e-Commerce Tools

To be taken seriously by your competition offering the same products or services, secure an e-commerce web host.  It’s much easier at the onset to opt for one that offers everything you need instead of being forced to changed web hosts mid-course due to growing sales or edgier competition.  The most important e-commerce tools that you should demand include:

• Storefronts
• Product Catalog Builder
• Shopping Cart
• Payment Processing Tools
• Autoresponders
• Fraud and Security Prevention
• Integration Capabilities
• Adequate Bandwidth and Diskspace
• Search Engine Tools
• SSL Certificates
• Google Adwords Credit

e-Commerce Caveats

While many web host advertisements appeal with tantalizing offers, always read the fine print to know exactly what you can expect from the service.  Many entrepreneurs usually fall into one of two traps: free hosting and premium host plans.  Free hosting is best used for testing a target market or learning the ropes; however, it has numerous limitations and virtually impossible to expand your online business.  Seasoned gurus often become the victims of the second trap by signing their life away when securing a premium host package, especially when establishing an online business.  Granted, premium packages usually offer all the bells and whistles, but stop and ask yourself at what cost?  Compare prices and contract details before taking the plunge to secure an e-e-commerce host.

Another aspect that you may not realize unless you read the fine details of the user agreement that if by chance the web host company is forced to file bankruptcy, and assuming they own the legal rights to your website, then you’re totally out of luck if you agreed to the terms and secured the service.  Given this worst case scenario as an e-commerce entrepreneur, needless to say it would be devastating to your online business.

Enough emphasis can never be placed on the importance of research and reading the fine print, especially when it comes to e-commerce because valuable resources are at stake. Don’t be afraid to ask for references from your web host service.  It’s essential to know the exact plan details and the reputation of which host you’re requesting service.  Ask any fellow website owner to share his or her nightmarish experience of changing web hosts and moving a domain before an existing contract expires. Chances are they highly won’t recommend it!

Related posts:

• September 1, 2011 – Premium Web Hosting and Security Features Available in the Public Domain
• July 29, 2011 – Is SSL Essential for eCommerce Sites?
• March 3, 2011 – Three Ways Web Hosting Providers Secure E-Commerce Transactions
• October 20, 2010 – Web Hosting Security – Difference Between SSL, TLS and SSH
• February 23, 2010 – Selecting a Suitable eCommerce Plan – Key Features
• December 3, 2008 – Keeping Your Profits Intact
• November 7, 2008 – SSL for Your Online Store
• October 5, 2011 – What to Look for in Your Shopping Cart Software
• September 10, 2011 – Ecommerce: Trends and Benefits
• August 30, 2011 – Improvements with Sitefinity 4.2 – Is it Now Read for Prime Time?

Disk Space and Transfer

Whether it is a blog, community or e-commerce site, disk space and bandwidth are the core elements of any hosting solution.  It is these two resources that will ultimately determine what size package you need.  Though making this determination can be difficult, it should help to know that most e-commerce sites require a little more than others.  This is because you have to factor in product images, shopping cart applications and hopefully, frequent customers.  Regardless of how much disk space and bandwidth you start out with, make sure you choose a service that has the future in mind with a path to easy upgrades.

Payment Options

The multitude of payment options is enough to keep you up for nights but this is a bridge that must be crossed.  Fortunately, the preferred method of payment online is by credit card and there are several ways to meet this need.  Services such as PayPal make a nice option for small start up stores that don’t have a need to sell a large number of products.  The service is free, very secure and virtually anyone can get an account.  The downside is the hefty transaction fees attached to every sale you make.  At the end of the month, you might notice that these fees are taking a sizable chunk out of your bottom line.  An alternative would be a merchant account as it shows more credibility and has considerably lower transaction fees.  The problem here is a strenuous review process in which only a select few qualify.  It would be wise to compare a few carts so you can make an informed decision on which method works best.

Shopping Carts

After getting your payment options together, you must then figure out how those transactions will be facilitated.  The answer here is an aptly named piece of software known as a shopping cart.  These days, hosting providers offer a wide variety of shopping carts to choose from, many of which come free in e-commerce hosting packages.  While the software is a matter of preference, it is best to choose one that has your customers’ best interests in mind.  The shopping cart should be simple for you to set up and easy for your customers to use. You can learn more about what’s available by reading shopping cart reviews as they generally give you a good idea of what to expect.

Conclusion

There is so much that goes into e-commerce hosting and most of it has to do with your personal requirements.  Aside from the factors mentioned here, you will need a special set of management tools, security features and an overall reliable service.  These are easily obtainable when purchasing service from a reputable provider.

Related posts:

• April 8, 2009 – Open-source Shopping Cart Options
• July 9, 2009 – Introducing the nopCommerce Shopping Cart
• May 6, 2009 – What You Should Know About Merchant Accounts
• January 12, 2009 – The Essentials of E-commerce
• November 21, 2011 – The WePay Surge: Why They May Dethrone PayPal
• October 2, 2011 – How Much RAM / Bandwidth / Disk Space Do I Really Need?
• September 1, 2011 – Budget Web Hosting: Is It Worth the Buck?
• June 24, 2011 – Preventing e-Commerce Shopping Cart Abandonment
• January 13, 2011 – Web Hosting Guide
• September 28, 2010 – Ecommerce Site Building Checklist