Web Hosting Geeks' Blog » online storefront http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog Web Hosting Industry News, Latest Trends, and Analyses. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:48:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 3 Steps to a Successful eCommerce Sitehttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/10/05/3-steps-to-a-successful-ecommerce-site/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/10/05/3-steps-to-a-successful-ecommerce-site/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 05:53:45 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1146 As eCommerce continues to expand around the global, ordinary people everywhere are trying to find their gold nugget in the internet gold rush. Some domain names are currently worth more than prime time real estate, and in today’s digital age, web sites are the cyber alternative for real estate properties. If you want to be successful it eCommerce, the first step is choosing the right domain name. However, the domain name has to pertain to the topic of your chosen niche, which makes the crux of the first step niche selection. The second step is finding the right web hosting plan, as your hosting account will directly determine the capabilities and functionality of your web site. The third and final step is using the right tools and resources to build and market the site. All of these steps and more are elaborated on in the following paragraphs.

{Note: If you already know what niche your site is going to be in, skip to step 2.}

Step 1 – Niche Selection

This is an extremely intricate topic, considering all of the factors that must be considered when selecting the right niche. Sadly, most of the valuable niches are undiscovered, which means it will take some creativity if you want to find a true golden nugget. However, there are a lot of tools available that will help you find the most popular keywords that have the lowest amount of competing web sites in the search engines. Thus, the majority of your focus during niche selection should be aimed towards keyword research. If you want to be successful quickly with your eCommerce web site then you will need to stay away from heavily saturated niches and do some real brainstorming to find the perfect niche.

Step 2 – Find the Right Web Hosting Plan

The web server that you lease from your hosting provider will play an integral role in the continuity and reliability of your eCommerce site. If you want your site to perform like a professional online store, then you’ll need access to comprehensive server resources and the necessary tools and resources. eCommerce web hosting is specifically designed to aid webmasters of all skill levels in the construction and promotion of online storefronts. eCommerce hosting includes store building utilities, product catalog managers, payment processing functionality, integrated shopping carts, and free advertising credits for Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Bing. If you need an all-inclusive package for your upcoming eCommerce project then you should strongly consider an eCommerce hosting plan from a reputable hosting provider.

Step 3 – Building and Promoting the Site

Building the site is perhaps the most difficult aspect of creating a prosperous online business for the novice webmaster. Fortunately, it’s not nearly as difficult as it was in previous years, when everything had to be built manually. eCommerce hosting plans provide robust site building tools that let you design your own site using pre-made templates that can be adjusted according to your own preferences. eCommerce hosting plans also give you the tools and resources needed to begin advertising immediately using free advertising credit, and some hosting providers even offer SEO assistance for an additional fee.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/10/05/3-steps-to-a-successful-ecommerce-site/feed/ 0 Using Ecommerce Web Hosting to Build Online Shopshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/20/using-ecommerce-web-hosting-to-build-online-shops/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/20/using-ecommerce-web-hosting-to-build-online-shops/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:24:21 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1067 A lot of money is poured into the web development industry every year, as new online business owners try to make their way into the online industry. However, it does not take a fortune to make money online and create an online storefront.

In fact, with an eCommerce web hosting plan you don’t even have to pay a web developer because you will have access to a comprehensive site  building tool that lets you design a web site with a functional interface that is integrated into the control panel of the web hosting account. If you are intimidated by the prospect of having to pay web developers and other companies to help you launch your online business then you may want to consider the following advantages of eCommerce web hosting.

Integrated Site Builders

Integrated site building applications are perhaps the most important aspect of a good eCommerce hosting plan as they allow the user to build impressive professional web sites with little effort and/or experience. If you want your online shop to look great without having to employ a web designer, then you may be interested in the convenience and simplicity of an eCommerce site builder.

Ecommerce Site Builders vs. Conventional Site Builders

Ecommerce site builders differ from other site building utilities because they give you the option to create and manage massive product catalogs that simplify the organization of your web site. These catalog builders index all product information and store it in a database that can be searched by site visitors at any time. It is important to have a search function on any eCommerce site, as your ultimate goals should be to satisfy the customer.

Payment Processing

Processing payments with your eCommerce plan is much simpler than trying to combine merchant services and a conventional web hosting account. This is because eCommerce hosting plans offer payment processing capabilities, without any additional effort or payment on behalf of the user. The most important part of the online buying process is convenience of checking out. In order to convert visitors to sales you need to make sure the checkout process is simple and enjoyable. If the customer does not enjoy the shopping experience, then they can easily leave your online store and visit another without leaving their chair.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/20/using-ecommerce-web-hosting-to-build-online-shops/feed/ 3 How to Set Up an Online Store Quickly and Easilyhttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/07/01/how-to-set-up-an-online-store-quickly-and-easily/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/07/01/how-to-set-up-an-online-store-quickly-and-easily/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:20:45 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=982 The online retail market presents a plethora of unique advantages for aspiring internet entrepreneurs. However, the process of building, operating and marketing an online storefront can be a complex and tedious one  that involves the use of many tools and resources. Fortunately, there are web hosting plans designed specifically to aid in the construction and management of eCommerce stores.

Ecommerce web hosting provides all of the necessary applications and server resources needed to create a successful online retail business. Using the following procedure and a comprehensive eCommerce hosting account you can have establish an internet store with minimal effort.

Find a Suitable eCommerce Hosting Account

    The first thing you’ll need to do after securing a good domain name for your web site is compare various eCommerce hosting plans. The hosting plan will be central to your success as a webmaster because it will be the fuel of your website. Without adequate server resources and the right tools your pages will load slowly and the administrative tasks will become overwhelming. Since you’re staking your business on the reliability of your web server you’ll need to choose a reliable hosting plan from one of the most reputable hosting providers. Look for plans that include tools like shopping carts, product catalog creators, SSL certificates, site building tools and flexible payment processing capabilities.

    Build the Site

      Now that you have a good hosting account and domain name to work with you can begin constructing your web site. Start by picking a template that will suit the theme of your store, which can be uploaded to the site easily using a content management system. For example, if you plan on selling sporting goods then you may want to find a sports-related theme. You can also hire a  developer to create a custom theme for you by visiting one of the many freelancing forums online. If you don’t want to use a template you can also use the integrated site building tools to create a custom website. After the main template has been chosen and modified to your likings you can then start creating the store itself.

      Build the Store

        Now that you have a good looking website it is time to populate it with products. To do this you can use the product catalog creator within your eCommerce hosting account. Simply load the images of your products into the interface along with any descriptions you may have and the product catalog creator will automatically create a web page for each product. These tools also index each page so that visitors can find products easily using your custom site search engine.

        Customize the Shopping Cart

          The shopping cart is one of the most important parts of the website because it is ultimately responsible for closing the sale. Most modern eCommerce web hosting plans come with a variety of shopping cart applications that let you fully customize your visitors’ experience. You can even add features such as customer reviews, which give your customers the ability to leave reviews about your products.

          Set Up Payment Processing

            Finally, after the site is designed and all of the products have been uploaded it is time to connect each page with the payment processing utility of your choice. Fortunately you don’t have to do this one page at a time, as your eCommerce account should include tools that simplify the process for you. You should be able to integrate your merchant services with your hosting account seamlessly just by filling out a few forms and clicking a few buttons.

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            ]]>             http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/07/01/how-to-set-up-an-online-store-quickly-and-easily/feed/ 0             The Importance of E-commere Software to Your Businesshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/13/the-importance-of-e-commere-software-to-your-business/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/13/the-importance-of-e-commere-software-to-your-business/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:46:23 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=617 The e-commerce software forms the foundation for any online store.  It is this application that shapes every aspect of the customer’s experience from browsing the items they want to actually purchasing them.  This is why it pays to find a solution that perfectly suits your business.  There are several programs on the market, and this can make choosing one considerably difficult.  The good thing is that you do not have to spend hours upon hours evaluating every product on the market.  All you need to know is what features are the most critical to the success of your online store.

            Easy Item and Category Management

            It is important to know that e-commerce systems range from simple shopping carts to fully integrated solutions that can help you build an entire website.  While the functionality you require all depends on individual needs, features like image resizing, comprehensive listings and the ability to copy those listings to multiple categories will make it much easier to get your storefront up and running.  Another useful capability comes from integration features that allow you to import product listings from an existing store into your new setup.  For example, you have some programs that let you import product listings from your current store, a spreadsheet or the location of your choosing.

            Extensive Customization

            The last thing you want is an online storefront that looks just like what everyone else has.  This is when an e-commerce software package that offers customization comes in handy.  There are some applications that allow to customize your store through a variety of pre-designed templates.  Others allow you to use development technologies such as HTML, CSS and PHP to change the look and feel of your store.  These programs generally require that you have a certain level of technical skills in order to make the modifications.  In either scenario, an e-commerce solution that enables customization can help to ensure you have an online store that is uniquely your own.

            Integrated Shipping Calculators

            The ideal e-commerce software will not only calculate your order totals, but also accurately calculate the shipping and handling charges associated with those orders.  To ensure flexibility, you may want to opt for something that gives you multiple ways to determine shipping.  For example, you may choose to charge for shipping based on the total of the order, or do so based on the weight of the item.  Another consideration that deserves attention is making commonly used shipping channels such as UPS, USPS and FedEx available to your customers.

            Not all e-commerce software is created equal.  Then again, neither is every storefront.  Online stores differ greatly and so do the individual requirements of the merchants who maintain them.  Regardless of how feature-rich and powerful it may be, there is no single program that makes the perfect solution for everyone.  It is all about accessing your needs and understanding what it takes for your business to be successful.  One of the best approaches you can take is evaluating a few products, determining their value, and then selecting one that best suits your requirements.

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            ]]>             http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/11/13/the-importance-of-e-commere-software-to-your-business/feed/ 0             Four Hot E-commerce Tips that Payoffhttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/10/21/four-hot-e-commerce-tips-that-payoff/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/10/21/four-hot-e-commerce-tips-that-payoff/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:22:58 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=583 With so many entrepreneurs and businesses profiting from the internet, it should come as no surprise that more hopeful people are investing in e-commerce solutions.  However, you should know that there are many online businesses out there and very few of them obtain the success they were looking for.  This serves as proof that simply having an online storefront does not mean you will be successful.  Luckily, there are some proven approaches that can be employed to help ensure that your e-commerce site is just as fruitful as the next.

            1.) Create a Professional Design

            Several beginners make their first critical mistake at the design stage.  Being that HTML programming is fairly easy to master, some develop the gumption to go at it alone and decide to build their own website from the ground up.  Even though web technology has made it much more feasible to create a site with little to no experience, there are many reasons why you may want to leave this task in the hands of someone else.  Building a fully functioning website from scratch can be a hassle and very costly when considering that you will have to invest countless hours on time that could have been spent focusing on something else.  By outsourcing this part of the project to a professional design or development expert, you can devote your time and energy to developing a sound business strategy.

            2.) Make Easy Navigation and Usability a Priority

            Creating an e-commerce site that offers simple navigation and usability is a must.  You can get a better understanding by viewing your website as the aisle of a retail store.  In an ideal environment, all items are organized accordingly and easy to find.  Customers should have no trouble finding what ever it is they want to purchase.  The same holds true for an online storefront.  Even it is a measly checkout button, it is should be made visible and easy to find on your site.

            3.) Don’t Forget Your Inventory

            There are some online store owners that get so caught up in running their business, they forget about other key areas such as inventory.  You can avoid this by cataloging all the items you have for sale.  Be sure to update your inventory on a regular basis to avoid scenarios where a customer tries to purchase something that is out of stock.  This can help you salvage a sale and elude embarrassment as well.

            4.) Incorporate Customer Friendly Features

            One surefire way to succeed with an e-commerce venture is to incorporate and make effective use of desirable features that will benefit your customers.  These features could range from essentials such as an easy to use shopping cart and SSL certificate to novelties like a site map and talking avatars.  You may also want to consider rich media features such as animation and video or something simple and effective like auto-responders to deliver immediate responses.  By pampering your customers, you can increase the probability of a pleasurable shopping experience that keeps them coming back for more.

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