Ecommerce Information |
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Getting Started in ECommerce - Part One
In 2004, Enquiro.com conducted a study of the search behaviors of men vs. women. They found that women spend more time in their searches and at specific sites. The study also revealed that women tend to be more deliberate in reading search results, linger longer at sites and have a greater satisfaction in the overall shopping experience. Another study conducted by iProspect.com revealed that women are more apt to click the paid search advertising because they find it more relevant to their searches than do men (WebProNews - July 14, 2004). What does this mean? It means that if we understand the searching and shopping patterns of our target audience we are better able to create marketing strategies to effectively drive traffic to our sites. Don't yet have a website? Electronic commerce or ecommerce is used to describe doing business over the Internet. Selling products and services to customers over the Internet can be accomplished a number of ways and various levels of sophistication. The first thing you need is a professional Web site with its own domain name. You need to design and promote a Web site. You'll need access to expertise that can regularly design and maintain this Web site for you. A good website which gets visitors to return is constantly evolving and therefore, require ongoing attention. There are thousands of resources available for you to take advantage of, many of which are free. You can surf the Internet for what you need or you can simply visit www.WECAI.org to see the many resources we have listed. We have resources for guests and if you are a member we have even more resources to help you get started. In fact, you can search our domain registry and purchase your own unique domain name at www.wecaidomains.com. Developing a business over the Internet requires many of the same major activities as starting any other business. You need a business plan, something to sell such as a product or service; you need customers and you may even need financial backing to get started. In addition, you need to market products to your customers, exceptional customer service practices and many other resources just as you do with traditional bricks and mortar enterprises. They may include inventory, fulfillment, shipping banking relationships and more. Your store will need a "merchant" account, or the ability to process your customers' credit card transactions over the Internet. This includes needing a "secure server," (security certificate such as Versign or Geotrust) so that thieves cannot gain access to your customers credit information. Your merchant processing can be as simple as accepting payments through PayPal or as complex as a custom designed shopping cart system you pay for. Getting a Merchant Account - If you have a good relationship with your bank and they don't require a security deposit this may be your best option for setting up a merchant account. Alternatives to getting a merchant account through your bank are to go through a broker, a fulfillment house, or using third-party billing. For more information on establishing an ecommerce presence check out the e-book entitled: Show Her the Money - The Woman's ECommerce Handbook for Online Transactions (www.showherthemoney.com). If you are, or become a member of WECAI - www.wecai.org, this resource is yours with your membership. Excerpted from The PMS Principles - Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business © 2005 - Heidi Richards Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is the owner of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets and the Founder & CEO of the Women's ECommerce Association, International http://www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) - an Internet organization that "Helps Women Do Business on the WEB." BASIC Membership is Free. She can be reached at http://www.HeidiRichards.com or heidi@wecai.org. You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
MORE RESOURCES: How an ecommerce site increased commercial monthly organic traffic from 37K to 210K Search Engine Land Shopify Stock: Shopify Earnings Top Views. E-Commerce Giant Plunges On Outlook Investor's Business Daily What do Europeans, Americans and Australians have in common? Scammed $50M by fake e-stores The Register Alibaba seeks growth in Mongolia with marketplace selling Chinese goods South China Morning Post Retail ecommerce spending grows in first third of year, Adobe data shows Digital Commerce 360 Google Revs Ecommerce SERPs Practical Ecommerce Speakeasy Co. Unveils 2023 eCommerce Year In Review: Key Insights on Consumer Behavior and BevAlc Trends PR Newswire Adobe: 2024 e-commerce spend exceeds $330 billion so far Chain Store Age News / Airlines face Q4 capacity 'balancing act' as they weigh up ecommerce potential theloadstar.com From Home Delivery & Store Pickups to AI Integration: The Key to Embracing Ecommerce for Grocery Retailers MarketScale Ahold Delhaize ecommerce switch helps Q1 sales in the U.S. Supermarket News Ecommerce earnings recap: What you missed from Aritzia, Peloton and more Digital Commerce 360 New Ecommerce Tools: May 7, 2024 Practical Ecommerce How a TikTok ban could impact ecommerce retailers Digital Commerce 360 Amazon introduces new shoppable ad formats Digital Commerce 360 Shopify revenue and GMV grow more than 20% in Q1 Digital Commerce 360 New retailers partner with DoorDash, Instacart for last-mile delivery Digital Commerce 360 ACV Auctions posts a strong Q1 Digital Commerce 360 Data, online delivery and the search for continual e-commerce improvement ComputerWeekly.com Market Map: Ecommerce plots a comeback with 'prepurchase' startups PitchBook News & Analysis Latam E-Commerce Giant Mercado Libre Holds $40 Million in Crypto – News Bytes Bitcoin News Bitcoin.com News Global Access Celebrates 22 Years of Empowering Cross-Border Ecommerce with Revolutionary Technology The Herald Journal Builders FirstSource eyes $1 billion in digital sales by 2026 Digital Commerce 360 Navigating the complicated bedroom category with e-commerce supplier Walker Edison - Furniture Today TikTok to expand e-commerce business into Mexico, major Western European markets South China Morning Post MerchantPro brings eCommerce leaders to the 2nd edition of dotCommerce Digital Forum on June 11th Romania-Insider.com Goodwill opens Wellsboro ecommerce online location | Local | tiogapublishing.com The Wellsboro Gazette Guest Article: E-commerce and Plastic Packaging Regulations | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub Contentsquare CMO Reveals Why Brands’ Best Acquisition Strategy is a Retention Strategy Retail TouchPoints B2B buyers want (and use) multiple digital sales channels Digital Commerce 360 US ecommerce sales penetration hits new high in 2023 Digital Commerce 360 Best ecommerce tool of 2024 TechRadar Natural Shrimp E-Commerce Update PerishableNews E-Commerce Bolsters Brick-and-Mortar Business Floor Focus Platforms see scorching summer sending ecommerce sales soaring The Economic Times Expat Google engineering exec Claire Southey heads home to join ecommerce marketer Rokt Startup Daily Specialty Food News Specialty Food Association Exploring Temu's Fast Delivery Revolution in E-Commerce Retail Merchandiser U.S. ecommerce sales in Q4 2023 hit new high despite slow growth Digital Commerce 360 Liquidity Services posts mixed Q1 results for its B2B surplus assets marketplace Digital Commerce 360 E-Commerce Study Shows Online Buying Grows but Consumers Still Face Delivery Problems Supply and Demand Chain Executive Common E-Commerce Challenges Businesses Face - businessnewsdaily.com Business News Daily Descartes’ Annual Ecommerce Analysis Throws Light On Growth Of Online Buying Travel And Tour World Legal Business Partner - Ecommerce Law.asia Alibaba’s flagship shopping site starts biggest revamp in 7 years South China Morning Post Worldwide Retail Ecommerce Forecast 2024 eMarketer Ecommerce earnings recap: What you missed from Columbia, Harley-Davidson and more Digital Commerce 360 With 14 million ecommerce sites, the US is atop the online world Digital Commerce 360 How to use social media ecommerce effectively in 2024 Sprout Social |
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