Creating an E-Commerce Web Site

E-commerce has made it possible for entrepreneurs to extend their reach farther than they  could have ever imagined. You’ve just read about all of the different components that go into creating an e-commerce web site, but here’s a quick recap that will help you put  everything into place.

       1. Choose your web design tools

 Determine what tools you’re going to use to design and your site. You can start from scratch and code everything by hand, but this require solid knowledge of HTML, PHP, MySQL, and other programming languages. To shorten thE learning curve, you might want to invest in web design software like Adobe Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expression Web. If you don’t have the budget to spend on software, there are also several free open source options to choose from, including KompoZer and BlueGriffon (formerly Nvu). While they may not offer all of the sophisticated features that paid software does, these open source programs are still powerful and easy to use.

                                                                 

         2.Selecting Your Web Host for E-commerce

 Find a hosting provider that can accommodate all of the tools  you want to use and offers the features you need. , picking the provider that’s right for you can  be an easy decision if you pay attention to a few key issues. The first is price, and while it’s  easy to do a quick price comparison on the web, the cheapest host you can find may not  always be the best. Providers that have lower prices sometimes skimp in other areas, like  customer service or technical support. You should also be on the lookout for providers that  may offer low prices up front, but then run up charges with hidden fees. In addition to price, you should also consider the type of features offered by a hosting  provider. Since PHP and MySQL currently play an integral role in creating dynamic, interactive e-commerce web sites, picking a host that offers compatibility with these languages should be at the top of your list. If you’re interested in having email addresses that  match your domain name—an important factor when considering how you will  communicate with your customers and any employees.

 

3. Pick a payment solution

Weigh your options to see if a payment processor or  gateway is right for you. The payment process is what puts the “commerce” in  “e-commerce.” There are two kinds of payment systems that you should consider for your  site: a payment processor and a payment gateway.  Payment processors, like PayPal Website Payments Standard and Google Checkout, will send  a customer to a checkout page that is hosted by the processing company. After customers  submit their credit card information, they will be sent back to your web site. In contrast,  payment gateways such as Authorize.net integrate directly with your shopping cart and the transaction is essentially invisible to your customer. 

4. Choose or create a shopping cart

Your customers are going to need a way to select  items and buy them, so find a shopping cart solution that meets your needs. At brick-and-mortar stores, shoppers pick items from shelves, put them in a cart or basket,  and usually bring them to a cashier when they’re finished shopping. You’ll need to set up a  similar system—commonly called a shopping cart solution—for your online store. Typically,  shopping cart software allows people to select items from web pages, add them to their  “cart,” and walk them through the purchase process when they are ready to check out. Most  shopping carts will also include taxes and shipping charges to give customers a total for  their order.  When choosing a shopping cart to go with your payment processing solution, make sure it’s  supported by your hosting provider and look to see if the cart offers the payment and  shipping options you need.

5. Obtain credible SSL security

Work with a provider like GeoTrust to get credible SSL protection for your site. A nice site design and seamless integration with a payment system are great, but they won’t  mean a thing if you and your customers aren’t protected from fraud and theft. Security is one  of the biggest concerns that shoppers have when it comes to buying online. In fact, a recent  survey found that 45 percent of consumers are worried about identity theft when they buy  on the web.Even more troubling for e-commerce business owners, security concerns like  these have a serious impact on consumer behaviour. Given these fears, SSL security is critical to your web site. With an SSL certificate, you’ll be able  to prevent cybercriminals from intercepting financial data as it’s transmitted over the  internet. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to show your customers that your business is  legitimate and can be trusted.