
company like Go Daddy or Network Solutions.
Whether you are a consumer or a business-to-business
resource, some of the most efficient marketing and selling tools are available
via the Internet, and the potential of reaching a vast audience is open to you
through the World Wide Web. Consider these facts: Forrester Research, Inc.
estimates that 47.3 million North American households have online access and
43.9 percent have browsed online. Of the 43.9 percent, 65 percent have made
purchases. By 2014, the research firm estimates that U.S. online retail sales
will grow to $250 billion, up from $155 billion in 2009. (https://www.sba.gov)
Some shoppers still like that old fashioned in person
service, but a positive aspect to e-commerce is that your customers will never
have to wait to get your products, they can shop anytime and do it without
wasting gas to get there and then standing in lines. This method is
positively outdated and can be quite frustrating to customers. If you don’t
stock all of your products at the store and customers drive around all day to
find that one gift, that can be a huge turn off to your brand. Plus you
have the ability to reach a larger audience and grow your business.
Not comes the aspect where you need to dive in and find a
company to develop your online store, and believe me when I say there are
1000’s out there that are capable of building an e-commerce presence for you,
but the kicker is can they do it properly and the way you want. The
benefit of working with a local website developer is that you can be more hands
on with the process and follow along more efficiently. You will need a
developer that can understand your needs and have been in their industry for
years. Experience here is crucial, if you hire an intern in college or an
independent developer you won’t have the experience. If you hire a large
big box third party company such as Go Daddy, you lack the personal touch and a
lot of their product is drag and drop or plug in build where there is no
customization involved. Your website will look like hundreds of other
template sites. Your local website design firm and developers will know
how to make you stand out and customize your customers experience with online
shopping. Remember it’s not always about location, it is about
availability and fast shipping options these days.
When you start with your chosen developer there are several
questions you will need to answer. Some of those will be involved with:
1.
Shipping provider and shipping options
2.
Merchant account which is your payment gateway
3.
Type of payments accepted – Paypal, MC, VISA,
Discover, ect.
4.
State by state sales tax and other fees
associated with online shopping
5.
SSL Certificate which is essential and required
for secure account information and credit cards
6.
Any specialty features you would like to
incorporate such as search box, featured products, zoom, related products,
newsletter sign up
And many more that will come up as you continue the path to
completion. The point is to do your research and know what you want
before you jump in with a company. Make sure you have the communication you
require. Know their process and how the process advances and a list of
objectives and goals for the project. It is always nice to have a visible
timeline laid out so that everyone knows their part and what to
expect. Don’t be left out in the cold when your customers shop online, be
on the forefront of their shopping lists and pair your e-commerce website with
a killer marketing plan and you will have the whole package.
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