The Basic of E-commerce Website Creation and Costs
This is a Guest Author post
If you need a website to sell either a product or services, you will need an eCommerce website, not a basic web design. An eCommerce website has its own database, SSL certificate and sometimes even a shopping cart and payment gateway on top of other customer-centered features.
Website Database
A website data base refers to a storage space where you can store the entire product or service information you need as well as customer information, shopping cart, order forms, and all other important functionalities needed to get the business running. However, do note that certain rules apply for storing confidential information (like credit card details, bank information, etc.).
SSL Certificates
The SSL certificate works to encrypt all confidential information thereby ensuring safe and secure transaction online. To check whether or not you are transacting from a safe website, check the small padlock icon on the bottom of the browser window as well as the prefix https: at the start of the website URL. Basic websites do not have SSL certificates but for ecommerce site, make sure you ask your web developing firm to include this in your package.
Merchant Bank Account
If you want customers to pay for the product or services you sell online using their credit cards or debit card, you need to register for a merchant bank account. Merchant bank account is a type of bank account that allows online business owners to accept payments using credit cards, debit cards and sometimes even checks and cash. Getting a merchant account will require a monthly fee plus transaction fee.
Applying for merchant bank account takes at least 12 months of processing before your website will be deemed qualified for such merchant banking functionality. If your application was declined, you can offer your customers to pay via third party payment channels like PayPal.
Payment Gateway
If say, you got a merchant bank account, you will need to get a payment gateway to transact business safely. A payment gateway is a channel wherein customers will finalize their purchase, choosing from a list allowed by the online seller’s bank to work with their customers’ accounts through a virtual swipe of the card.
When it comes to eCommerce website, the key elements to look for is security, ease of use, and of course, SEO. All these elements will work hand in hand to ensure your business is running smoothly. Most customers are privy about giving their credit card or bank information so it’s important to assure your customers that each transaction will be treated with care and total confidentiality.
In terms of ease of use, you don’t want your customers to encounter problems as they are finalizing their purchase simply because they don’t know how to proceed with the transaction. You want to make it easy on your customers to conduct business with you, not the other way around!
Finally, there’s SEO. You want your business to be seen by thousands of prospective customers online. You want people to find your business easily. This can be done when you optimize your content. The most common ways to do this is through keyword insertion and link building. The key is to find the right marketing strategy that works for your business’ specific needs.
Author Bio: Andy Chen is an expert author who has written many articles on online marketing. His latest mission is to inform the readers about the various aspects and ways to create a relatively cheap E-commerce website.
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Comments
Great post Merle. Thank you for sharing with us.