Elements of
e-commerce
Just as in
traditional commerce, especially that done by mail order,
there are certain elements required to perform online
business. You must:
- Promote
your Web site presence
- Have an
online catalogue or store
- Have the
capability to receive payments
- Be able
to deliver the item
- Provide
after-the-sale support
Web site
promotion
There is little
value in having an expensive and functional online store if
no one ever visits. No visitors mean no buyers.
E-commerce successes are always preceded by rigorous and
creative marketing of the online store
Online
catalogue or store
You need to
have a store or catalogue where customers can view and select
goods or services. Customers need to be able to easily get
around your catalogue to find things. The customer should be
able to easily browse the selection and mark products for
later purchase. Both information and product display are
vital components of an online store, so photos should be
large and information should be complete.
Finding
items
The web site
should be easy for customers to find what they want. The
customer must know what is in the store, and the products
must be organized in a logical manner. Navigation
within the store is absolutely vital as the customer
must be able to easily search for what he or she wants
without the help of a store personnel, as is the case in
traditional retail.
Selecting
what to buy
Once the
customer finds what he is looking for, he can put the
selection in a "shopping cart" and search for other items.
This make it easier for the customer to purchase multiple
items, as well as to buy things he may not have been looking
for.
Purchase
SeLVAstore.com uses PayPal as its payment gateway.
PayPal utilizes the customer's credit card, it is secure and
provides accurate record keeping for the merchant. It
is also compatible with most shipping modules and tax codes
since it is one of the most common payment gateway systems
available on the web today. PayPal is owned by eBay
and is the payment gateway used by most 'eBayers'.
Delivery
You must have
a good means of fulfilling the order and delivering the
material to customers. Different means of delivery depends
on the type of item purchased.
The product
may be access to special information on the Web site, it may
be downloadable software, or it may be items that must be
physically delivered to the customer.
Support
The customer
needs a way to voice problems. You also need a customer
service system, consisting of support to handle complaints
or returns in the event of problems. We recommend
having a phone number available to your online customers so
they can speak to someone if needed. This will go a
long way in increasing credibility.
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