Ecommerce Software Reviews

Open Source Shopping Cart

2012-01-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

What is an open source shopping cart? In this ecommerce software review we will take a look at what an open source shopping cart is, who makes the best open source shopping carts and what the benefits are of an open source shopping cart over other shopping cart software. Open source means that the you will have access to the source code for the software, allowing you to make customizations, changes, etc. without paying someone else to do it for you, or not being able to make any changes at all do to copyright laws. Open source is sometimes referred to as "free" which it is, you don't pay to download the software, but it is different than just a free shopping cart that comes with your paid web hosting. Thus, open source shopping cart and free shopping cart are not really interchangeable.

What is an Open Source Shopping Cart?
As mentioned above, an open source shopping cart is simply shopping cart software that comes with access to the source code. The shopping cart software comes as a free download, some developers may ask for a monetary contribution to help them cover development costs but it isn't required. If you are familiar with how to install, customize and use open source software, this may be an excellent option. If you are not familiar with code or how to implement it, you may end up paying more money than if you purchased shopping cart software because you will likely be paying someone to install and customize the software for you. If you are pretty tech savvy you may be able to get enough help from the open source community or forum to make this a viable option, but again it will depend on how much time and effort you want to put into it. In comparison, free shopping cart software is not always open source. Many web hosting plans will include free shopping cart software and even provide support in installing it, but you are limited to the features it comes with and don't have a lot of room for making changes or customizations.

What are the Benefits of Open Source Shopping Carts?
There are many benefits to open source shopping carts, the big questions is whether or not the benefits are applicable to your needs. In other words, being able to customize your cart through the source code allows a great deal of customization, not only in the look and functionality of your shopping cart but also in integrating your system with your website, payment gateway, and other applications. However, if you cannot make these customizations without paying out a lot of money, the benefits of an open source shopping cart may not be of that much value to you. There are so many shopping art options out there that if you know what you need, you will likely be able to find compatible shopping cart software that does not require any modifications. The more you understand about the functionality of the shopping cart software you are considering, the easier it will be to determine if the benefits of an open source shopping cart will apply to your needs.

Who Makes the Best Open Source Shopping Cart?
Determining who makes the best open source shopping cart software is obviously a matter of debate and will depend on your needs. Some of the most popular open source shopping carts include Zen Cart, osCommerce, and Magento. Finding the best open source shopping cart solution for your individual needs will take a little research on your part. Read some shopping cart reviews about each company, check out the forum or community pages to learn more about the pros and cons of each shopping cart software option, and then decide which open source shopping cart will best fit your needs.

How to Start an Online Store

2011-12-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for more information on how to start an online store, you are in the right place! There are many steps to take when you are first considering opening up your own online store. To get started, you will need to have your business name, model and inventory already established. Once you have those aspects of running a business in place, you can begin the online portion of the process. Keep reading to learn more about what you need to learn how to start an online store to sell your products and services on the web to an expanded market.

Step Number One: Start a website to get your online store up and running. You will need to choose a web hosting plan that offers business shared web hosting or business VPS (like BlueHost), depending on your level of web hosting needs. You might want to consider starting out with a smaller web hosting package if you have a smaller business and upgrade from there. You might also want to go with the business web hosting options because often times e-commerce tools like shopping carts and other e-commerce tools are available and included for free with the package.Read some web hosting reviews to find the best web hosting service for your needs.

Step Number Two: Choose an e-commerce software package that suits the needs of your online business. If you choose a web hosting plan that includes some of these shopping cart tools, SSL certificates and more, you are already on your way to having all of the tools you need to starting up your own online business. However, you might quickly find that once you start bringing in more business than you originally anticipated that you will need to find a more comprehensive e-commerce software or shopping cart solution provider for your online company. Having an e-commerce provider that is able to provide all of the tools and services that you need to build an online store is one of the most important parts of running your online business. Not having these e-commerce tools to help you manage your sales, transactions, shipping, billing, etc is a sure way to complicate the process of running a business. When your priorities should be around getting new inventory and working on marketing, you shouldn’t have to worry about all the complications of trying to find an online shopping cart provider. You want to find an e-commerce solution that offers you a shopping cart as well as awesome design for your online store. This is a great way to impress your customers and help them to feel confident in doing business with an online store that is both safe and secure as well as sure to offer them quality products and services. For a hosted shopping cart solution we recommend BigCommerce.

Step Number Three: Work on marketing and start a blog to help enhance your web exposure as well as capitalize on your ability to reach out to a variety of customers and online audiences. This is a great way to bring aboard more and more customers to your regular shopping clientele and build your online business. Finding a great e-commerce solution and shopping cart provider can help you build your blog and even sell products and services directly from that blog if you wish! This is also part of the reason it is so important to find a great web hosting service as well so you can find a web hosting company that also works with a blogging service like WordPress so you can easily install your blog and get started marketing and making even more money with your online store. Don’t wait to get started learning how to start an online store today with these helpful starter tips!

PHP Shopping Cart

2011-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

PHP Shopping Cart
What is a PHP shopping cart? PHP is a scripting language used in web development to create dynamic web pages, command line interface, or graphical applications. PHP can be used in conjunction with virtually every platform and operating system free of charge. This doesn't not mean that every program, software, or application that is based in PHP is free; there are many programs that are created with the PHP script that you will pay for. You are paying for the application as a whole completed work, not for the PHP itself. A PHP shopping cart is one such type of application. There are many different types of shopping cart software available and a PHP shopping cart is just one of them. But because PHP is compatible with most operating systems and web hosting platforms, it is one of the most popular types.

Some shopping cart software that are PHP that you may have heard of include X-Cart, osCommerce, OpenCart, ZenCart, and some others that may not be as well known but that are excellent options as well like SquirrelCart, and PinnacleCart. For anyone that is familiar with the PHP language, choosing a PHP shopping car that is open source (meaning the software must include the source code), ensures that you will be able to make changes and customizations that you want to make the shopping cart have the exact appearance and functionality that you want for your shopping cart system. Even if you don't know PHP programming but you want to find someone that will make the customizations and changes that you want, choosing a PHP shopping cart will make finding a developer a lot easier, and cheap, than for many other shopping cart software options. PHP is so widely known and used that there are many developers out there and the fact that there are so many out there make it so that they have to be more competitive in their pricing.

Another benefit of a PHP shopping cart is that there are many turnkey solutions that are simple to setup and use, even if you don't know much about programming. Often the best web hosting companies will even include these options free in their ecommerce web hosting plans and have tech support available to help you with the setup and install if you get stuck. The web hosting plans that support PHP generally run on Linux servers and are cheaper than other .NET frameworks. These companies are able to get the software and redistribute it at no cost, so they are able to pass that savings on to you, the end customer. Another great feature of a PHP shopping cart is security. Because virtually everything that takes place with the PHP scripting happens on the server and is not affected by the security features of the user interface.

Whether you are making a lot of changes to the actual appearance of the shopping cart or not, having a shopping cart that you can optimize for search engine optimization (SEO) will play a critical part in the success of your website. Using an open source PHP shopping cart will ensure that you have the ability and option to make Meta tag and page title and description changes to optimize your site so that the search engines can find it and rank it according to what your business has to offer. Selling products online requires that potential customers are actually able to find your site to see what you have to offer. Once they get to your site, how easy it is to navigate and use will play a big role in how successful your online sales will be.

Read some full shopping cart reviews of individual shopping cart products, as well as comparisons of some of the most popular shopping carts. This will help you find a cart that offers all the features you want for the price that you can afford. You don't want to spend hours and hours researching all the different options but you do want to find the software that will meet the needs of your business. Before you sign up for an ecommerce hosting plan, inquire about the shopping cart options and particularly if they support PHP shopping cart software.

eCommerce Sites: Become an SMS Reseller

2011-11-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

eCommerce sites: become an SMS reseller to sell text message marketing from your online store. If your ecommerce store offers marketing products and services you don't want to forget the mobile marketing. This is the newest type of marketing and it has become very successful. Many companies are seeing a higher return on investment on this type of marketing than any other type of marketing. It doesn't matter what the business is or how large or small they are. There are so many ways to use SMS marketing that virtually any company or organization can benefit from using it.

Becoming an SMS reseller isn't hard; there are many companies that offer white label SMS reseller programs that anyone can sign up for and resell to anyone that is in the market for text marketing. There are a few key things to understand about mobile marketing and how it works so that you can offer packages and help that your clients will need to get started. Some of the best text marketing companies will also provide you with white label marketing guides, video tutorials, etc to cut down on the amount of support you will have to provide to each of the companies that buy the text marketing from you.

As an SMS reseller you don't have to worry about securing a short code, designing the system, or working out the details of how the system works. For many companies you will just need to supply some basic information about how text marketing works, give them some specific examples and suggestions of how their particular business or marketing can benefit from a group text marketing service. Because SMS marketing is an ongoing service where you sell packages of text bundles that renew every month, it will require ongoing interaction and a relationship with the customers. An SMS reseller cannot simply make a onetime sell and be done with it, but that is the way marketing works. It is always an ongoing, changing market.

If you have already established your ecommerce site as a reliable source of valuable marketing materials, it will be much easier to become an SMS reseller. Often people want to hear from someone they know and trust that something is a good idea before they sign up. Just because there is a lot of hype about it doesn't always mean it is true. If you have already developed a relationship with potential clients they will take your word for the fact that SMS marketing is an affordable, viable option for his/her business. Make sure that the text marketing company you sign up with has a good reputation, that they have been in business for a while, and that they follow all MMA (Mobile Marketing Association) guidelines. SMS marketing can only be successful if the people using it are hard and fast about following the rules and keeping it a spam free type of marketing.

Learn a little bit about text message uses and how a church or school can use bulk text messaging compared to how a band or restaurant will use it. Obviously, the more you know about text message marketing and the more examples you can give the better. For someone that has never used text messaging for marketing purposes will need some concrete examples, within their industry, before they will be able to understand the benefit of using the service. The more you are able to explain to your customers upfront, the less help and support you will have to provide them as they continue with the text marketing campaign.

Online Credit Card Processing

2011-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Online credit card processing is important for any online ecommerce website. For many business owners this may seem overwhelming and complicated. With all the new technology and equipment it really doesn't have to be that hard. If you have a simple ecommerce website and are only taking orders online through shopping cart software, you may be able to simply use Google Checkout or PayPal to accept payments online. For a business that has both online and retail locations, credit card processing may be more complicated. The business may need online credit card processing, as well as on site terminals, mail or phone order abilities and more. There are many things to consider when it comes to accepting credit cards online, in person, or over the phone.

A quick overview of the main elements a website will need in order to effectively implement online credit card processing can give business owners a general idea of what he/she will need. Any ecommerce website that will be collecting personal customer information, such as a credit card number, will need an SSL certificate. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and is a process of encrypting sensitive data before transmitting it across the Internet. When the information is received the information is then decoded and processed in a secure environment. Having an SSL certificate lets the browser verify that your business is valid and trustworthy, passing this information on to your customers. Customers are learning to look for the padlock symbol or green address bar to assure them that their personal information will be protected.

Both a payment gateway and merchant account may be required as part of the online credit card processing process. A payment gateway is a service that receives the information from your site and submits it to the merchant account. The merchant account is the party that will actually process the payment and transfer the funds from the customer account to the business. Of course having a web hosting service provider and shopping cart software are required elements for an ecommerce website that will be using online credit card processing. There are some web hosting service providers that do business with a lot with small business websites and they will often include package deals that have shopping cart software and payment processing options included. It is always a good idea to talk to your web host before signing up to find out exactly what they have available, what is included, what costs extra, and how difficult it is to set up. Also, find out how much support they have available to help you when questions arise.

Once you understand the whole process involved in online credit card processing it really isn't too difficult but getting everything setup and working can take a bit of time and effort. The more you can learn about the process before hand and the more help and support you have available will make the whole process much easier. Keep in mind that many third-party programs that take part in credit card processing will charge fees; these may include statement fees, transaction fees, and more. Be sure to research these fees and shop around to find the lowest rates and fees to meet your needs. Also check out some customer reviews of the companies to verify the reputation of the company and make sure it will support the type of credit card processing you need.

Two reputable companies we would recommend you look into:

Merchant Warehouse

Charge.com

Joomla! eCommerce

2011-09-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

There are several Joomla ecommerce options and solutions that a webmaster can use on a website. Joomla! is a content management system that enables one to build a website using extensions and tools that provide the power and technology for making a unique and functional website. When it comes to ecommerce it is really important that your website looks great, works correctly, and has all the features needed to do business online. If potential customers get to your site and it looks jumbled, half of the pages don't work, they can't figure out how to make a purchase, or generally have problems using your site, they are not likely to purchase something from you.

Because it is hard to verify anything when it comes to a business online, the customers needs to feel comfortable when visiting your site. If anything about your website brings into question the validity of your business or the safety of the personal information they submit through your site it will be very difficult to convince them that it is safe to purchase anything from your website. There are a number of things a business can do to make sure that an ecommerce website is trustworthy. Using the Joomla content management will provide many of the applications one needs to do just that. The best part is that this is an open source application, which means it is freely available for anyone to use. Most of the web hosting companies will offer Joomla free with all of their web hosting plans. Or you can download Joomla directly from their website.

Joomla ecommerce is available in a number of applications from a simple shopping cart software that will allow a business to list and sell just a few items to more robust applications that allow for many products, payment processing, and shipping options. Joomla ecommerce isn't just one application that they hope everyone can adapt and make work, rather it is a conglomeration of applications designed to meet the needs of a variety of business websites. It will really depend on the needs of your business, the type of service or product you are going to sell online and the options that you will need to best run your online business.

The Joomla website has a magazine section that has regular articles relating to Joomla applications. This is a good place to get an overview of some of the Joomla ecommerce options to help you choose one that will work the best with your ecommerce needs. For simple solutions some options include RokQuickCart, SimpleCaddy, Ecwid, for more complex ecommerce needs Virtuemart, redShop, and Tienda are some of the applications that work really well with the Joomla content management system. In the end, what matters the most is the end users experience. If it is easy for them to find what they want and to understand the simple steps needed to complete a transaction, and if they feel secure in doing so, you have effectively created a system that works. In a day and age of instant gratification, if it takes more than a few seconds for a person to find what they are looking for, they will likely hit the back button and go to the next site on the list. You literally only have seconds to convince your visitor that you will provide what they are looking for.

If you want web hosting that includes Joomla, check out these special coupon offers below:

iPage Coupon

FatCow Coupon for Promo Pricing

Free Ecommerce Software

2011-07-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Free Ecommerce software can be found in the form of free shopping carts. Find out more about free e-commerce software, what it can do for your business website, where to find free e-commerce software, and what to look for when shopping for free eCommerce software.

What Is Free Ecommerce Software?
Free ecommerce software is also known as free shopping cart software. It refers to software that:

you do not pay for
you can use to build an ecommerce website
provides you with the ability to create a catalog and
provides your site visitors with a shopping cart.

Let's talk about each of these four features.

Ecommerce Software You Do Not Pay For
Free software can come from several different sources. First of all, ecommerce software is created in connection with a number of free, open-source softwares, including the content management systems (CMSs) WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla! In all three cases, if you build a WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla! site, you can access either plug-ins, add-ons, modulles, or themes (the vocabulary varies with the CMS). Although WordPress is most often thought of as a blog and Drupal and Joomla! as website builders, all of them can create free ecommerce sites.

Second, free ecommerce software is pretty much always available with a shared hosting plan with a web hosting provider. You pay for the plan, and the ecommerce software is a perk or freebie.

Third, you can download specific free, open-source, full-feature shopping carts, like Agora Cart or Zen Cart.

An Ecommerce Website
An ecommerce website builder may be part and parcel of the shopping cart or may be another free feature. It works differently in different cases. For exxample, with WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla!, you might build a site and then add the shopping cart functionality or you might choose a theme or add-on that included both the website construction and the shopping cart functionality in one.

Creating a Catalog
The shopping cart component of the ecommerce software will enable the creation of your catalog. Look for features such as being able to import and export catalog data, the number of images you can include, the number of products you can include,and any other features or restrictions on how you create your catalog.

Your Shopping Cart
One key element of your shopping cart to focus on is the way in which your customers are going to pay, so you need to know whether you will be setting up a merchant account, accepting payments through PayPal or Google Checkout, etc. in order to make a good choice.

Things to Watch Out For With Free Ecommerce Software
Here are some of the gotcha's that people encounter with free ecommerce software:

The support is not sufficient.
The software is free, but you have to pay for the manual.
The regular version is free, but you have to pay for the pro version, which is what you really need.
The developer isn't keeping up with upgrades or has stopped supporting the software, and you're going to have to switch software.
The software is free, but you have to pay to remove the copyright from your site.
The software is free, but there's a monthly subscription fee.

Free Merchant Account

2011-07-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a free merchant account, you can find out here how to take advantage of some of the best ways to find a free merchant account. With these merchant services on the Internet, your business will be ready and able to accept credit and debit cards with no upfront fees. However there are a few potential costs to be aware of when choosing a free merchant account. Keep reading to find out more.

Why get a free merchant account?
There are quite a few reasons to get a free merchant account including the fact that it is free, which is a tough price to beat. There is no money required to get you started with the merchant services of a free merchant account. The merchant service providers who provides you with a free merchant account also makes it easy for it to integrate with your existing website or online business. Many of these companies that provide you with a free merchant account also provide online reporting tool features so you can easily keep track of your transactions. There are some free merchant account providers that also offer some fraud and chargeback protection or a money market fund you can use to gain interest, similar to a savings account.

How to get a free merchant account:
There are several ways to get a free merchant account. By browsing online you may find some companies that offer free merchant services. One of the biggest and most well known is PayPal or Google Checkout. Check out our Google Checkout review and PayPal review to find out more about how they operate their free merchant accounts. Many business owners and especially eBay sellers will use PayPal as a great resource for a free merchant account. Free merchant accounts are great for businesses or individual sellers, like on eBay, that aren’t generating tons and tons of sales.

Necessary fees and a free merchant account:
There are a few drawbacks to using a free merchant account. Some of these include limited service because you aren’t necessarily paying anything in order to receive great services. There are also some fees involved later even with a free merchant account that are simply unavoidable. These include:

Discount rates
Credit card transaction fees
Per transaction fees

However these fees are often less than what has to be paid with paid merchant accounts in comparison to a free merchant account especially depending on how much volume you do each month.

While there are many reasons to invest your time into a free merchant account, it is also important to be sure that a free merchant account will work to fulfill all of your online business needs. Because there are limitations in the amount of service you can get with a free merchant account, if you are generating lots of transactions and operating with a high level of volume, you may find yourself in need of something more than a free merchant account. However, using a free merchant account is a great way to get started with your online business. There is always time to upgrade if needed at a later date.

Virtual Credit Cards

2011-06-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Virtual credit cards are a helpful tool for online purchasing that is actually quite underrated. The idea behind virtual credit cards is to give Internet consumers a way to purchase products safely rather than risking issues like identity theft and poor security.

There are a variety of ways you can take advantage of using virtual credit cards online and get the advantages of security and reliability of using them. With so many of the millions of cases of online identity theft resulting from people having their credit cards stolen, many are shying away from making actual purchases online. However, this is not necessary especially with the use of tools like virtual credit cards. Unfortunately many people do not understand completely how virtual credit cards work.

What are virtual credit cards?
Virtual credit cards are also known as substitute credit cards, single use cards as well as controlled payment numbers. Despite the various names for this type of technology, virtual credit cards have been around for over 10 years online, but really haven't caught on as well as other forms of online payments methods. To sign up for a virtual credit card, there are a number of online banking companies that you can signup with to get started. Once you sign up for the program with a company like MBNA, Citibank, PayPal and others, you can download the software. Once you do this you can enter in your credit card information and generate a new credit card number each time, which is why the term substitute credit cards has been named for this purpose.

How virtual credit cards work:

There are different ways for the virtual credit cards to work. In some cases the number immediately expires with a single use. However, there are some where an account has been created like with PayPal. This method allows you to use the information that has been saved in your account in the database. However, this method compared to the one that simply expires with one use, it is more susceptible to being hacked and stolen by online predators. Some ways you can go about it is by going through your own bank. You can find out if your financial institute offers a program like this by asking and signing up that way if available. You can also set a pre-spending limit with a virtual credit card as well.

Virtual credit cards and security:

The number cannot be used to get any personal ID information about the owner of the account. This is meant to help prevent virtual credit cards from encountering the typical fraud issues that so many other types of online payment systems have difficulty securing against. It works because although the substitute numbers are linked to the account that has the actual credit card, there is really no way a third party can verify that the numbers are actually linked. However, there is the unfortunate reality that nothing is fool proof, so there is always a way to hack an account like this. However, the likelihood is much less with virtual credit cards, which is a huge part of the appeal of these types of online payments. The biggest draw back to virtual credit cards is that it is a bit of a hassle to set up the account in the first place. However, some feel the hassle is worth the added layer of security making it easier and safer to make online purchases through websites. Some bigger banks and financial institutions will offer this as a free service, however some will not. If a person has to pay to use the virtual credit card service, they might also be less likely to do so.

Free E-Commerce Online Store Builders

2011-06-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

So you want to build a free e-commerce online store without buying a box? If you thought this was going to be difficult, think again. Not only can you find easy, straightforward e-commerce store builder solutions for free, but the real tough choice is going to be choosing between the wealth of options.

Free for All, With Significant Limitations and Scary Terms of Service
If you don't want to pay for anything, it is possible to create a free online store with an ecommerce website builder and no downloaded software necessary . . . as a subdomain at sites like ecrater.com. You can use your own domain name via forwarding and apply URL masking. Requirements include:

shipping throughout the United States
items priced as at least 20¢
advertising text is required to be in English
only use payment methods supported by eCrater

Other restrictions include:

eCrater can remove material at any time
affiliate websites are lower ranked in eCrater searches
miscategorized items are not allowed
test items are not allowed
pre-order items are not allowed
illegal items are not allowed

Your site is actually a page or set of pages on ecrater.com, carries the eCrater brand, and exists within the e-crater website.

And eCrater can remove any material from you website if it violates the terms of service or if, in eCrater's opinion, it is inappropriate. eCrater may also suspend or terminate accounts at its sole discretion. It also seems likely that it would be very, very difficult to transfer your store from here to another location, should you decide you wanted to set-up shop without eCrater in the mix.

It Comes With the Hosting Package . . .
You can also get a wide variety of free e-commerce online store builders made available when you sign up for a shared web hosting package. With Linux hosting, you generally get a set of applications through a one-click set-up like Fantastico De Luxe or Simple Scripts. This gives you access to free, open-source choices including Agora Shopping Cart, Zen Shopping Cart, OS Commerce Shopping Cart, Magento, Tomato Cart, and Cube Shopping Cart, any of which can be used to build an online store. It should be noted that some of these solutions can best be wielded by those with some programming experience.

These are not the only ways to create an online store. Content management systems have add-ons to allow you to create ecommerce websites. The add-on may be a plug-in, a theme, or a widget. Software that has this capability includes Joomla!, Mambo, Drupal, and WordPress (which is capable of everything a content management system is, even though it's most often used for blogging).
Considerations to put in the mix as you make the choice include:

payment options you want users to have access to
interfacing with shippers
interfacing with an existing product and restocking database
the number of items in your catalog
will your products be shipped or downloaded

Sources
http://www.ecrater.com/terms.php

Free Shopping Cart Software

2011-05-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

When it comes to free shopping cart software deals, there are many to be had throughout the web. It is best to know how to find the best free shopping cart software to help benefit your new or expanding online business. Keep reading to find out more about online shopping carts and how to find the best free shopping cart software for your website.

For any reliable e-commerce enterprise, there must be an efficient and reliable shopping cart. Often times you can get yourself free shopping cart software if you know where to look. First, let’s talk about what exactly free shopping cart software is and what it can do for your business. An online shopping cart is essentially a virtual version of the real thing. This service can allow your customers to shop for goods and services on your website. It allows them to add/delete items, change quantities as well as pay for the items and arrange shipping and billing information. A shopping cart is a vital part of any online business.

Many shopping cart services can get expensive, however there are many free shopping cart software services that are available. This way, you can continue to successfully operate your online shop without having to worry about added expenses. It is important, however, to realize that free shopping cart software services generally do not include cost coverage of the payment or merchant account service function. Those will have to be paid for separately. When looking for the best free shopping cart software, it is important to make sure the shopping cart application will work with your control panel application, which allows you to control the application portion of your website.

One of the best ways to find a free shopping cart software is to check with your web hosting provider. Now, many web host providers are offering an added service to new customers with free shopping cart software. This is perfect for new businesses just starting their e-commerce website. These shopping carts are free and guaranteed to work with your website since it is offered by the same web host provider. However, the down side to free shopping cart software services is that they may be really only functional to handle small quantities. Many free shopping carts may only offer limited shipping and taxing options as well. This can be a difficult restriction for some larger businesses. However, for new and small businesses a free shopping cart may be a great choice for saving money and getting the best shopping cart services.

It is important to figure out the needs and demand of your online business before choosing to go with a free online shopping cart. Also be sure wherever you end up getting your shopping cart, that it is compatible with your control panel operation. Fortunately, there are many options available when it comes to free shopping cart software services.

Create an Online Store

2011-05-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

For those looking to create an online store, there are many ways to go about it. It is important to keep in mind there are several elements that are necessary in running a successful online enterprise including an online shopping cart, payment gateways, merchant account services, great web host and more. Keep reading to find out more about how to create an online store and how to find the best services to help you create an online store that is guaranteed to bring back more and more web traffic and potential customers.

Web Host and Domain Name
The first thing to do when looking to create an online store is to choose a web host to design and build a professional and creative website if you have not done this step already. There are many cheap and free web host providers available that offer plenty of free website building tools and services to help you easily build and design your website to help you create an online store. Once you have developed your website, it is important to choose your best domain name to represent your business and online store. You can often get great deals on domain name registration through your web host or through domain name registrars. Many times you can get a cheap or even free domain name registration.

Shopping Cart Software
In order to properly take care of all of your e-commerce needs, it is important to choose the best shopping cart software when looking to create an online store. A shopping cart provides a way for your customers to shop for your goods and services by placing them in an online shopping cart. Here, they can also add and delete products in their cart as well as change quantities, set up shipping options and more. There are many affordable and free shopping cart options available either through your web host provider or through some merchant services accounts. When choosing your shopping cart to create an online store, it is important to pick a service that is compatible with your website control panel.

Payment Gateway and Merchant Services
While there are many online shopping carts that offer the payment gateway service, there are others that do not. If they do not, be sure to find the best payment gateway when you create an online store so you are able to process electronic transactions. It is also important to choose a merchant account services provider that is affordable and reliable. These merchant services account providers may range in cost when it comes to per-transaction fees and annual fees. Check out merchant services reviews to make sure you are finding the best option for your online store.

When you begin to create an online store, keep in mind your online business growth potential. Keep in mind there might be an eventual need to upgrade to merchant services, shopping carts and web hosting services that are geared toward working for larger corporations. Keep all of these features and e-commerce services in mine when looking to create an online store.

High Risk Merchant Accounts

2011-05-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

Because there are businesses that may be considered high risk merchant accounts, there may be additional requirements to find a merchant account services provider to assist your business in getting the best merchant services. However, that does not mean your business cannot get access to merchant account services as a high risk merchant account. Keep reading to find out more about high risk merchant accounts and to see if you qualify.

Just about every business owner realizes the importance of having the best merchant services to benefit their customers. Being able to process debit and credit card transactions is almost vital now that the majority of consumers use debit or credit cards to make almost all of their purchases both in person and online. However, some businesses may be considered high risk merchant accounts. There are generally two reasons for this: one reason may be because the business is new and is beginning a high risk venture. Another reason for a high risk merchant account is because it might be a business with a less than stellar track record with merchant accounts. When it comes to high risk merchant accounts, they are likely to cost more than accounts that are not as high risk. The cost is higher because the merchant services providers are increasing their risk by doing business with a high risk merchant account.

High risk business ventures:

Because there are businesses that are considered to be riskier than others, some merchant account services providers are going to take precautions by charging a high risk merchant account more money for their services upfront. This is in case something happens to their business, or if the business has a high risk of fraud or extreme start-up costs. Some businesses that are considered high risk include:

Bail bondsmen
Insurance sales
Door-to-door sales
Online dating services
Online jewelry sales
Investment companies
Loan companies
Used car sales
Home businesses
Gun sales

Many of these types of businesses are considered to be high risk merchant account because they are likely to encounter to the most fraud or chargeback alerts. Some of these businesses are also more at risk for immediate profit, which can make it more difficult for them to pay for their merchant services later.

Businesses with past merchant account problems:

There are some cases when a business is determined to be a high risk merchant account because of past poor instances of business with a merchant account service provider. This is similar to having bad credit. It is difficult to qualify for low rates and low up-front costs, if your business is deemed to be a high risk to merchant account service providers. However, this does not mean your business cannot get or quality to become a merchant account. It just means, you should expect to pay more merchant account fees per transaction and annual costs. If these costs seem too much, it might be a better idea to look for a viable and different alternative to traditional merchant accounts.

ProPay vs PayPal

2011-05-05T12:16:00.000-07:00

When it comes to e-commerce there are a variety of options for accepting payments online including ProPay and PayPal, which we will cover in this ProPay vs. PayPal review. In this ProPay vs PayPal review we found out information about ProPay and PayPal including features, cost, and purchasing information. Continue reading our ProPay vs. PayPal review to find out more about two of the top third-party processing services. With online shopping growing in popularity, many merchant account service providers work to provide e-commerce enterprises with the technology to make online shopping easier. In our ProPay vs. PayPal review, we found that the third party processing services offered by these two companies both offer a variety of merchant features that benefit both the seller and the buyer.

ProPay Review
When it comes to the way ProPay operates, users do not have to set up an account as the buyer unlike with the PayPal operation. The consumer is simply required to put in their credit or debit card information and shipping information, in order for the transaction to be completed. Some consumers may be nervous about entering their debit or credit card information directly to the website or with sellers on ebay or similar sites they aren’t very familiar with. In comparing ProPay vs. PayPal’s fees, we found ProPay’s fees are affordable but does include an annual fee in addition to per-transaction fees. Some of the fees for ebay sellers with a silver or higher account are discounted. There is also a different scale of fees for those merchants operating on non-ebay websites. ProPay also offers deals and features for merchants who process at least $3,000 in six months time. Those who do, will be refunded the annual fee charged for ProPay merchant services.

PayPal Review
In comparison to ProPay, PayPal actually charges its merchants less in fees and annual cost. The per-transaction fee is less and there is no annual fee with PayPal. However, in our ProPay vs. PayPal review we found there are more customer service features with ProPay, which might account for higher fee costs. Another difference we found in our ProPay vs. PayPal review is that while ProPay takes the debit or credit card number directly, users must set up an account with complete billing and shipping information with PayPal in order to make a purchase. PayPal then works by getting the money from the buyer and then using it to pay the seller once the product has been shipped or received by the buyer. Some consumers feel more comfortable making purchases with an account like PayPal rather than direct purchasing from an unfamiliar website like with ProPay. However, there are also more conveniences and less set up with ProPay. There are also many websites or sellers that only accept PayPal payments.

Using both ProPay and PayPal
In our ProPay vs. PayPal review, we found it is is easy to use both third-party processing systems as a merchant. Using both ProPay and Paypal provides more options for customers because they can easily choose which option better suits their online shopping preferences. It is a good idea for merchants to try both options to see what works best for them and which works best in fulfilling their business selling needs.Once you find out which online payment option works the best for your business and customers you can more easily support and meet those needs.

TXT180 Coupon Code

2011-04-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

If you have an e-commerce website you should read this post! http://www.txt180.com/ is a SMS text message provider, and right now they are offering a 10% discount for all of our readers. The TXT180 coupon code "100best" will allow you to receive 10% off any initial order. Simply click the link above to go to the txt180 site, choose a text message marketing plan that works for you, and at checkout enter the txt180 coupon code "100best". That's it! Simple, eh? What are you waiting for? Still wondering why your e-commerce website needs a text message marketing plan? Let's explain...

Let's just say you already have a well known business with a storefront and a website, and your business or website isn't really lacking in visitors. Well, I don't know of a business that would turn down a new customer or a new opportunity to make more money. So...Let's take Starbucks as an example. Over the holiday season I wanted to know if the calorie content of my favorite Starbucks Christmas coffee, so I went to the Starbucks website (I don't recommend looking up the calories) But, low and behold I found a special promo offer where if I text in a special "keyword" I can get a text message every day for the 12 days of Christmas with a special discount of the day. I am not an every day Starbucks coffee drinker but in those 12 days I can say I drank a whole lot more than usual. Brilliant! And not only that, but I forwarded the texts to my coffee drinking friends.

Now, I am not a big shopper either...But, I was helping my daughter find a dress the other day and walked into a department store that had fliers and signage all over the store that told me if I text a special "keyword" to a certain shortcode number I would be able to get a discount. Cashiers often offer me a discount if I am willing to apply for their credit card (which I also do not recommend) but rarely can you get a discount just because you accept text messages from a company. Long story short, dress was much less. AND...a week later they sent me a special discount message on an Easter special that worked out perfect. Win for them but also win for me. Yeah!

I am also not an online shopper, but there are a few things I can't seem to find locally or have found cheaper online. So, the other day I got an email telling me the company I buy my facewash from was offering a special "Earth Day" promotion where I could get my facewash for FREE! All I had to do was text a special "keyword" to their shortcode (number) and bada-bing-bada-boom they sent me a text with a special discount promo code to enter when checking out which gave me not only free facewash but also free shipping! Now, I typically would have had my daughter go to her local store, purchase it, and mail it to me. All of which is terribly inconvenient and costly. Once again, WIN - WIN!

Upon contemplating how all of these businesses were able to get me to not only shop, but also spend money I had not planned on spending, I realized what a brilliant idea text message marketing is. So I set out searching how much SMS marketing cost, what type of business could use it, and who offered the best text marketing plans. I found out that a) there are many text marketing providers b) not all providers are created equally c) the cost can vary greatly and d) not all text message marketing companies use true SMS. In my research I found that www.txt180.com had exactly what we needed and at half the cost of the other providers. I then contacted them to let them know and THAT is where they decided to offer any of our readers a 10% discount with the txt180 coupon code "100best"!

Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts

2011-04-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts is one of the best merchant services providers on the web offering a variety of equipment as well as online merchant services for an affordable price. In our Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts review, we decided to check out this merchant services provider to find out exactly why they are one of the most sought-after distributors of credit card processing equipment and services. Keep reading to find out more about Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts, and their debit and credit card processing operation. Merchant account services are necessary for any business that needs to accept payments online or over the phone to help their customers make purchases easily.

About merchant services and credit card processing:
With the majority of consumers choosing to use debit and credit cards to make most of their purchases whether it is online or at a store front business, it is vital that all businesses be able to accept credit cards and debit cards. Because online businesses operate almost entirely with credit or debit cards used for purchases, it is a great business idea to take on merchant services as a way to assist customers in easily making their purchases. The easier the purchases are to make, the more likely they will be come back for future business transactions. If you are an ecommerce business that already has merchant services, but are looking to switch providers, check out Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts to find out more about their amazing service and quality products.

About Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts:
When we did our Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts review, we found out that the company is known for having the best swipe rates available. They offer 1.09 percent for swiped merchants and a 1.79 percent charge for keyed merchants. This is some of the lowest pricing available with merchant services when it comes to swipe rates. Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts is also known for offering a wide variety of credit card processing equipment that makes it easy for stores to quickly set up any new or existing operation with reliable credit card processing equipment. Some of these tools and equipment include: mobile/wireless terminals, dual comm terminals, check readers, pin pads, printers as well as Internet tools and services for any e-commerce operation.

Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts, which is based in California, is able to provide any kind of merchant services and credit card processing equipment to businesses anywhere in the United States. In our Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts review we also discovered that Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts is known for having one of the largest chargeback and fraud departments in the merchant services industry. This way you will know and can feel secure about the security and reliability that comes with doing business with Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts and will have protection if you ever need it. With all of these features, plus the reliability and security that you get with Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts, it is no wonder they have made it to the top of the merchant services industry. To find out more about Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts, check out our link to their website below or call 866-382-5144 to learn about all Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts has to offer.

Rock Bottom Merchant Accounts

Merchant Services Review

2011-04-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

Read our merchant services review for information on why merchant services are an important part of any online or storefront business. Merchant services work to enable businesses to accept credit card or debit card payments. Now that the majority of shoppers tend to use one or the other during their daily shopping expenditures, it is vital that a business has the capabilities to accept these types of credit or debit payments.

Why are merchant services important?
While the majority of storefront businesses now handle many merchant service transactions each day, online stores are run almost exclusively with the help of merchant accounts to accept credit and debit cards. Our merchant services review found that credit card processing over the Internet for web-based e-commerce and online businesses is becoming more and more popular. Online merchants are able to choose from many merchant service providers to find which merchant service is the best fit for them to process payments online. Merchant services are a convenience for both the merchant and the customer since it is a good way for any online business, whether small or large, to accept credit cards from their business website or over the phone.

How to find a good merchant services provider:
A great way to find a good merchant services provider is to check out merchant service reviews on various merchant account providers. By reading these merchant service reviews and comparisons reviews, you can find out which company offers the best merchant services for your online or storefront business. From merchant service reviews you can find merchant service providers that specialize in small business, providing a great option for any new business owner or an online merchant just opening their new virtual shop. Customers are more likely to purchase the products with your store if the checkout process is easy and secure. Choosing the right merchant services providers helps guarantee customers a fast and easy checkout, which makes them more likely to shop with your store and keep coming back for more.

Other merchant services reviewed:
There are other merchant services available aside from providing businesses with the equipment and technology to process credit and debit cards. Some merchant service providers also include features like age verification technology, employee payroll tracking functions, as well well as electronic benefits transfer programs like food stamps. These services are also great for storefront businesses that handle food stamps or need age verification technology. Merchant services can be a great help to online employers who need help with their payroll and benefit options services.

For the best merchant services we recommend Merchant Warehouse!

Nextiva Review Business VoIP Service

2011-03-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Our Nextiva Review of business VoIP (Voice over IP) services will cover the basics of what VoIP is and what the benefits are of choosing Nextiva as your business VoIP service provider. VoIP stands for voice over Internet protocol and is simply the transmission of voice across Internet lines by converting analog voice into digital packets. What it means for you is cheaper more secure telephone and fax service for your business.

Click Here to Visit Nextiva for Complete Details

Nextiva is by far one of the best VoIP providers we have come across. After much research and consideration, as we launched our new business for text message marketing, we finally chose Nextiva as our business VoIP provider and have never regretted that decision. With Nextiva VoIP we enjoy all of the best VoIP services at a fraction of the cost that many of their competitors charge. In addition to their friendly, excellent customer service, they offer numerous VoIP options and services.

In our Nextiva review we want to tell you about a few of our favorite Nextiva business VoIP features:

Toll-free or local number. This gives us the ability to target both the local market and a nationwide market.
Voicemail and voicemail to email. Nextiva voicemail offers many features and options so you can optimize your voicemail in the way that works best for your business model. Voicemail to email allows you to have a voice file sent to your email so that you can listen to the message on your computer, save it in your inbox, or even forward it to another email address.
Auto-attendant. The automated attendant greets callers with a professional greeting giving them options to reach a specific department. You can also set specific messages for after-hours or holiday greetings.
Online Fax or vFAX. Send and receive a fax from your computer or even email the fax from your computer or mobile phone. No more worrying about paper jams, busy signals, or fax equipment. This is a great alternative to traditional fax service.
Pick your own phone number. We love that we were able to pick a phone number that corresponds to our business name so that it will be easy to market and easy for our customers to remember.

These are just a few of our favorite Nextiva business VoIP features. When you read other Nextiva reviews you will probably find a completely different list. The great thing about Nextiva is that they have so many options and services available that you can customize your plan to fit any business model. We recently found another site that reviews the best VoIP providers and services, BestVoiceOverIP.com. This is a great resource for additional information about what VoIP is, what the VoIP benefits for businesses are much more.

Use our Nextiva link below if you would like to review Nextiva's services for yourself. Nextiva was awarded the Best business VoIP Provider award for the third year in a row and is also proud to offer green business solutions to all. We hope this Nextiva review gives you the information you need to make a decision about what business VoIP service is best for your business.

Nextiva Business VoIP Service

What is eCommerce?

2011-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

eCommerce is short for electronic commerce and refers to any type of business being conducted electronically. Many companies have an eCommerce component to their business, while other businesses are conducted completely in an electronic environment. How much you need to know and understand about eCommerce will depend on what type of business you are running and how much of it you want to have conducted electronically.

If you simply want to be able to process payments electronically, perhaps you send out a catalog and want people to be able to call in and order, you may only need a payment gateway and merchant account provider. If you already accept credit cards at a physical location, talk to your merchant services provider about accepting credit cards over the phone.

If you want a business that is primarily or entirely Web based, there are a number of things to consider in addition to payment gateways and merchant services. Having an online catalog on your website will require you to have an ecommerce web hosting provider, shopping cart software, and preferably an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate, letting people know you are a verified business that is safe to deal with.

When searching for information about ecommerce, you may notice many people will abbreviate it as e-commerce, either way it is listed it means the same thing. When you are looking for ecommerce web hosting there are a number of things to look for. Many ecommerce web hosting providers will provide you with free website templates that you can customize with your brand or logo, some will include free shopping cart software and free SSL certificates as well. The best ecommerce web host will include online advertising credits to help with your search engine ranking.

If you sign up with a shopping cart provider, like BigCommerce, you will want to find out if the web hosting is included or if the shopping cart software is intended to be used with a site you already have hosted. Reading shopping cart reviews can give you an idea of how much technical knowledge you will need as well as how reliable and easy to use the shopping cart software is.

Once you are very clear on the ecommerce goals you have for your business, read a bunch of shopping cart reviews and ecommerce web hosting reviews. After you've narrowed it down to your few top picks, talk to company representatives to find the solution that will be the best match for your business website or other business ecommerce needs. Remember that pre-sales support is generally many times better than the support you will get after you sign up, because they are trying to impress you and win your business. So, if you are not happy with pre-sales support that is a pretty good indication you will not be happy with the support after you sign up.

We Recommend:

BlueHost for ecommerce web hosting

Merchant Warehouse for merchant services

BigCommerce for shopping cart software

Credit Card Processing

2010-11-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

If you are doing business, or thinking of starting a business, online accepting credit cards and processing credit card payments is essential. The quickest and easiest way for processing credit cards online is through real-time processing. Whether you are using a shopping cart or other ecommerce software system, real-time processing will work directly with your ordering system. One of the first things you need to do is get setup with a gateway processor like Authorize.net. They will be the ones that actually process the credit card.

If you have a merchant provider, check with them first to find out if they handle credit card processing. Some merchant providers are owned by a bank and will have their own gateway system, so you will not have to have an additional gateway processor. You will need to check into the software you are using to find out what credit card processing options are available.

If you do need to purchase your own credit card processing software or agreement. Here are some things to consider and be aware of:

What is the total cost of the program? Are their monthly or transaction fees?
Will the system be compatible with your website, merchant account, or other ecommerce software?
How easy will it be for you and your customers to use?
What credit cards are accepted?
What customer support is available to you and your customers?

In general, most people are very careful about where and when they will enter their credit card information on the Internet. They want to know that their credit card information is secure and that they are purchasing from a trusted and reputable company. If the credit card processing is done in real-time, make sure your customer will receive information telling them if their payment has been accepted or declined and that they will receive a receipt for the exact amount charged to their credit card.

There are many ecommerce processing options to consider for your online business. Make sure you know what you want to be able to do with your business and then ask a lot of questions before purchasing anything. Ecommerce web hosting, merchant accounts, payment gateways, ecommerce processing software, shopping cart software, and security should all be top considerations. If you can find one software or system that will provide all of these things, or at least most of them, it can help make sure the whole system runs more smoothly and is efficient as possible.

Yahoo Ecommerce Special Promo - Save 35%

2010-11-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for the perfect ecommerce hosting plan for your ecommerce site, Yahoo may have just what you are looking for. Right now we can offer you a savings of 35% off any of the ecommerce hosting plans, but this is a limited time offer so don't take too long deciding. We will give you a few details about what they have to offer or you can just use our special Yahoo link below to visit the official site and see everything for yourself.

Yahoo Ecommerce Plans - 35% Off!

Yahoo has 3 ecommerce plans for you to choose from so whether you are just starting out in the ecommerce business or have an established business that just needs a new home, Yahoo has something for everyone. Getting started with an ecommerce hosting plan at Yahoo is simple. The site design wizard will walk you step-by-step through the setup process and have you in business in no time. Yahoo offers only the best tools and features, let's look at a few:

Product/Inventory Management - all three plans include a wizard and bulk-transfer options for uploading product information, a catalog tool to manage product details, inventory management features, and a product catalog feed for popular shopping directories.
Merchandising and Promotions - single and multiple-use coupons, offer free shipping, offer discounts on a percentage, dollar amount, or volume basis, trackable links for affiliate programs, product search box, and easy reorder from order history.
Shopping Cart and Checkout - customizable checkout to match your site, single or multi-page checkout, tax setup wizard, gift wrapping and message options, sell downloadable products, registered or guest checkout, and streamlined checkout for registered users.
Payment Processing - accept credit cards, checks, POs, CODs, and money orders. Integration with merchant accounts, use PayPal checkout or AcceptPay. Secure payment gateway services, credit card verification tools, PCI and CISP compliance, and APIs to allow for back-office integration for your existing systems.

This is just a preview, visit the Yahoo official site for complete details on all the eommerce features they have to offer. Yahoo backs all their ecommerce services with 24 hour phone and email support. They also offer a comprehensive online help center if you like to figure it out on your own. If you choose to use Yahoo for your ecommerce site you will know that you are doing business with a long-standing reputable company that is going to provide you with reliable services that work. If you click our link below you will not only save 35% on your first 3 months of ecommerce hosting but you will also pay no setup fee (a savings of $50). But like we said, this is a limited time offer so don't take too long deciding.

35% off Yahoo Ecommerce Plans

CoreCommerce eCommerce Software Review

2010-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

CoreCommerce has an ecommerce software special going through the month of October, sign up for any CoreCommerce plan and you will receive FREE setup. Now just because they are offering free setup probably isn't reason enough for you to choose CoreCommerce for your ecommerce software provider. That is why we have decided to do a little CoreCommerce review to let you know more about what CoreCommerce has to offer. One of the top reasons we like CoreCommerce is because of all the options they offer. They don't offer just one coverall package that is meant to meet the needs of everyone, but instead have 5 ecommerce plans for you to choose from.

Visit CoreCommerce to See for Yourself!

Before we look at any details of the specific plans, let's take a quick look at what services are offered by CoreCommerce.

Accept credit cards: if you have a business website and need to accept credit card payments on your site, you will need a merchant account/payment gateway. With the CoreCommerce merchant account you will be able to accept all major credit cards and have no application fee.
Domain Registration: every website has to have a domain name, register your domain through CoreCommerce for as little as $14.99 per year.
SSL Security: CoreCommerce knows how important security is so they provide ALL stores with a free shared 256 bit encrypted SSL certificate. If you want your own SSL certificate you can purchase one from GoDaddy through the CoreCommerce site at a special discount rate.
Custom Design: CoreCommerce offers a number of great templates but if you are looking for a one of a kind, totally unique site, they also offer custom web design.
Online Marketing: the only way to have a successful business website is to get a lot of traffic to your site. CoreCommerce offers both Cost Per Click (CPC) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services.
Reseller: if you have customers that need ecommerce solutions, CoreCommerce will allow you to created professional ecommerce stores for them.

CoreCommerce really does offer everything you need to create a successful ecommerce website and right now you can get the Beginner ecommerce software package starting at just $19.99 per month! We will give you a quick preview of the features, but to see a complete list you will have to visit the CoreCommerce site.

Beginner eCommerce Software Plan:

No Setup Fee
100 Product Limit
1 GB Monthly Bandwidth
100 MB Storage Space
Mobile Commerce
Facebook Integration
Legendary Support™

Use our CoreCommerce link below to visit the official site and see complete details on each package to decide which is the right fit for your business website. You can even use the free trial offer and try everything out for 15 days to make sure that it works for you. If you have any questions, CoreCommerce provides toll-free sales and toll-free phone support as well as a live chat option, to make sure all your questions are answered. Get started today!

CoreCommerce eCommerce Software

Ecommerce WordPress Themes

2010-10-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

When you start an ecommerce site, there are SO many things to consider: payment gateways, merchant accounts, shopping cart software, image hosting, and the list goes on. But perhaps one of the most important elements of any ecommerce site is your web page design. There are literally millions of website designs out there. Many of them are free website templates that you can tweak a little to add your own logo or description, but creating a site that is really unique and stands out, may require a little more.

If you are looking for a site design that is professional, and unique but you don't want to spend an arm and a leg to have a custom website designer create your site design, we would recommend using an ecommerce WordPress theme. If you decide to use a ecommerce WordPress theme, be aware that there are a number of options available. Just searching for free WordPress themes will net you a ton of results. Sorting through all of these to find something that will work for you can be very time consuming and difficult. If you are willing to pay a little you can search for premium WordPress themes. This will narrow your search down a little, and if you include "ecommerce" in your search terms this will narrow the results down even more and display results for themes that were designed specifically for businesses.

Still, you will have to sift through all the types of themes available to find one that matches the type of business you are doing and that will match the look and feel you want for your site. Another option, that we feel may be more useful, is to find a web host that provides ecommerce features and free website templates. Some of our favorite include: ixwebhosting, HostMonster, and BlueHost. All of these have free website builders with free website templates. They are all set up for easy installation and use of WordPress blogs and will often include WordPress tips that will help you install your blog or themes.

So whether you are looking to sell digital cameras, day spa services, or police equipment, find a WordPress theme that portrays what you want to sell. Make sure your web host supports WordPress themes and find out what you will have to do to install the theme. Generally, WordPress is very well supported and a lot of help is available for common issues or problems. Because it is so popular, there are constantly new designs and updates available so don't just settle for something that looks ok. Take a little extra time to make sure that your design is incredible. Then when people visit your site, they will be more likely to stick around long enough to find what they need from your ecommerce site!

Mozy Coupon Code Save 10% on Online Backups

2010-10-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

Online backups are something that we all have to think about, whether it is pictures and music on a home computer or important business and financial information at work. Mozy offers online backup solutions that will work for anyone. For the month of October they are offering a special deal, when you sign up for services just enter our Mozy coupon code: OCTOBER at check out and you will automatically save 10%!! Sign-up now and you can back up all your files online AND back them up on an external drive for FREE! Just click our link below to get started.

Mozy Coupon Code: OCTOBER

Let's take a minute to review some of the reasons you may need online backup storage. Statistics show that electronic data is increasing rapidly, at a rate of about 80% per year. In a business setting you are responsible for protecting that data, not only for yourself, but also for your employees and customers. Because we can never predict what is going to happen when it comes to electronics, files are accidentally deleted, hardware fails, even natural disasters, can all affect what happens to your digital information, you have to be prepared. Using a service like Mozy makes protecting your files and information simple.

With Mozy you can setup automatic backups, monitor your backups, and manage multiple user environments all from a single web-based admin console
Enjoy maximum security with military-grade encryption and world-class data centers
Affordability - save time and money with Mozy's pay-as-you go model. You don't have to purchase any hardware and there are no setup fees.

Choose Mozy Pro for your online backups to ensure that all of the important information you have in electronic form is safe and secure. Some of the main features you will find included in the Mozy Pro plan include:

File encryption during backup and storage
Bandwidth throttling
In-client, In-Windows, Web-based, and DVD restores
Desktop/Laptop support for Windows and Mac
Network drive support for Windows and Mac
24-hour technical support by phone, ticket system, or live chat
Custom mozypro.com domain name
Centralized billing, support, and administration

Use our link below to visit the Mozy official site and start backing up all your important business data today. Don't forget to use our Mozy coupon code: OCTOBER when you sign up to automatically save 10%!

Mozy Online Backups

Merchant Warehouse Special - $1,000 Free Merchant Fees

2010-10-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of things that go into creating a successful ecommerce website. We have talked about some of the best shopping cart software and best payment gateways, as well as the best SSL certificates for different ecommerce sites. Today we will talk about Merchant Warehouse, review some of the services they offer and talk about the special deal they have going on right now. At Merchant Warehouse their main focus is on helping you accept credit cards. Whether you are a brick and mortar business that needs a credit card terminal or if you have a traveling business and need to be able to accept credit cards wherever you are. They also provide services that will allow you to accept credit cards over the phone or online. Whatever your credit card processing needs are, Merchant Warehouse has you covered.

Merchant Warehouse has been a part of the online merchant services business since 1998. Over the past 10 plus years Merchant Warehouse has proven how reliable their services are and have set a standard in the industry for price, customer service, ethics and integrity. Some interesting facts about the services Merchant Warehouse provides:

Over 25,000 merchants a year choose Merchant Warehouse for their credit card equipment and processing needs.
Merchant Warehouse processes more than $3 Billion a year in sales and over 2.5 million transactions a month.
They have more than 2,000 pieces of hardware on hand and ready to ship at any time.

Now that you know a little more about Merchant Warehouse and what they have to offer, let's talk about this incredible merchant special promo they have going right now. Every new company that signs up for any Merchant Warehouse service, will automatically be entered in a drawing for a chance to win $1,000 worth of free merchant fees over the next 12 months. Merchant fees may include: regularly assessed transaction fees and charges, statement fees, batch fees, monthly minimum charges, gateway, wireless, or other similar fees related to processing credit card or debit card transactions, and PCI fees. Really the only thing that you can't use your $1,000 winnings for are: equipment or software purchases, chargeback fees, and fines.

This Merchant Warehouse special goes through the entire month of October with Merchant Warehouse selecting a new winner every week, 4 total. The winner will be drawn from a pool of entrants within that entry time period, about 7 days, so your chances of winning will depend on the number of actual entries in that period, but will be much greater than with most contests that accept entries for weeks or months before choosing their winners. In you are in need of any merchant account services, we highly recommend Merchant Warehouse. Use our link below to visit the Merchant Warehouse official site and get started today!

Merchant Warehouse

GoDaddy Business Solutions - Save 20% on GoDaddy eCommerce Today

2010-09-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

GoDaddy's NEW Business Solution Bundle can save you up to $207.00! This package allows you to build, optimize, and promote your Web site all-in-one great eCommerce package. By clicking the following link you will be directed to the Official GoDaddy site (once there click the "business" link at the top for details) and you will automatically SAVE 20% on GoDaddys Business Solution Bundle:

Official GoDaddy Website!

Your GoDaddy Business Solution Bundle will include:

A registered domain name - $1.99 value
Deluxe registration (includes discounted private registration) - $9.99 value
10 Pages on Deluxe Website Tonight® - (GoDaddy's website builder) - $97.08 value
Site Analytics - $32.29 value
Deluxe search engine visibility and Express Mail Marketing® - $49.99 value

This package's regular retail price is $191.34 a year, but with your 20% savings you can get all of these business solutions for just $153.07 a year. If you know this is the package for you then lock in these savings by purchasing a multi-year plan and save even more!

If this package is NOT for you then GoDaddy makes it real simple to mix and match your own business bundle where you can still save on all of your business hosting needs. Create your custom business website by choosing a combination of any of the following:

Web Hosting - Choose from 3 Windows or 3 Linux shared hosting plans
Search Engine Visibility - Standard, deluxe, and premium available
Quick Shopping Cart® - Choose economy, deluxe, or premium
Express Email Marketing® - 500, 2,500, and 5,000/mo spam-free email options
Hosted Exchange Email - Individual, Individual + Blackberry, or Group Plan
Go Daddy Contact Manager (CRM) - 3 options available
Go Daddy Site Surverys - Packaged in time increments
Incorporation Services - 3 options pricing depends on type of corp. and State
Go Daddy Marketplace™ - Sell your products thru GoDaddy for a small fee.

You MAY be able to go out on your own and find all of these web hosting products and services from individual vendors and package them up yourself, but why? By doing this you are going to have a number of individual contracts and bills to keep track of and a lot of questionable integration work to do on your own. By hosting your business website with one of the most well known and best web hosting companies you know your site will have everything it needs to look and run just the way you need it to. Don't waste time and money trying to save a few pennies when you can save a bundle by using a web host who offers everything you need.

Save an Additional 10% on Your Order Today by Clicking Here!

BigCommerce Shopping Cart Review ~ Free Trial

2010-09-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

In all of our study and research we have found one of the best shopping cart software providers in the market: BigCommerce. Today we will do a shopping cart review to see what the features and benefits are when you choose to use BigCommerce as your shopping cart software. Keep in mind that if this looks like the right software for you, you can sign up for a 15 day free trail, no credit card required! So you can really test all the features and make sure that it is going to be the right fit for your business website. Click our special link below to get started on your free trial right away.

BigCommerce 15-day Free Trial

BigCommerce Shopping Cart Review:

Multi-channel retailing and integration: with BigCommerce you can sell your products from your own online store and other popular sites, like eBay, Facebook, and a number of other sites that feature shopping comparisons.
Automated email marketing and lists: BigCommerce has integrated with MailChimp to provide you with a simple point-and-click interface that allows you to store customer lists. You control how the lists are sorted so they will be the most beneficial to your company, sort options include by purchase, order total, by products, etc. You can then send emails to specific groups with relevant offers.
Secure, fast, and scalable: BigCommerce is committed to making sure you have all the security features you need to protect your data and accept credit cards in a secure environment. The BigCommerce SAS 70 type II certified servers are fast! With a 99.9% uptime record, your site will always be available when you need it. Whether you want to sell 100 products or 100,000, they have a plan that is perfect for your business.
Inventory control: with any type of online store, inventory management is crucial. If you sell a product that your customer really wants but it isn't available for 2-4 weeks because it is out-of-stock or back-ordered, most likely they will head on over to the next guy that sells the same or similar product that they don't have to wait for. BigCommerce has excellent inventory control so you will never have to worry about running out of anything.
Customer groups and pricing: if you have customers that always buy in bulk, you may want to offer them special pricing. BigCommerce allows you to create customer groups that you can then offer special discounts and offers to, by group. You set up the criteria and customers will automatically be added to a specific group.
Staff logins and permissions: you probably don't want every member of your staff to have access to every part of your shopping cart software. With BigCommerce you can set restrictions by user so that they will only be allowed to access the features you want them too. Set up an activity log for each user so you can tell exactly what each staff member is doing.

BigCommerce is flexible. They strive to provide something for everyone. Whether you are brand new to the ecommerce hosting scene and want to start up your very first online store, or you have been in the business for a while and just need a new, up-dated shopping cart software that will better meet the needs of your business, or even if you are a website designer with a lot of clients and you need a software that is easy to customize, BigCommerce has you covered.

BigCommerce Shopping Cart Software

X-Cart Shopping Cart Software Review

2010-09-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

As a feature rich online store builder, X-Cart shopping cart software is a key in online business success. Their numerous resources and services take you through a step by step process, so you will always have assistance when operating your ecommerce web site. In addition, X-Cart offers responsive support for technical questions, and integrates well with numerous other ecommerce products.

X-Cart has built a smart and search engine friendly shopping cart program. It is easy to upload information and get started. Plus, the software is user friendly, even for someone with little or no prior programming knowledge. With simple PHP code and their Smarty Template System, X-Cart is flexible and easy to modify. It uses a W3C compliant store front with a CCS based layout and has professional design elements for an aesthetically pleasing site. In addition, it is highly customizable, so you can get a unique store front with a robust catalog.

With X-Cart, the back-end interface is all browser based, so it is also user friendly and easy to navigate. There are many great features and add-on applications that make it possible to have a custom made functionality that meets the exact needs of your business. Plus, one of the greatest advantages of using X-Cart is that they are compatible with a large number of other ecommerce products, providing you with options for accepting payments and shipping products. PayPal, Google CheckOut, First Data, Amazon, UPS, DHL, and Fed Ex are just a few of the commonly used services they can integrate with to make your job easier.

There are a few limitations with the X-Cart shopping cart program. For one thing, installation had been described by many as a difficult process. You must set up everything on your server or pay a fee to X-Cart to have them take care of it. Also, X-Cart has many add-on applications that are not included as part of the package. Paying for many items separately can start to become expensive.

However, X-Cart is a good product overall. They are usually highly ranked in free shopping cart reviews and have grown tremendously in popularity throughout the years. Plus, X-Cart offers extensive software support and a number of other internet related service, so you can take care of most business aspects with this single company. X-Cart allows you to try their software risk free for 30 days. See their site for additional details.

Miva Merchant Shopping Cart Software Review

2010-09-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

The ecommerce shopping cart software Miva 5.5 provides unlimited potential, flexibility, and ease of use, for developing, building, and maintaining an online store. It offers premier ecommerce solutions by providing advanced catalog, customer, and order management systems. Design elements are completely customizable using Morph Technology. Plus, Miva shopping cart integrates well with various payment and shipping methods, with no limits on data storage, and numerous ad-on applications to empower your online business.

The Miva Merchant shopping cart is made unique by the useful marketing features they provide . Search engine optimization and an affiliate tracking program that operates on a pay-per-click advertising basis are included as part of the package. You can track your affiliate statistics, generate reports, and manage earnings and payouts for the affiliates who advertise your web page. Plus, Miva Merchant mailer provides the ability to manage mailing list and send out ads using their email distribution system.

The set up and use of the Miva interface is fairly easy to navigate However, your site must be hosted my Miva Merchant, or a web hosting company that supports the Miva software. Therefor, hosting choices become somewhat limited. However, the operational end of the Miva Merchant shopping cart makes your job easy, as Miva is able to configure taxes, shipping, and real time postal rates for your store. Plus, with Miva, you get advanced design features and the “Getting Started” wizard, which walks you through the process of building an online store front.

There are a few limitations to the Miva Merchant shopping cart. First of all, it can be difficult to get customer service and technical support in a timely manner from Miva. Many users of the program have found it difficult to even reach the Miva support team. In addition, if you desire to use QuickBooks with Miva, they require that you pay an extra $399.00 for it.

However, the Miva Merchant shopping cart is a great tool for building an online store. Overall, it is user friendly and provides the features your business needs for success. Providing services for more than 50,000 online companies, Miva helps merchants everywhere by providing complete, reliable, and expandable performance software.

LiteCommerce Online Store Builder Review

2010-08-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

As a multipurpose ecommerce store platform, LiteCommerce provides more than just a shopping cart. It is an online store builder with the features you need to make your company successful, including credit card processing, inventory processing, search engine optimization, custom development, fraud protection, and technical support. The program offers numerous built in features and extended add-ons. Plus, it is scalable and user friendly.

LiteCommerce is a spin off of the popular software X-Cart. However, the main differences are that LiteCommerce is more customizable with 97% of its code open, and uses better control features for easy web design. You can edit their templates using programs like DreamWeaver and FrontPage. Plus, LiteCommerce utilizes object oriented program architecture. However, it lacks some of the statistic, analytic, and language tools that are still present in X-Cart.

Installing the LiteCommerce online store builder is fairly easy. QuickStart Wizard guides you through all the steps you must take to get things up and running. In addition, LiteCommerce offers full design services that allow you to choose from a variety of sketches and provide a professional and customized storefront. They can create your site for you and assist with designing a logo and utilizing the latest media technology with flash video options.

One of the only limitations to using LiteCommerce is that they do not provide technical support by phone. However, there are more than 150 support points included with the package and their web based help desk responds to questions fairly quickly.

Overall, LiteCommerce provides quality store building tools and ecommerce solutions. They provide you with quality applications for building and managing your store, and design services that are organized and professional. Plus, their shopping cart contains the tools you need for your business to grow and thrive.

CLICK HERE to Visit LiteCommerce Today!!!

Volusion's Shopping Cart Software & Volusion Review

2010-08-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Volusion has been in the ecommerce business since 1999. Founder, Kevin Sproles, saw the need for a shopping cart software that would be available and affordable to all ecommerce website builders, so he created it. Volusion now serves more than 100,000 customers worldwide and continues to grow and changes by sticking to what they consider their "core values".

Deliver "WOW" experiences - they strive to make every interaction with their customers make the customer more successful and leave them saying "WOW!"
Innovate and embrace change - stay agile and drive positive change
Keep it simple, get it done - no excuses, just get it done. They are resourceful and find a way around obstacles.
Rock the Golden Rule - treat others how they want to be treated.
Have fun and kick butt - work hard, play hard, and celebrate wins.

Volusion Free Trail - Get Your Full 14 Days Now!!

Now that we know a little about who Volusion is and what they stand for, let's take a look at the features that you will enjoy with the Volusion shopping cart software. They provide you with everything you need to create a successful online store: marketing tools, design templates, inventory management and all the ecommerce essentials: domain names, credit card processing, security protection and more. The following is their list of customer favorites.

VZoom!™ allows shoppers to explore unlimited products, see all variations, and add unlimited products to their cart, all from your product page.
High quality templates allow you to effortlessly build a beautiful store design that will keep your shoppers interested.
Automated inventory controls keep you updated on inventory on hand, notifies you of low-stock, and allows customers to order items on backorder.
Social Store Builder™ allows you to list your products on popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.
Online marketing is key to increasing sales. A built-in newsletter generator, unique coupons, gift registries, rewards programs, and even a built-in affiliate program will surely help you create a successful marketing campaign.
Search Engine Optimization is critical to online business success. Create custom tags, search engine friendly URLs and more, to get your site listed on the first page of search engine results.
Convenient order processing. Volusion software lets you move hundreds of orders at once, directly print shipping labels, and let customers track their orders.

Use our link below to get the best deals on Volusion shopping cart software. Be sure and check out the entire features list on their site to see all the features that will benefit your online store. Rest assured that their staff will be available 24/7 to answer any questions and help you resolve any issues that may arise. Sign up for the free 14 day trial and see what Volusion is all about.

Click Here for the Best Deals on Volusion Shopping Cart Software

eCommerce Web Hosting Packages

2010-07-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Before purchasing any products for your businesse's online website, consider an eCommerce web hosting packages as a way to get the tools you need and save money. Going beyond the contents of a traditional web hosting package, eCommerce hosting packages provide useful features for operating a successful online store. Some of them include everything you need to get started and maintain your business. The majority of the major hosting companies that exist today offer some type of eCommerce package that allows you to save money and time with one stop shopping.

Some of the features you can expect to be offered with eCommerce web hosting packages include increased disk space and bandwidth, a shopping cart program, design services, a payment gateway service, and an SSL certificate. Shopping cart programs range from open source, or free applications to commercialized software that is user friendly. Payment gateways allow your business to authorize credit card transactions, and SSL certificates ensure secure data transfer of sensitive information.

In addition, some eCommerce web hosting packages include marketing tools, which can be of great value for drawing customers to your site. Marketing tools may include advertising credits with the major search engines, tutorials on search engine optimization, and automatic entry into an online store directory. In addition, the shopping cart program you are provided may come with its own set of marketing tools that allow for cross selling, bulk email ads, and the ability to accept coupons or gift certificates.

Overall, the products you need for your business are generally more expensive when purchased individually. Web hosting companies contract with other internet service providers to utilize their products and services in bulk. Therefore, the savings gets passed onto you when you take advantage of an eCommerce web hosting package. In general, eCommerce web hosting packages provide a cost efficient and convenient way to set up and maintain your online store.

eCommerce Web Design

2010-06-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

When building an online store, one of the most important aspects of its development is web design. The term web design is used to describe your store front and catalog. It is commonly used to differentiate web programming which usually refers to the back end, or operational design of your store. The intent of web design is to create a store front and catalog pages that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate.

The features of your web design are intended to entice customers to shop. This is where store presentation can make or break a business. Lay outs, colors, fonts, and photos are used to set the structure and tone of your pages. Plus, product images, item descriptions, the ability to cross sell, and provide other pertinent information are key to producing a functional and successful catalog.

eCommerce Web Design can be accomplished with related programming knowledge, or with a user friendly shopping cart program that operates on a template system. Templates are preformed layouts. Often programs provide you with hundreds to choose from, so your site will appear unique. Plus, most allow for customization by altering colors, fonts, and more.

Designing your own eCommerce site can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Is is cost effective . Plus, you will likely be more knowledgeable about the operations and maintenance procedures, if you do it yourself. On the other hand, hiring a professional web designer might provide your site with a more professional appearance. Also, web programmers sometimes have a talent for being able to utilize extended features and make sites search engine friendly, so potential customers will be able to find your store.

Overall, your eCommerce web design is a reflection of your business. Clean, organized, and dynamic presentation not only entice consumers to stick around, they help them establish a trust in your site's professionalism. If a potential customer becomes frustrated while navigating the pages of your catalog, or is less than impressed by its overall appearance , they will likely leave your site to shop elsewhere. It could be compared to having a department store which was dirty, cluttered, or disorganized.

Before settling on a web design, view your competition and make sure your site looks equally, if not more professional. The success of your eCommerce web design can determine the overall success of your business.

Comparing Shopping Carts

2010-04-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Before selecting a shopping cart program to operate your ecommerce site, it’s important to compare the key features of each viable choice. Shopping cart programs vary in terms of price, user friendliness, catalog options, marketing solutions, and checkout systems. When comparing shopping carts, research the main components of each program and how they meet your individual business needs.

The price of a shopping cart can vary greatly. While some shopping cart systems are open source and free, others may constitute a large portion of your overhead. Generally, the affordable and fully customizable open source applications require some degree of prior programming knowledge, or a sincere dedication to learn. However, private companies that market shopping cart software, usually provide programs that are user friendly, with easy access to numerous features.

Also, when comparing shopping carts, also be sure to consider the size of your business. Various programs accommodate various sized catalogs. Also, the number of pictures you are able to display of each product and the overall layout of your catalog should be evaluated. Other features such as the ability to show available quantities or additional color options for your product may be important.

Most importantly, marketing solutions can make or break a successful ecommerce business. Marketing tools may include everything from search engine optimization (SEO) to ad production and bulk email options. A shopping cart that offer features such as cross selling, gift certificates, coupons, and guest list promises greater results than one that does not.

Additionally, your shopping cart program needs to be able to integrate with all payment and shipping methods you wish to offer your consumers. Some shopping carts clearly state support for popular merchant account providers such as PayPal or Authorize.Net. Check with your merchant account provider to ensure easy integration. Plus, many shopping carts make shipping easy by providing services that are compatible with UPS or FedEx shipping software.

Web Store Software

2010-04-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Using a web store software to operate your online business offers many advantages. The success of a web store is contingent upon the features provided by the software program you choose. Some of the most beneficial features for your web store software include marketing tools, search engine optimization, and an easy check out system. Web store software is commonly referred to as a shopping cart program, as it serves to create everything from the store front and website design to the operations of your site and the finalization of each sale.

Web store software provides almost everything you need to build an online store. In order to be user friendly, they are usually based on a template system, in which you select a layout from hundreds of options and customize its characteristics for a unique appearance. With web store software, you are able to upload product images into a catalog, provide detailed descriptions to customers, and design the overall image of your store.

In addition to web design, web store software is responsible for the back end of your ecommerce site. It performs the operations that allow you to track statistics, process orders, calculate shipping expenses, and run the entire store. The best web design software often includes advertising tools that assist in driving traffic to your site and increasing your revenue. Search engine optimization, cross selling, bulk email, and the ability to accept coupons are just a few of the popular marketing tools that are commonly found in web store software.

On the plus side, web store programs are used in place of raw programming skills, so that individuals with little to no programming experience can get a site up and running. However, sites that are built from the ground up without the use of a web store software may produce more customized results.

Before you decide on a program for building your ecommerce business, be sure to check its ability to integrate with your web hosting and other applications you wish to use. Choosing a web store software should be based on the individual needs of your web site.

eCommerce Integration

2010-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

When designing a functional ecommerce site, software integration should be a main consideration. The shopping cart program you choose needs to be compatible with your database system and your web hosting service. Additionally, any software that integrates payment options, accounting programs, or shipping services must work with the shopping cart of your choice.

A web hosting company that supports ecommerce is essential for operating an online business. Adequate disk space, SSL security, and the overall ability to support your shopping cart program are key factors to consider when selecting an ecommerce hosting plan. Some advanced shopping cart programs include hosting services, to ensure compatibility. However, most ecommerce hosting supports the majority of all shopping cart plans. Plus, they sometimes come with free open source shopping cart applications or provide their own user friendly shopping cart program as part of the hosting package.

Payment integration is also very important when attempting to keep your check out system simple. Your shopping cart software should specify which merchant account services and payment gateways it supports. Companies such as Authorize.Net, PayPal, and Google CheckOut are all viable options for online merchant services. Many shopping cart programs offer easy integration for these programs to work with their check out system. Be sure to check with your merchant account provider and shopping cart system to make sure your desired payment methods can integrate with your store.

Additionally, many merchants like to incorporate accounting software such as QuickBooks with their online business. Some shopping cart programs easily interact with QuickBooks to help you manage your finances. However, other shopping carts may not integrate as well or at all. Also, you may benefit from a shopping cart program that can integrate with shipping company software such as those that manage FedEx or UPS . Upon integrating these systems, you will be able to calculate prices based on information that has been previously entered. Plus, you can print shipping labels without having to re-enter addresses, ensuring accuracy of your services.

SSL Certificate for Ecommerce

2010-04-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

SSL stands for secure socket layer. Basically, it a the security system for your website that encrypts words and numbers for transfer and protects sensitive information such as credit card and bank data from computer hackers. SSL certificates may come with your hosting/shopping cart services or be purchased separately. However, no ecommerce site should ever be without one. In addition to encrypting information, they work to ensure your potential customers that it is safe to shop on your site.

Not only does an SSL certificate protect sensitive information of both the merchant and the consumer, it sends a message to the public, ensuring that your identity has been verified. While not fool proof, an SSL certificate authority accepts applications and verifies that the website is in fact who they say they are. Various SSL certificate types provide different levels of authentication. However, having any type of SSL certificate reassures the internet savvy consumers who are watchful for them.

Both shared and private SSL certificates are available. A shared certificate is one that belongs to a web host, but can also be used by the site owner, usually at no extra charge. On the other hand, private certificates apply only to the individual's site, often cost extra, and sometimes offer additional security benefits. SSL Certificates can vary in both their authentication process and their level of coding, or encryption.

Ecommerce Hosting

2010-03-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

When choosing an ecommerce hosting plan, there are many options to consider. Some choose to use an economical hosting plan that supports free ecommerce applications, while others buy hosting that is ecommerce specific, with a package deal for their needs. Regardless of which option you choose, there are several factors to take into account when attempting to meet the needs of your online business. Ecommerce web hosting requires a few things that a normal website does not.

With ecommerce hosting, one of the first items to asses is security. Sensitive information will be exchanged across your website, including credit card and other financial data. So, it is important that your hosting provides a security system that encodes this information and protects it from identity thieving hackers. SSL, or Secure Socket Layer is a program that is seen with many hosting companies that accommodate ecommerce. Make sure you have adequate security before you begin a new project and at all times.

Often, ecommerce hosting supplies the merchant with a shopping cart program. A shopping cart program is the operating system that produces your store front/catalog and allows you to manage the site, track inventory, and complete transactions. Overall, it can determine the success of your business. Many hosting companies that support ecommerce include applications for open source, or free shopping carts. X-cart, Os Commerce, ZenCart, Cube Cart, and Agora Cart are some of the more popular ones. However, many of these programs require some programming knowledge in order to effectively customize them. Shopping carts that are more user friendly can be purchased independently, or in a package with an ecommerce specific hosting plan. Consider your shopping cart choice when selecting an ecommerce hosting package.

Finally, one of the most frustrating things to an online business owner is downtime. If your site is not always in operation, you may be losing money at an alarming rate. Ecommerce hosting should come with both an uptime guarantee and a technical support system. Technical support for hosting should be available 24/7 to assist you with any problems that you may encounter.

Magento eCommerce Review

2010-03-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Magento is an open source ecommerce software that is sustained by a large community. It can easily be downloaded for free. However, in april of 2009, Magento Enterprise Edition, a paid version of Magento was launched, offering an advanced version of this software for just under $9,000 per year. The following review pertains only to the open source version of Magento which allows store owners to create an aesthetically pleasing site, upload content, and manage all merchandise transactions.

Magento serves as a powerful administrative interface with endless options for customization. It provides you with control over almost every aspect of your project, while supplying catalog management tools that assist you with merchandising, inventory tracking, tax and shipping calculations, checkout, marketing, and more. Magento has a reputation for building search engine friendly stores with search engine optimization techniques. Plus, their powerful marketing features include features like cross selling that assist vendors with increasing profits.

Although Magento is a great open source tool that can be used for free, there are some drawbacks to this program. It cannot be used for coupon tracking, nor is there any formal support by phone or an affiliate group. As with most open source softwares, support for Magento must be sought after through its community of forums, wikis, chat rooms, and more. However, the developers and users that make up Magento's community work together to quickly resolve any bugs in the system and maintain the integrity of this product. Another drawback of Magento is that it is not entirely user friendly. While programming knowledge isn't a must, it may be helpful when operating this software. However, Magento uniquely uses a layering navigation system for easy control, which is greatly appreciated by most of its users.

Overall, Magento has a lot to offer as an online store management system. It is numbered among the most popular open source shopping cart programs available. Plus, the latest trends show a growing interest in this product. Visit Magento's official website for more details on this feature packed ecommerce software.

xCart Review

2010-03-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

xCart is a powerful PHP based shopping cart program that functions to create a store front and manage all ecommerce operations. As one to the more popular open source products available, it works on a template system that assists it in being more user friendly. Plus, xCart offers an endless number of add on application for almost every type of feature your store may need. Sustained by a strong and rapidly growing community, it is one software that has earned some attention.

There are multiple versions of xCart available. Once you have selected one to operate your business, downloading the software is fairly easy. xCart gives you the ability to customize the majority of the content of your pages. Plus, it is known for being capable of creating search engine friendly URLs and being easy to navigate. In fact, xCart is one of the only open source shopping cart programs that offer a live demo on their site. You can see exactly how content is managed from both the front and back end of operations, before ever downloading this product. Additionally, xCart contains all the features you will need to effectively market your online store, including applications for coupons, gift certificates, cross selling, and more.

On the other hand, there a few limitations with the xCart shopping cart program. It does not run properly on some hosts, including GoDaddy. Some programming knowledge may be needed in order to execute a custom design properly. Plus, the page naming ability of the cart is somewhat limited.

Overall, xCart is a successful tool and is adopted by more and more online business owners, everyday. As with most open source softwares, there is no formal technical support service. However, xCart has a strong community that operates support forums. Plus, the the software allows you to directly link to these forums and a section for FAQs, so you can be guided to other users and developers for assistance. Visit their website for details about xCart and view their live demo for more information about how this product can help your ecommerce site.

Open Source or Free eCommerce

2010-02-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

In the world of ecommerce, there are many software applications that are open source, also called free software. Open source software is liberally licensed and presented in a way in which users are able to access their codes and freely make changes and improvements as needed. In other words, they are free programs that you can copy, use, and customize for your own ecommerce site.

Open source ecommerce software includes shopping cart programs that serve as the functioning catalog and operational system for online businesses. They can be easily downloaded from the Internet at no charge, saving business owners a significant amount of money on overhead. Some of the more popular ecommerce shopping cart programs include Os commerce, Agora Shopping Cart, CubeCart, ZenCart, Pinnacle Cart, and Magento. The majority of these software's are written in PHP. However, some exists in Perl, Java, Python, or other programing languages.

Although some open source ecommerce software claim to be user friendly, most of them require some prior knowledge or programming experience. It is important to be aware of the fact that open source applications do not usually have any type of formal technical support. However, wikis, forums, mailing list, and conferences, are developed and sustained by the software's community. They operate so that developers and users of open source software can share information and provide free assistance for technical questions.

With an open source ecommerce shopping cart, you should be able to upload images into a customized catalog, track inventory, calculate tax and shipping, and incorporate a check out system. Many open source software programs have additional features for marketing, statistics, and more. Be sure to do your research about the features, user friendliness, and scalability of all open source products, prior to selecting one for your business. Choosing an open source ecommerce product should be based on your company's individual needs.

Shopping Cart Software

2010-02-22T07:40:00.000-08:00

As a vital part of an online business, a shopping cart software acts as the store's catalog and order processing system. It allows customers to select merchandise, view their carts, make modifications, proceed to check out, and complete transactions. Both goods and services can be bought and sold using a shopping cart program. On the back end, they operate as the organization system for the merchant, tracking inventory, integrating with payment systems, and calculating tax and shipping costs. Some shopping cart programs will even assist you with marketing, printing your shipping labels, and in providing a back up system and advanced fraud protection.

Shopping cart software can be purchased independently, or offered as a feature from a service that will host or create your companies ecommerce site. In addition, there are open source, or free shopping cart programs, that can be downloaded from the internet. These programs are commonly used and can save a business on overhead expenses. However, even though many of them claim to be user friendly, some programming experience may be required. Plus, there is no formal support for an open source software, only a community that exchanges information through forums and other related websites.

If you are in the market for a shopping cart program, there are some important things to consider. You want to make sure your shopping cart program provides you with scalability. In other words, your shopping cart should be able to accommodate the size of your catalog and grow with your business. Another factor to consider is the ability of your software to integrate with your merchant account, shipping company, or other services you will be using to operate your business. In addition, shopping carts should have the features that are best suited for your needs in terms of marketing tools, display options, inventory control, real time statistics, and more.

Custom eCommerce Design

2010-02-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

In today's modern world, more and more people are shopping on the internet. As a result, there are ecommerce products everywhere that are based from template systems and claim to be user friendly. Many companies take advantage of these products and find success. However, not every online business owner approves of this cookie cutter approach to building a website. Many of them need a site with more custom appearance and function than what these software companies offer. Therefore, professional ecommerce designers are available to produce custom online stores for optimal results.

Many web hosting companies offer the additional service of a professional design team to create your custom online store. Network Solutions and GoDaddy are two of the more popular choices for professional web design. However, there are also many private software developers and web programmers who specialize in custom ecommerce design. Many of them will work closely with you to find out exactly what your needs are and initiate ideas for optimizing success. The price for these services usually starts in the hundreds and only goes up from there. Plus, many sites will still require the help of a professional for maintenance, if the merchant is unfamiliar with the programming.

Although custom ecommerce sites can be expensive, when done correctly, they will increase sales and be worth the investment. A good custom ecommerce designer should provide a number of services including one on one time with the merchant, a site designed specifically for the needs of the business, and a fast turn around time on the project. A successful site is often one that can be easily managed and maintained by the merchant upon completion. In addition, the attractiveness of the web pages, SEO, and advanced marketing features are also important things to consider when receiving professional design services. The choice to invest in a custom ecommerce design should be based on the individual needs of the business.

Ecommerce Consulting

2010-02-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

When merchants think of ecommerce consulting, one of the first things that comes to mind is the expense of this service. One must carefully weigh the cost of the consultant's advise and consider whether or not the resulting benefits will be worth their investment. If you don't research the type of help that a consultant can offer, you will probably never know. Although ecommerce consulting may not be for everyone, there are certain online business owners who can greatly benefit from the guidance of a professional.

The benefits of ecommerce consulting cover everything from eCommerce design to marketing. A poorly designed ecommerce web site may have a negative impact on your business. Ecommerce consultants are experienced in merchandising products and services and making them marketable. They consider your site's conversion rate, or the number of site visitors who become customers. This is done by researching site statistics and noticing when visitors might be losing interest or abandoning the site. By this manner, they are able to make changes and adjust the site for optimal success.

Ecommerce consultants generate traffic with search engine optimization, make recommendations and alterations in regards to your shopping cart program, and simplify check out methods to ensure all sales are completed. Another major part of their job is advising you on marketing strategies that may include cross selling, adding the option for gift certificates, and creating contact lists for bulk email ads.

It is true that advanced ecommerce software already takes on some of the characteristics of a consultants job. Plus, if you do your research, there is really nothing that a consultant can do that you won't be able to do for yourself. However, ecommerce consultants save time, initiate ideas, and make it easier for you to succeed in the world of online sales. Often, their services pay for themselves in just a short time. Also, they can bring years of experience to your newly growing business. Deciding whether or not to use an ecommerce consultant should be based on the individual needs of your company.

Ecommerce Catalog

2010-02-01T08:48:00.000-08:00

An ecommerce catalog allows you to showcase your products and services for online sales. Setting up or developing an ecommerce catalog from basic HTML tools can be challenging, so it is important to know what products are available to help. Due to the fact that your ecommerce catalog provides for the merchandising of your products and the managing of your sales, selecting the right tools can be vital for the success of your business.

One of the most popular and user friendly options for an ecommerce catalog is the online shopping cart. Shopping cart programs offer template systems that make it easy to set up pages that are aesthetically pleasing. You should be able to drop in your own product photos, create multiple views of each item, display color swatches, available sizes, an item description, and any other pertinent information the shopper needs to know before making a purchase. If your shopping cart programs tracks inventory in real time, it can even let the consumer know when a product is sold out or on back order. This saves time and money associated with having to refund purchases made for items that are out of inventory.

In addition to creating effective display pages, ecommerce catalogs may include features that will encourage and increase sales. Some catalog softwares have the ability to cross sell, or suggest additional items that relate to the original purchase. Also, many catalogs have programs that allow merchants to place items on sale, accept gift cards, and offer discounts for purchases of certain quantities or amounts. Consumers may benefit from ecommerce catalogs that automatically compare prices for them and allow them to conveniently make purchases online through an easy to use check out system.

Every ecommerce catalog should appear unique and customized. Although most catalog programs are based on a template system, the merchant should be able to adjust the fonts, colors, photos, and the lay out to give their store front a professional look. There are both free open source catalogs, as well as programs that can be purchased for easy use. The most important thing to remember when shopping for an ecommerce catalog program is to do your research and select the appropriate tools that will help you to optimize your online store.

B2b Ecommerce Software Review

2010-01-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

When operating an online business, you will want a software module that can make your job easier. Nexternal's Business to Business (b2b) Ecommerce solutions has a program that works specifically for companies who have a product they wish to sell to a pre-existing customer list, such as that of a manufacturer and a wholesaler. This software also works well for multi level marketing distributes and distributors who utilize sales representatives in their business. It allows customers or sales representatives to view up to date information about products and inventory, and gives them the ability to place an order at anytime. Plus, all data transfer is secure and you can view real time statistics about your business site at your convenience. B2b Ecommerce Software is more than just a shopping cart, it is an order management system for business executives.

B2b is one of the most comprehensive ecommerce softwares that are available, with features that help you market your products, process orders efficiently, and obtain detailed reports about your business activities. Also, they simplify shipping with tools that integrate your business with UPS, FedEx, and DHL. You are able to generate and produce shipping labels, calculate real time shipping costs, verify addresses, and track orders that are in transit.

Fully equipped with marketing solutions, b2b is search engine friendly and allows you to do everything from ecoupons and upsells, to bulk mail and RSS feeds. This software also allows for products to be reviewed and rated for quality and reassurance. Plus, it gives automated daily information about product search feeds, generates and accepts gift certificates, and has an application for a live chat system for communication with your customers or sales representatives. B2b includes everything you need to effectively market your products.

Overall b2b is an excellent choice for merchants who desire an outsourced order management system. Critics have been pleased with the quick set up and initialization process. Visit b2b Ecommerce on the web for more details. It is a valuable product and should be considered for any business to business organizational needs.

Ecommerce Credit Card Processors

2010-01-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

In today's world of convenience, an online business that accepts credit cards is more likely to succeed than one that does not. Credit cards offer protection to both the buyer and the seller. They allow transactions to occur immediately, assuring the merchant they will be paid and can go ahead and ship the product. However, in order to accept credit cards, you must have a credit card processor. When shopping around for the right credit card processor, there are several factors to consider.

A credit card processor is a third party vendor who processes credit cards. They provide businesses with a merchant account in order to transfer them their funds in a timely manner. Cards can be accepted online or by a physical or virtual terminal. Once the card information is submitted, it goes to a gateway processor which either accepts of rejects the credit card. Accepted transactions are held until the end of the business day. At that point, the merchant reenters the transaction via the payment gateway. This is commonly referred to as batching the account. The information is stored and the funds are then transferred into the merchants account.

When shopping for a credit card processor, there are many companies to choose from. Within the industry, there seems to be a large variation in the amount and number of fees that are charged. You can expect to be charged set up fees, transaction fees, and a percentage of the total sale. In addition, some companies charge extra for monthly statements, charge backs, and many other services. This is an area where it really pays to shop around. Also, you will want a credit card processor that provides exceptional customer service. This way, if there are any problems, they can be resolved quickly and not interfere with your bottom line.

Regardless of which company you decide to go with, make sure you understand all the terms before starting service. Selecting a credit card processor should be based on the individual needs of your company.

Ecommerce Website Builder

2010-01-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

There are many ecommerce website builders in existance that are user friendly. Even someone with limited or no programming experience can use them. If you can point and click, then you can build your own store to sell products and services online. There are both open source applications for building ecommerce sites and programs available for purchase. Ecommerce website builders give you all the tools you need to create a functional and successful online business, without having to hire a professional design team.

Most ecommerce website builders are based on a template system. Usually hundreds of templates exist within a program, functioning as the framework for your site and the design for your layout. You can select one that is best suited for your type of business whether it be selling sporting goods or baked goods. Often the templates have themes and may even come with related photos that will be alluring to your shoppers.

Once you have selected an appropriate template for your site, your ecommerce software should allow you to change colors, fonts, and photos, for a customized appearance. To build your catalog, you will be able to upload photos. Plus, a great ecommerce website has multiple features that allow your customer to view several images of the same item, zoom in to see details, and see various color swatches to choose from. Inventory should be tracked by any good ecommerce site, displaying to the public exactly what sizes and quantities are available.

Great ecommerce website builders have built in promotional features that allow you to place items on sale, use cross selling tools, accepts gift certificates/coupons, create mailing lists, generate advertisements, and more. Plus, they need to work effectively with your web host, merchant account, and payment gateway services.

Some of the more popular open source, or free website builders include Os Commerce, Agora, ZenCart, and CubeCart. Major companies such as Yahoo Shopping Cart, Google Check Out, and PayPal Shopping Cart provide ecommerce software for a fee or as part of another ecommerce service. Other private ecommerce website builders include WebSite tonight and SiteBuilder. Regardless of which one you choose, it is important that you do your research and know exactly what you are getting beforehand. Selecting a shopping cart program should be based on the individual needs of your site.

Ecommerce Payment Gateways

2009-12-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

When funds are being transferred for an online purchase, they must first be authorized for payment. An ecommerce payment gateway ensures the vendor that the consumer has the appropriate amount of money in their bank, by acting as the intermediary for both parties. Although every online store owner also needs a merchant account to receive funds, without the payment gateway, the sale could not transpire. Another important function of the payment gateway is protecting credit card information. They encrypt sensitive information such as the credit card numbers to ensure that all pertinent data passes securely between the customer and the merchant and also between the merchant payment processor.

When comparing payment gateways to select the best one for your online business, there are a few factors to consider. Cost, reliability, and available features are good criteria by which to base your decision. Also, choose a payment gateway provider who's number one priority is security. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America and hacker will try to steal sensitive information. A strong security system will protect the sensitive information of both you and your customers. In addition, you will probably want to consider a payment gateway that provides a virtual terminal. If a customer calls in for more information about a product, you don't want to offer them assistance and then refer them back to the website. A virtual terminal will allow you to enter sales manually and retain business that may otherwise get lost in the shuffle.

Some features that are available through payment gateways include recurrent billing, eCheck processing, and fraud prevention. Payment gateways should have the ability to verify addresses and accept CVV2 codes, or the three digit security code that appears on the back of the credit card. Some of the more popular payment gateway companies available include Paypal, Authorize.net, DowComm, and FreeAuthNet. Before choosing any payment gateway, be sure to do your research to find the best match for your business.

Ecommerce Templates

2009-12-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

Ecommerce templates can be some of your greatest assets when building an online store. Whether you are using Os Commerce, Agora Shopping Cart, ZenCart, Yahoo Shopping Cart, or any other program to create your ecomerce site, you will most likely be provided with templates for easy design. A template is a generic model or pattern from which other objects are based or derived. Basically, they are a set of pre-designed formats for texts and graphics that allow you to “fill in the blanks” for customization. This gives the user the ability to define a default layout with content and functionality for a newly created site.

Ecommerce site building programs often come with hundreds, even thousands of templates. Many templates contain generic layouts for any type of project, while others are specific for a certain theme or product that is being sold. Once you have selected a template to design a web page, you are usually able to make easy alterations to the colors, fonts, and photos on each page. This permits you to customize your web design so that is stands out among others that may have used a similar template.

Some templates can be purchased with a shopping cart program, while others are available for free. One important thing to take into consideration is that when you utilize a design template to create a page, it may not retain the security setting of the site from which it was copied. Also, a 10-megabyte limit exists on the total size of the template. Regardless, of some of the complications that can occur while creating web pages from a template, overall, they are largely beneficial for web site design and even allow people with limited experience build their own projects.

Ecommerce Merchant Account

2009-12-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

In today's world where everything is handled electronically, it is important to be able to accept credit cards as part of your ecommerce business. In order to receive payment for these credit card sales, you must have a merchant account. A merchant account is a bank account that is set up to accept transactions made by credit and debit cards. A service agreement exists between the vendor and their merchant account, outlining fees, services, and the terms for settlement on all card transactions. In addition to a merchant account, you will need a payment gateway, or a company that communicates between banks and authorizes the fund to be transfered. However, the merchant account consists of the actual bank account that will collect your profit from your consumers.

When shopping for the best merchant account, there are a few things to consider. One of the main factors for selecting a company is price. All merchant accounts will charge fees, either a fee based on a percentage of your total sale, a flat per transaction fee, or both. Also, merchant accounts might also charge an up front application fee, a set up fee, a termination fee, or other types of fees that they deem appropriate. This is an area where it really pays to shop around. In addition to low fees, your merchant account should be reliable and provide quality service and support.

Some of the more popular companies that supply merchant account services include Merchant Warehouse, Merchant Express, Charge.com, and FreeAuthNet. (By clicking any of the company names you will be directed to thier site for more information). While doing your research, you may even find merchant account services that include free software, including shopping cart programs, or free payment gateway services. Before settling on any merchant account, it is a good idea to read online reviews, check reports with the Better Business Bureau, and ask other merchants about the services they are currently receiving.

Do-it-yourself Store Design

2009-11-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

When creating an online store, you will need a professional layout that is easy to navigate. Do-it-yourself store designs are used by many online merchants. They generally operate on a template system making them easy to use. Do-it-yourself store designs are also cost efficient and allow merchants to easily maintain their sites and make changes as needed.

In the past, it has been argued that building a website from a template results in a generic looking site. However, modern do-it-yourself store design programs have come a long way. Most of them have hundreds of templates to choose from, so your site will appear different from others on the web. Also, they generally allow you to change the colors and fonts to your liking. Plus, most programs will let you upload your own logo and pictures for a customized appearance. A lot like programs that are designed by professionals, do-it-yourself or template design programs even let you place items on sale, offer bulk discounts, and accept gift certificates and coupons.

One of the major benefits of using a do-it-yourself store design program is that it will save you money. You won't have to pay an expensive designer's fee or pay to maintain the site. You will be familiar with the way that your site operates and be able to make changes as desired without waiting for the help of a professional. Do-it yourself programs offer freedom and flexibility for an affordable price. There are even open source programs that will allow you to build and maintain your online store design for free.

Some of the more popular open source softwares include Agora Shopping Cart, CubeCart, ZenCart, and Os Commerce. Other options include purchasing one of the many do-it-yourself design programs that are for sale at an affordable price. These include programs such as Yahoo Shopping Cart and Google Checkout Shopping Cart. In addition, some ecommerce service providers include a free do-it-yourself design program with the purchase of other services, such merchant services or web hosting.

Custom Store Design

2009-11-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

The first impression of your website can cause a customer to select you over your competitor. Having a professional and attractive store design can be the difference between a successful or failed business. While there are many great do-it-yourself store design programs, a professional web designer can create a customized store with a unique appearance. Using a professional store and shopping cart designer makes your job easier, as everything gets taken care of for you.

Custom store designs are an good investment for increasing business. The design and layout of your online store can aid in creating an exceptional online shopping experience for your customers. Professional web designers are good at making pages that are pleasing to the eye, easy to navigate, and rich in multimedia features. Custom store designs usually include your logo, custom colors and fonts, custom buttons, a keyword search box, a shopping cart link with total, a top menu page, a new product selection page, and much more.

The catalog pages of a custom store design are interactive and aid in promoting sales. They include features for cross selling and up-selling. Also, they usually allow for multiple product images to be displayed and description tabs to include multiple selling points. Custom electronic newsletter templates, electronic promotional flyer templates, and email templates are additional perks that often come with custom store designs.

One of the main advantages of using a professional web designer to create a custom store design is that your page will get more visitors. User friendly web site architecture is optimized for search engine referencing. This means that your online store will be more easily discovered on search engines, because of the way the the store was built.

A professional, sleek, and original online store design is tailor made to fit your business's image. It can retain visitors and convert them into recurring customers. Plus, it saves you from the hassle and struggle of configuring a do-it-yourself store designer which will only produce a generic site and may take a significant amount of time. A unique custom design is a great investment for a successful business.

PayPal Cart Review

2009-10-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

Trusted by many, PayPal gives customers a secure way to process payments online. The PayPal shopping cart is highly functional. It allows customers to browse your entire selection of products, purchase multiple items on the same ticket, and view and consolidate a list of their own selections prior to checking out. In addition, PayPal does not require you to spend money on a merchant account or a payment gateway. Although, if your website uses multiple payment options, it is still a good idea to offer PayPal. It is a trusted name on the internet and offers a since of security to your customers that can increase sales. The PayPal shopping cart is free to use and come with useful built in features. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using the PayPal shopping cart.

PayPal shopping cart is generally hassle free and user friendly. It is easy to implement this program, because it does not require any CGI scripting. Also, PayPal is one of the most affordable ways to accept payments on the internet. There are no up front fees. They presently processes transactions by charging a low percentage of the total sale and a $0.30 transaction fee. In addition, the PayPal shopping cart maintains highly detailed transaction records to help you keep your business organized.

Although PayPal has a great number of benefits, there are also areas that it's users would like to see improved. PayPal does not have self optimizing pages, which means that it is not as search engine friendly as it could be. Also, PayPal fails to provide a one page check out system for simplicity of use. It becomes possible to lose customers in the shuffle. Another concern about PayPal is that they only offer fraud protection on sales over the amount of $50. Many of their competitors take care of smaller claims.

As a whole, PayPal shopping cart provides a successful way to process transactions on the internet. It is easy to navigate and allows you to add customized buttons in order to increase your sales. Plus, it keeps your business organized and provides a secure way for your customers to shop. See PayPal's website for a live demo of their shopping cart program.

Os Commerce Review

2009-10-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Os Commerce is a shopping cart program that produces online stores. The “OS” portion of the name stands for open source, meaning that anyone who knows how to modify the program can do so. Os Commerce is a free shopping cart that is sustained by a community of over 2,000 contributing developers There are also over 5,600 free ad-ons that have been built to improve Os Commerce and make it highly customizable and functional.

Os Commerce includes a great number of features for building and sustaining an ecommerce store. It is highly functional and has an object oriented back end. Plus, all versions of PHP 4 are compatible with this shopping cart. The design structure of Os Commerce is based on a template system, which can be altered for customization. In addition, there are no limits to the amount of products or categories that you can display using this program. Os Commerce allows you to communicate with your customers for marketing and keeps you organized by calculating tax, shipping expenses, and payment information.

On the other hand, like all shopping cart programs, Os Commerce has some areas where there is room for improvement. The default version of this program has some really long URLs, which make it less search engine friendly. Fortunately though, there is a way to go back through and convert these to be more search engine acceptable . Also, the installation for Os Commerce can be rather complicated. This software is not easily used by those with little programming experience. Another major downfall of using this product is that there is no direct support available, so you can't just call a company and get your questions answered. However, there is support available through various forums that are operated by it's community.

Overall, Os Commerce is a free software company that may be worth looking into. They have been around for a long time and are currently powering 12, 700 live shops around the world. With their large community, anything that becomes a significant need for this program, will be created. You can visit their website for additional information.

Agora Shopping Cart Review

2009-09-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

Agora Shopping Cart is a powerful, online shopping cart software/ ecommerce tool with a wide variety of features that allows you to set up an online store front or shop. It uses the Perl scripting language and can be operated by anyone from an online merchant with their own ecommerce web hosting to an advanced Perl programmer. Agora Shopping Cart operates on a template system that makes it possible for beginners to set up a store in simple fashion. However, it also offers a high power, flexibility, and modular features, allowing a more experienced programmer to be able to create customized, complex web designs. Agora Shopping Cart is now powering thousands of online shops around the world.

Released under the GNU General Public License, Agora Shopping Cart is a free, open source based ecommerce tool. They were started in 1999 and are supported by a large and active community of members that help each other out and supply free extensions. However, those who support the Agora Shopping Cart project by purchasing a “Members Only” membership are eligible to obtain additional script ad-ons and useful modules.

There has been a lot of criticism about the user friendly qualities of Agora Shopping Cart. After all, this program was originally geared for highly experienced web masters and programmers. However, it has since matured into a program that anyone can use. People with no previous scripting experience are able to put together a functional store in as little as 10 days to 2 weeks. Another complaint about Agora Shopping Cart is that is does not produce an inventory report like some of the other shopping cart programs do. However, a booster pack is available that gives you more options for inventory management.

As a whole, Agora Shopping Cart is a useful product. It allows you to make and receive gift certificates, receive product reviews, and use 3rd party coupons. Plus, it calculates shipping, tax, and payment information and has both free support by customer forums, as well as paid support for when extra help is needed. You can visit the Agora Shopping Cart website for more information and product downloads.

Zen Cart Review

2009-09-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Zen Cart is an open source shopping cart program. Operating in the PHP language on a MySQL Database, it was designed to be a more user friendly version of the popular Os Commerce shopping cart. Zen Cart can be installed and set up by almost anyone with the most basic computer and web building skills. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using Zen Cart to build an online business.

Zen Cart is a free shopping cart. This is one of the main advantages of the program. Anyone can use and modify the codes to meet their individual needs. The installation of Zen Cart is fairly straight forward. It is a feature filled shopping cart consisting of useful tools. Unlimited pages and category depth, an XHTML template system, multiple sales and discounts, shopping options, and payment options are all built into the Zen Cart program. In addition, it allows you to feature products and create coupons, gift certificates, and quantity discounts. Also, Zen Cart is supported by a large network and has a great number of available ad-ons for optimal customization and function.

On the other hand, the interface of Zen Cart is a little cluttered. There are so many options that it is almost overwhelming. It could benefit from being cleaned up a bit. Another area that could use a little improvement is the check out process of Zen Cart. It is a little unclear to the customer when payment should be handled. This confusion could cause some shoppers to abandon their carts before completing a purchase. In terms of the support that is offered for Zen Cart, there are some forums available, however, they are not especially busy. At times, one's questions might go unanswered for awhile. The Zen Cart company does not offer any direct support, but there is a FAQ section on their website to help.

Overall, Zen Cart is a pretty useful program. It seems to be more user friendly than some of the other open source shopping carts and offers some great features for building and sustaining a successful business. In fact, some of Zen Carts features are better than what one might find with an expensive, private shopping cart program. Visit their website for more details.

If you are looking for a web hosting company that is completely compatible with Zen Cart and offers it free with their cheap hosting package we suggest you take a look at BlueHost, we have found their hosting package to be very comprehensive.

PayPal vs Google Check Out

2009-08-31T14:48:00.000-07:00

PayPal and Google Check Out are payment options for online businesses. They act as both the merchant account and the payment gateway, taking credit card information, authorizing payments, and transferring money into the vendor's account. Using these companies provides a safer way to for people to shop online. Both PayPal and Google Check Out encrypt all communication and offer an alternative to giving personal information to an unknown party. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to using each company.

PayPal's main advantage is that they are the most commonly used. However, Google Pay Check is growing in popularity because they are integrated with AdWare. This means that you can get preferred pricing on a number of their services. Also, when you sign up with Google Check Out, you are automatically entered into Google's “Places To Shop” directory. This helps to drive traffic to your business.

Both Google Check Out and PayPal provide services at a lower rate than most merchant accounts, saving you money. However there really isn't a difference between the two competitors as they are matched evenly in price. Only, PayPal offers Website Payment Pro, which includes a few added bonuses such as a virtual terminal for $30 more/month. Also, only Paypal allows for person to person money transfers, while Google Check out is still working to provide that feature.

PayPal also includes a shopping cart program. Although, PayPal is compatible with almost all outside shopping cart programs, using theirs can save you a lot of money over time. On the other hand, Google Check Out does not offer a shopping cart program for free. However, they do use pre-generated “Buy Now” buttons that take you directly to check out to increase sales. Plus Google Check out allows you to view your cart to the right side of the page with a running total to reduce surprises at check out. The downside of Goggle Check Out's “Buy Now” buttons is that you must have a working knowledge of your web site's HTML to install the buttons. With PayPal's shopping cart the program is designed to be user friendly, even if you have no previous experience with creating an online store.

Both companies accept all major credit cards, including VISA, Master Card, American Express, and Discover. Except only Paypal can also be set up to take deductions automatically from bank accounts and use echeck. However, Google Check Out comes with added features like discounted Federal Express rates and free donation processing.

When it comes to customer service, both companies make some promises of fraud protection. However, PayPal only offers protection on sales of $50 or more, while Google Check Out refunds 100% when fraud is reported within 60 days. Both companies offer support by email, but PayPal also includes live online help.

Choosing between these companies should be based on your sites individual needs. Both PayPal and Google Check Out are companies that offer affordable services, added security, include beneficial features, and give options to your customers.

Google Check Out

2009-08-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Google Check out is an alternative payment method for on-line sales. It was developed to be a third party in the exchange of credit card numbers and other personal information in order to provide extra security. This way, all information exchanged is encrypted and Google Check Out receives the credit card numbers, authorizes them, and transfers money to the vendor. They act as both the merchant account and the payment gateway saving you money in comparison to the fees that other merchant account charge. It can be advantageous to use Google Check Out for online sales or to use Google Check Out in conjunction with other payment methods.

In addition to enhanced security, one of the main advantages to using Google Check Out is the placement of your online business into Google's “Places To Shop” directory. Also, Google Check Out is integrated with AdWords, which means that you can automatically pay transaction fees from your Google AdWords account and most importantly, receive preferred pricing on a large number of services. Another advantage is that seeing the Google Check Out badge on your AdWord's ad will increase your sales by giving your customers peace of mind.

Included in Google Check Out is the ability to add pre-generated “Buy Now” buttons to your products that will route your customers directly to your check out page. Google Check out will also show your customers a running total of your cart on the right side of the screen while they are shopping. Both of these things increase sales as they prepare the customer to make a purchase with no surprises. However, Google Check Out does not presently include a shopping cart program.

Google Check Out not only works for selling goods, but also for selling services and collecting money for non-profit organizations. In fact, you can receive free donation processing if your non-profit organization becomes part of the Google Grants Program. However, another thing that Google Check Out cannot do is facilitate person to person money transfers. Their web site says that they are currently working to make this possible.

Google Check out generates invoices, calculates shipping and sales tax, and tells you when to ship. In addition, they offer another a great benefit, which is discounted FedEx shipping rates.

In terms of customer service, Google Check Out has a fraud protection program which means that you can get a 100% refund if the problem is reported within 60 days. They also offer a forum and email as options for communication with their staff and problem solving. However, it has been reported by some that it is difficult to communicate with Google Check Out in other ways.

Google Check Out should be considered as a form of payment for your online business. They offer lower fees, high security, and great benefits, including advertisement to help your business to succeed.

Dotster SSL Review

2009-08-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

This Dotster SSL Review includes basic history of Dotster, Inc. and a review of their products and services as they relate to your eCommerce needs. Dotster has been in the web hosting business since 1995 and are based in Vancouver Washington. Since their beginning they have continued to grow into one of the leading domain registrars, servicing hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide, as well as managing over 3 million domains they currently hold.

Dotster offers SSL certificates from two of the top Internet security providers in the world, VeriSign and GeoTrust. They offer 4 different types of SSL certificates from each company, making sure they offer their customers a wide range of security options to help them find one that will suit their needs. Dotster offers everything from 40bit-256 bit encryption, Server Gated Cryptography(SGC), extended validation (EV), and Wildcard SSL options. Prices range from $89.00 up to $2,099.00 depending on the level of security required. All SSL cerficates come with a site seal providing your customers with the knowledge they are dealing with a legitimate company that has an interest in securing their personal and financial information.

You can get detailed information on ALL Dotster products and services by CLICKING HERE.

dotster.com is not limited to providing Internet security, they offer many products and services including webhosting, domain name services, web design, security, and marketing of web sites. They have a sales team ready to answer any questions via email or telephone during regular business hours, or you can use their knowledgebase, video tutorials, or EmailBrain's email, live chat, and toll-free telephone number to answer any technical questions you may have.

VIEW OR PURCHASE ALL DOTSTER PRODUCTS HERE!!!

PayPal Merchant Account Review

2009-08-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

Paypal was originally developed for eBay users. It's purpose was to develop a system to exchange payment information, such as credit card numbers through a third party. This heightens security, as PayPal encrypts the information and your credit card it not going directly to the unknown seller. Today, Paypal is commonly used all over the internet and can be a valuable asset to web sites that sell products and services, as it gives buyers peace of mind.
PayPal acts as both the merchant account and the payment gateway. They accept the credit card numbers, authorize them, and transfer funds into the seller's account. These services are all done at a low fee when compared to the costs of using other merchant accounts. PayPal offers two plans. They have the Website Payment Standard and the Website Payment Pro. One of the differences between these two programs is the price. Website Payment Standard charges a $ .30 fee per each credit card authorization and 1.9%-2.9% of the total. Website Payment Pro charges those same fees, but in addition, there is a $30 monthly charge. However, for that extra charge, it comes with a virtual terminal, which allows the vendor to process orders by phone and fax. Also, the Website Payment Pro requires the use of a shopping cart and gives customers the option to pay on the website directly or pay using PayPal.

In addition to providing a merchant account and payment gateway, PayPal provides the ability to send online invoices, providing detailed line items including the quantity, unit price, item description, shipping details, tax, and currency. PayPal calculates the sales taxes and can even work as an aid in printing shipping labels. One other benefit of PayPal is that they provide a shopping cart. Although PayPal is compatible with almost all major shopping cart programs, having one provided for free can save a vendor a lot of money over time.

PayPal is an affordable way to accept credit cards and payments. It gives the customer more options and provides a secure transfer of funds. It should be considered as a form of payment when buying or selling online.

Disputing PayPal Charges

2009-08-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Shopping online and returning items over the internet can be a challenge. Often times you are stuck trying to get your money back from a third party and this takes both time and patients. PayPal is the most commonly used third part payment programs and has a system for handling disputed charges. So whether you were never credited back for an item that you returned or charged for something that you did not purchase, the following instructions may help you in disputing a PayPal charge.

PayPal is essentially there to offer protection to both the buyer and the seller. However, if you receive a charge on PayPal that needs to be disputed, the process can be lengthy and frustrating. It is often thought that PayPal sides with the seller in most cases because after all, the seller is the customer of PayPal that is paying them a profit. However, PayPal has a reputation to uphold, and there are plenty of people willing to write PayPal reviews. They need people to feel safe using their services in order to stay in business. For that reason, the following system is put into place for disputing charges.

First of all, contact PayPal directly for disputes. Do not link to any embedded links in an email that says that PayPal has charged you for an amount that you did not authorize. There are smart phishers and hackers out there that may be trying to get your log in and password in order to steal money from you, and even steal your identity.

Once you have logged into PayPal directly, click “Resolution Center” at the top of the page. This is a place that buyers can go to handle such issues as disputes. It allows the buyer to communicate with the seller, giving the seller the first opportunity to resolve the issue. If the issue is not being resolved, the resolution center allows you to file a claim. After a claim has been filed, PayPal is under obligation to research the situation and refund the money if need be. However, the window of time in which you are entitled to file a claim is small. Plus, the investigation period can be lengthy. If all else fails, take the dispute to your credit card company directly.

For the most part, transactions through PayPal run smoothly and offer protection as a third party payment method. However, in the event that you need to dispute a charge, there is some work that is involved. Due to the fact that there is room for error with PayPal, like with any company, it is advised that you link only credit cards to your account and avoid debit or bank card when purchasing items online.

SSL Certificates for Your eCommerce

2009-08-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

An SSL Certificate is a valuable component in running an online business. Anyone who values trust and privacy should be aware of the security benefits of an SSL certificate. Those who shop online should be wearing of making a purchase from a company without one. At the same time, those who sell products over the internet should understand the benefits of the assurance that an SSL Certificate offers their customers.

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. What this means in eCommerce is that anything communicated between a consumer and a vendor is protected information. This is especially important when the consumer is providing sensitive information that could be stolen online, including bank account or credit card numbers.

An SSL certificate enables an encryption of sensitive information that is exchanged during an online transaction. It works to code the information as it crosses the web and only the designated receiver of that information has the key to the code. This protects online shoppers from hackers and identity theft. In addition, an SSL certificate shows that an authority has verified the identity of the certificate owner when it was issued. This offers peace of mind to a consumer and assurance that the person they are communicating with is who they claim to be.
It is estimated that half of all people avoid shopping online because they fear giving out personal information over the internet. Fraud and identity theft have had a negative impact on eCommerce. Many shopping carts are being abandoned at check out because people get nervous. Without an SSL certificate shoppers might get a pop up that warns them that they are entering an unsecured site. Often this will create enough of a panic that the shopper will avoid making a purchase.

One of the benefits of an SSL Certificate is being able to offer assurance to your customers that they are being protected. Experienced, educated shoppers know to look for the certificate. By having an SSL Certificate, a business can increase profit by gaining the trust of their consumers. The certificate shows consumers that all information will be encrypted and that their security is a high priority. This means that they will be more likely to make purchases over the internet. An SSL Certificate is an important part of increasing online sales.

ProStores an eBay Company

2009-07-27T10:45:00.001-07:00

ProStores was originally known as StoreSense, created by Kurant in 1998, purchased by eBay in 2005, and relaunched as ProStores. They offer an ecommerce solution designed to help small to medium businesses sell items online.

ProStores offers two plans, Professional eCommerce and Professional eCommerce Plus. Both options include:

A free step-by-step Getting Started Checklist, making your setup simple.
Built-in templates and custom designs to easily create your storefront.
Easily added real-time credit card processing and online payment acceptance with PayPal.
Online marketing tools including Google Base feed to attract new customers.
Built-in inventory and order management tools saves you time.
24/7 toll-free phone support

Both of these packages are absolutely LOADED with features! ProStores makes it easy to decide which package would work best for you by doing a side-by-side comparison. The largest determining factors would be whether you are going to have less an 5,000 products or 100,000 products, and if you need unlimited web space and bandwidth. We would recommend any business doing anywhere near 5,000 products go ahead and use the Professional eCommerce Plus plan to insure they will have plenty of space and bandwidth, it is well worth the minimal price difference.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL FEATURES OR TO ORDER NOW.

Pricing for both of these plans are an incredible deal for the amount of features you get. The Professional eCommerce plan starts at just $29.95 plus $0.5 % transaction fee. The Professional eCommerce Plus plan was $249.95 but has been lowered to just $59.95 plus $0.5% transaction fee. If you are an eBay seller you can get either one of these options for much less, and if you are a Gold PowerSeller or above you get an even better deal.

ProStores has a great "Quick Tour" of their products and services which will allow you to see what the included features can do for you, what your store will look like, and how the features work. They also offer an eCommerce 101 which will help you setup, promote, and manage your online business. If you like what you see but still aren't sure you may want to participate in ProStores free trial offer.

As far as eCommerce/ shopping cart software is concerned, this product rates among the top.

Free Credit Card Machines

2009-07-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

Getting your business set up so you can start accepting credit cards can be costly and time consuming. Part of being able to accept credit cards is setting up a merchant account which is usually a financial institution which will collecting the money from your credit card transactions, taking their fees, and forwarding you the rest. Part of setting up that merchant account is getting a credit card machine that you will be processing your credit card payments through. I am sure you have seen many of the different types of credit card machines that are available, almost every store you go into has one that is just a little different from the last. You have probably noticed they are all just a little different too, in the information you are required to insert or questions you are asked to agree or disagree/approve or disapprove. This is because as the retailer or "etailer" (online store) you are able to decide what information you want your customers to provide in order to insure security for you and your customer.

Some merchant account providers are willing to offer a free credit card machine, usually with purchase of their services. But, typically you will be buying or renting a machine from them. Some of the fees associated with having a merchant account and credit card machines include:
Set up fees
Administrative fees
Application fees
Deposit
Transaction fees
Monthly fees

However, it is possible to find a merchant account provider willing to give you a free credit card machine when you sign up for merchant services. You can find offers for free credit card machines at many of the merchant providers at www.100best-merchant-accounts.com. Make sure whether you are accepting a free credit card machine, renting one, or buying one that you read all the fine print, and be aware of any other fees associated with your credit card machine. You will typically be asked to sign an agreement to use the company for merchant services for a specific amount of time.

Why Accept e-Checks

2009-06-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

Why Accept e-Checks -The concept behind e-Checks is you can deduct payment directly from the customer’s checking account without the hassle and delay behind the traditional paper method. Why e-Checks rather than credit cards? Rest assured, credit cards still remain the go to payment method for most online shoppers, but with a market trend towards paying without debt, it’s another viable option for your customers. The added appeal is that transactions are more flexible for your customers and you can offer additional payment options.
Numerous scams are built around the delay in transactions from point of purchase to approval and transfer of funds. With e-Checks you can eliminate this possibility since funds are immediately approved and transferred unlike traditional checks. Better still, there are no credit card dispute scams as with credit cards or chargebacks.
E-Checks streamline the accounting end and do away with the inefficiency of paper checks which can take days to process and more probability for human error due to the multiple hands that handle the check. The upside is an increase in cash flow since there is less down time between transaction and fund transfer as well as less chance of fraud or returned checks. The bonus is that if you contract with the right payment processor, the whole system can share back-end info that converts seamlessly to your inventory, bookkeeping and shipping systems.
Bottom line, e-Checks are a secure and painless way to diversify your website payment options.

Merchant Accounts

2009-05-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

Merchant Accounts - A merchant account allows merchants to accept credit card payments when a bank extends a line of credit to the merchant. This is particularly necessary when the merchant’s business is done through the internet. An internet merchant account includes all the services and equipment required to accept credit card payments.

If an internet business offers goods and services, they need a way to accept payments for the goods and services rendered. Most business' will have an eCommerce website designed to be compatible with merchant account software. Since the business is online, the most common type of payment transaction will be with a credit card. A merchant account is then required in order to accept credit card payments.

If you go to a grocery store, you can see some of the basic equipment necessary for a merchant account. There are credit card terminals for swiping credit cards and entering data. There is paper for receipts and ink for printing. PIN pads are available for entering additional information. Online merchant accounts are a little bit different because of another service that is key in internet credit payments.

If a merchant account is for an internet business, then a payment gateway is required. A payment gateway creates a secure line for the information in a business transaction. The payment gateway also provides a process to send the information to the proper credit lenders and bank accounts.

Whether the business is in your local area or in another country, a merchant account is necessary if credit payments are to be accepted.

PCI DSS Compliance

2009-05-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

PCI DSS Compliance

If you are accepting credit cards on your website then it’s imperative you are aware of PCI DSS standards and that your security measures are in compliance. The PCI DSS standards are an agreed upon set of regulation set up by the PCI Security Standards Council – a who’s who of prominent payment processors – Discover Financial, American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and JCB International.
These mutually agreed upon principles ensure not only a necessary amount of security to protect against fraud and identity theft, but an operating standard that ensures software compatibility across the globe.
The key principles issued by the PCI Security Standards Council revolve around the following areas.
· Firewall and network security –changing default passwords issued by vendors and keeping your system up to snuff.
· Customer confidentiality – protecting sensitive customer information and using encryption for each transmission.
· System updates – keeping your network protected with the latest anti-virus software and looking for possible weak spots.
· Limiting access – limiting the number of people who have access to customer and using log-in and password identification for those who do.
· Constant monitoring – patrolling your networks for unauthorized access or suspicious activity.
· Dedicated security for customer info – highest priority is given to the safe keeping of customer’s credit card number, SSN, and personal information.
The thinking behind the PCI DSS standards is not only to provide initial operating standards but to continually evolve in an effort to keep pace with the ever changing technology and scams. Moreover, failing to be in compliance or contracting with providers who aren’t, greatly limits your access to other necessary services and cause a lack of consumer confidence.

Internet Merchant Accounts

2009-05-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Internet Merchant Accounts
If you run your small business entirely online or if you do not currently have an offline merchant account, you might consider an internet merchant account. It is possible to use your offline merchant account to run your online business and if you have a favorable contract it might be more cost effective to stick with what you’ve got. Just keep in mind that there are some advantages of paying extra to contract with an internet based merchant. For example, internet merchant accounts offer services more tailored to ecommerce needs like submission to search engines, shopping cart and fraud/identity theft alerts.
Where as internet account merchants will often offer a discount for basic processing services that offline merchants don’t, you’re more likely to be hit with additional fees and costs for internet only services. Depending on your provider there may be set up, transaction, or service fees, additional software to purchase, and upgrades for your hosting package or bandwidth.
If you’re seriously considering going with an online merchant account the best places to start with pricing and package comparison are the PayPal Merchant Services, Charge.com, and MerchantExpress.com. These three are considered the top in their field and have a sound reputation. Depending on which company you select, you could also receive free hook ups to other services like a secure gateway, shopping cart software, search engine submission, or accounting integration. The other advantage is they include free set ups and technical support at no additional cost. The best advice is to figure out which best merchant best suits your needs and budget, or look into other recommendations that could meet your needs better.

Selling Products Online

2009-05-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Selling Products Online

Like any business expansion, taking your wares online can range from a fairly simple bare bones storefront start up to a full blown ecommerce operation. If you’re just ready to dip your toes in the Internet pool, you can actually start selling your products through other web sites – especially well known options are eBay or Amazon.

In these types of scenarios you use a ready made marketing ‘template’ to describe and showcase your products. This is the ideal solution if you are looking for an online presence where you can post storefront for sales at an offline location. The upside is a built in connection to search engines, browsers and shoppers in the 1000s. The catch is that you are charged a fee or portion of your sales for use of the marketing mechanism already in place for you.

If you want to blaze a new trail on your own on the ecommerce trail there are four basic building blocks you need to lock down first. The major concerns online are security and ease/usability for both you and your online shoppers. With that in mind you want to be positive that you contract with a solid web host. They should ensure technical helps and plenty of bandwidth and/or disk space so people can use the site without getting bogged down.

Along those same lines, it’s important to provide protection for hackers and identity thieves with SSL – Secure Sockets Layer – which provides security insulation from the bad guys.
For shopping convenience it’s vital to provide shopping cart software and an easily managed online catalog. Both should be user-friendly but of equal importance, coordinate well with your accounting and marketing procedures.

Authorize.net Review

2009-05-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Authorize.net Review
Authorize.net is one of the big names in payment gateways, the conduit service from your website shopping cart to credit card processors. Payment gateway services are essential for encryption security but depending on your budget and needs, they can provide multiple other services.

The upside of signing with Authorize.net is they integrate your web site with the payment gateway, they’re known for adaptable services that make it fairly painless to scale your operations up or down operations, and customer support is included by email, live chat or phone. They also offer free “virtual terminal” which means you can take orders over the phone and run them through the payment gateway. Incidentally, the customer service is one selling point has received some criticism for less than competent troubleshooters.
Basic payment gateway services are around $20 but you should also plan on set-up fees (ranging from $100-$200), and often a transaction fees (ranging from $0.05-$0.20 per transaction). These will vary depending on the reseller you go through and extras you sign up for.
Other bells and whistles that Authorize.net offers are additional fraud detectors which will beef up your online security for $5 a month by red flagging suspicious orders. For $10 a month you can add automated recurring billing which is ideal for businesses who run subscription billing, and for $20 a month you can add their Customer Information Manager which simplifies customer data storage.
If you’re interested in accepting eCheck payments, they also offer these services but keep in mind electronic checks require their own set up and will run from $20-$70, plus a set up fee.

How to Increase Online Sales

2009-04-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

How to Increase Online Sales

Because of the vast audience of the Internet and the potential for a world wide customer base, the business opportunities online seem limitless. But, consider the vast amount of information and potential for world wide competition and the same opportunities could seem overwhelming. There are marketing strategies for increasing online sales and most are relatable to retail in an offline location, just with a little tweak.
There are two approaches to increase revenue – sale more of your product or make money off your website.
The first approach is mostly about getting your name out where people will stumble across it. Since the majority of people rely on search engines to find what they’re looking for you can pay to have your name at the top of the list in relation to certain keywords or as a sponsored site in a side box.
Another related advertising strategy is pay per click. In this instance you pay (possibly around $0.01 per hit) for each time someone clicks on your ad. Word of caution, be sure to contract with a reputable online ad agency so you don’t fall victim to a scam.
Another option that can be used to generate sales or just make money using your website is affiliate marketing programs. You can place your wares on other websites and pay the partner host a commission for each sale you make. Likewise you could host other affiliated products on your website and make a portion of sales. Either set-up is rather painless and requires very little by way of extra marketing and advertising. Better still, there is software available that will track and calculate commissions for you.
To generate capital using your website, also consider playing billboard for someone else. By posting banner ads you can receive a monthly allowance. A cooperative program offered through Google AdSense lets you can host text ads related to the page content and every time someone clicks on the ad, you get a portion of any sale. Google then allows you to use this credit to pay for your own advertising.

Internet Store Costs

2009-04-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

If you’re trying to estimate budget costs of setting up an initial online site or are curious if the set up you’re using now is reasonable, be aware that your bottom line should come in around $50 to $200 a month for a modest small business website with all the necessary marketing and security features. Of course, if your site requires extra security measures, uses an extensive catalog, or you need extra marketing or design help your costs could run several hundred dollars more.
The key factors to take inventory of are - web hosting, catalog software, merchant services, gateway fees, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), and business license.
Ecommerce web hosting is your chief cost. Prices can range from free to $500 plus, but you should be able to look in to a reliable server with some design services for under $50 a month. In this instance you get what you pay for so beware of free or gimmicky web hosts and go with someone who has established a good reputation for uninterrupted service and up to date technology.
The host you select will be based in part on the catalog software you use and how much bandwidth you need. Your cost per item goes down as your volume goes up (i.e. $5 for 50 items vs. $50 for 5000).
Merchant account services are the necessary cost of accepting credit cards which is the bread and butter of ecommerce. The first place to price check is with your current in-store merchant or possibly well known sources like Amazon, Google, or PayPal. These services vary depending on the volume of merchandise you move. There is standard cost per transaction around $0.20 to $0.30 and then an additional discount rate which is around 2.15% and 2.50% of the purchase price. Leave a cushion in your budget for other related gateway fees which are usually unavoidable when dealing with credit cards. These could include costs for chargebacks, minimum transaction requirements, annual or set-up fees.
When your dealing with sensitive info like credit cards you have to protect against hackers and fraud and that’s where fees for SSL come into play. These encryption certificates range from $20 to $1,000 depending on the type of set up you need and whether you buy your own or use your host’s.
Even on the Internet you are under the same legal obligations as a traditional business and therefore, need a business license which runs from $5 to $200 depending on the state you live in.

Choosing an Ecommerce Host

2009-04-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Choosing an Ecommerce Host

Setting up your ecommerce web site can be a daunting task when you are new to the trade, but a little research and comparison shopping will do a lot to reduce the intimidation factor.
There are a few main factors in choosing an ecommerce web host that will help you narrow your search and find the best match between options and cost for your business. The first group of factors revolve around the technical aspects of your host. Look for a direct host instead of a reseller web host. Cutting out the middle man lessens your risk for fraud and information leaks.
Also make sure you have adequate bandwidth and disk space. This will affect the amount information you can send and pages you can display on your website. If you lack either it can cause your site to crash, load slowly, or limit your content. Along that same line, keep your information and your customers’ info safe with SSL encryption and make sure it covers your domain and sub-domains.
Another key factor is adaptability. Contract with a web host who can tailor their services to your needs. Will you be able to expand your web site with minimal growing pains? Can they offer design tools that allow you to create your own site or maintain it after set up? Do they offer packages that include other ecommerce services (i.e. shopping cart, payment gateway)?
Also consider their customer support. A great selling point is a host who can integrate your web site with your back end bookwork and inventory systems. Look for a company with a sound reputation in customer service who has received high marks for responding to problems and inquires from yourself and your customers. Another often overlooked attribute is backup storage which means your site won’t crash and burn in cases of power failure or other serious problems.

Buy vs. Renting a Shopping Cart

2009-04-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

Buy vs. Renting a Shopping Cart
Whether you decide to rent or buy your shopping cart software has as much to do with cost as it does technical support and the design freedom you desire.

Of course as with any type of technology related service, price is a determining factor. Buying shopping cart software costs more upfront and you typically have to pay for upgrades down the road. Renting shopping cart software, like the services provided by SecureNetShop, is initially cheaper with monthly fees and free upgrades but over the long haul it might mean more money.
When you are running a site with ecommerce using a secure shopping cart is important. The big selling point for buying your own shopping cart software is the design freedom of getting what you want and complete customization of features and operation. With the rental shopping cart you are confined to the options the provider offers you.
One thing you should look for is making sure you use a security level that works for you. You want to provide security for you as well as your customers. You can do this through using an SSL certificate and/or SSL Secure server. Other considerations are technical support and available upgrades. If you are tech savvy (or know someone who is) than owning, operating and tweaking your own software is not as intimidating as it would be for someone who might be better lost when problems arise. In that case renting a shopping cart service allows you to have other experts around for problem shooting or handling the technical areas.
Along the same lines, most renters receive free upgrades that are handled automatically where as an owner you are more locked in to the software you have and might find the capability for upgrades difficult down the road.
Whether you rent or buy a shopping cart most softwares or providers will be able to integrate with your choice of payment gateways.

History of eCommerce

2009-03-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

History of Ecommerce
When you consider the revolution that ecommerce has created in our shopping habits and the way we conduct business it’s strange to think that it happened so quickly. In about a decade the shopping habits of American adults have been radically altered from shopping online to product research.

The great-granddaddy of today’s ecommerce market place Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) which started in the 1960s as a way for businesses to swap information electronically. With the emergence of credit cards about twenty years later came ASC X12 a protocol for electronically sharing business documents and other data. The other component that planted the seed for today’s networking capabilities was ARPAnet developed by the military it made possible the use of dial up mode to access a computer.
A huge turning point for development of ecommerce was the Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) which replaced all other existing technology in 1982. TCP/IP made it possible to send information in packets along different routes instead of sending signals one at a time. It took the digital age from a one way street to an information highway. Soon after individuals had the capability to connect to a computer Internet system
Individual use didn’t truly take off until the development of the WorldWideWeb (WWW) in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee and the ban was lifted on commercial businesses operating online. Other developments like user-friendly browsers, privacy security protocol, credit card processors, and digital id certificates further accelerated the growth of ecommerce.
Today pioneers like Amazon and eBay continue to change the face of business and shopping. Amazon has led the way in creating a worldwide marketplace. Founder Jeff Bezos proved that you could be a success simply by taking and shipping orders and then buying books directly from the publisher.
In a sense, eBay allowed anyone to become a small business owner. Founded by Pierre Omidyar to sell a broken laser pointer, he realized that the Internet leveled the playing field and made it possible for people to sell their wares anywhere, anytime.

Payment Gateways

2009-03-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

If you’re a small business owner looking to claim a stake in the online shopping market place, a crucial piece to your web site arsenal is a payment gateway. These function the same as the credit card machines which accept and approve debit/credit cards in a traditional retail store. They’re important because they expedient the payment process within seconds plus provide encryption and security for yourself and your customers.
The payment gateways function like its name suggests; it’s the go between from the online shopping cart to the customer’s funds being transferred into your account. It’s a complicated process that is encrypted multiple times, using SSL certificates, and sent through secure networks within seconds to grant your customer approval from their bank or credit card company. The second part of the process is submitting your batch and receiving funds.
The fact that the whole process happens safely within seconds is the reason why you are willing to pay for the services of payment gateways. But how much should you be paying? It depends entirely on your business needs and the complexity of the options you choose. A simple set up covers the basics of collecting payments. More advanced systems offer billing and inventory coordination, processing eChecks, calculation of tax and shipping, or alerts for probable fraud.
A good place to start shopping payment gateways are with the big names and compare packages that best suit your needs and budget. Just be aware of fees that are sure to crop up outside of your normal rate. They might not occur ever month but fees for chargebacks, setup, tech support, termination, transaction, or even annual charges or monthly statement fees are bound to occur from time to time.

Ecommerce in a Down Economy

2009-02-02T18:29:00.000-08:00

Although the numbers show that ecommerce in 2008 may not have exceeded analyst's expectations, online business was actually a bright spot in a challenging macro economic environment. Many online retailers had a very successful campaign in 2008 despite the stiff competition from deep discounts at brick and mortar retailers.

2009, however, is not expected to see the same growth in ecommerce as 2007 and 2008. In its five year ecommerce forecast, Forrester Research stated, "While there is the possibility of a bearish scenario in which no recovery surfaces in 2009, consumers appear to be enthused about a new president, and government plans to stimulate the economy." The report went on to say, "Furthermore, few recessions have lasted longer than a year in total."

While many are sweating out this current economic downturn hoping that their business can survive long enough to see a turnaround, there is hope that the turnaround could happen in 2010. Forrester Research predicted that a turnaround would occur in 2010 and that sustainable growth in ecommerce would continue for many years beyond 2010.

With the right ecommerce software, such as shopping carts, and the right marketing campaign, ecommerce can drive growth for businesses that develop a strategic ecommerce business plan. From the smallest of businesses to the large online retailers, allocating resources to expanding and maximizing ecommerce campaigns should pay off big over the coming years.

Ecommerce Software Reviews

2009-01-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Ecommerce Software Reviews. If you have visited here purposefully, thank you for coming to see my latest reviews and rants about Ecommerce software and related products. If you stumbled into this blog accidentally, please stick around for a few minutes and see if anything I have written is interesting to you.

In this blog I will be writing about products, services and software dealing with Ecommerce. This will include, but not be limited to, shopping cart software, the best merchant account providers, top Ecommerce hosting companies, and payment gateways.

Please check back often for my latest insights about Ecommerce solutions that might affect your business. It just might benefit you in ways you never thought possible!