Ecommerce for Beginners
Like most average people, I wanted some extra money to supplement my regular income. At times I had considered a second part-time job, but I hated that option because it would take me away from family, make me more exhausted, and probably only pay minimum wage. I also wanted to be able to work from home.
He had surfed the Internet for years and had often entertained the idea of participating in the Internet revolution. He had read some statistics about Internet usage and the increasing number of households with computers and the increasing percentage of Christmas shopping done over the Internet. So I decided to jump in with both feet.
First, what is e-commerce? The online world designates websites dedicated to retail sales as an e-commerce site. E-commerce sites sell information or tangible products, such as cameras or knives. Ecommerce sites also have attached shopping carts and payment gateways that non-retail websites don’t need.
Ok…so you want to develop an eCommerce site. You are probably now wondering if I have enough skill, mental patience, or aptitude to succeed.
Well, if you are of average intelligence, I think you and thousands of people like you could have an eCommerce website. All it takes is the willingness to learn a few things, patience, and the determination to apply yourself.
As? I’m glad you asked.
Let’s start. First we need to discuss the basic components you will need.
1 computer
2. Internet connection
3. Site building software
4. Graphics Software
5.Web Hosting Company
6. Shopping cart
7. Payment gateway
The above items are where most people stop when thinking about what they will need when they want to start an eCommerce site. However, there are other elements that need to be taken into account, such as legalization and product sourcing.
Items 1 and 2 above are fairly straightforward and most people can understand why they are necessary. However, the other elements are a bit more complex. Website building software allows the beginner to build a website without knowing html programming code. What is HTML programming code?
Html is the programming language of the Internet and stands for Hyper Text Mark Up Language. The two best software programs currently available for writing HTML are FrontPage 2003 from Microsoft or Dreamweaver from Macromedia. These programs are more correctly known as HTML Editors.
These two programs are the best available. I have both, but I mostly use FrontPage 2003. I think FrontPage 2003 is easier to use and makes better tables than Dreamweaver. However, most professional website developers consider Dreamweaver to be the better of the two because some claim it has more features, but I think it’s a bit more complicated to use. I would recommend that you browse the internet and read the reviews of these two programs and make your own choice.
Next, you’ll need a good graphics program like Adobe Photoshop 6. A graphics program allows you to manipulate the size of images, create images in different formats, and create special effects. “PhotoShop 6” is the current version of Adobe and is the best graphics software program. Adobe
“Photoshop Elements” can also be used, but it is a limited version of the full Photoshop software. Adobe programs are expensive, so shop around for the best price.
Web hosting is very important and you should first compare the features, not the price. Web hosting and e-commerce are extremely related, and he learned from personal experience the mistake of trying to separate e-commerce from web hosting. The web hosting company is the company that rents space on their server for your website, but they can do so much more. They may offer an integrated shopping cart.
The shopping cart is the heart of the eCommerce website. The shopping cart for all intents and purposes runs your eCommerce website, so getting a good one is critical. Contains and displays the products you intend to sell. It also performs other neat administrative functions that will make your store easier to manage. There are a few standalone shopping carts for sale, but most come with a web host attached.
The “Payment Gateway” is the store cashier and is also known as the “Merchant Account”. This is basically a business credit card account. The payment gateway allows your store to accept credit cards and transfer money to you. Business accounts are very important and you should also carefully review their services and prices. If you don’t get a merchant account, you’re pretty much limited to papal. Search the web and see available shopping carts and payment gateways.
Now, what are you going to sell and where are you going to get it? You can search everywhere for the products you want to sell. How do you know what will sell well? You need to do market research. Not everything sells well, including electronics. If you don’t have a preference for what to sell, find some marketing software that will allow you to determine what products are doing well online.
Next, you’ll need a source for those products. Assuming you’re not making them yourself. The best way is to send them directly. The problem is finding a reliable shipping source and avoiding impostors.
Once you find the source of your product, you need to open an account, stock your store, and start selling. There is much more to an eCommerce store than can be explained in a short article format. As someone who recently went from zero to an online store (Cynscorion.com), I know firsthand the pitfalls that await the beginning eCommerce site builder.
If you want to learn more about what to avoid when building an eCommerce site, go to: http://www.cynscorion.com, go to the bottom of the page and click on “Ecommerce Book for Beginners”, or go to: http://cynscorion.com/store/cart.php?page=what_yofuture_release_of_a_very_unique_ecommerce_book
This book is for people who are undecided about starting an eCommerce site and want to find a benchmark to help them make their decision.
Lastly, I wish you good luck and success in your eCommerce endeavors. If I can do it, you can too!
For additional assistance, go to:
http://people.lulu.com/users/index.php?fHomepage=101573