| Affordable Ecommerce Solutions | | | | Automated features for payment, shipping etc will cost |
| Stop! Don't read any further if you are not seriously | | | | you a few more dollars. This might look as the most |
| looking for a really good, effective but affordable | | | | affordable ecommerce solution available but the main |
| e-commerce solution, a package that will let you relax | | | | problem with this kind of ecommerce packages is |
| while your sales are being taken care of by your | | | | when your online business expands and you desire |
| Ecommerce website. This article will provide you an | | | | more customization. But if your requirements are met |
| insight into the do's and don'ts of selecting an | | | | with the package features go ahead and buy it. This |
| ecommerce package suitable for you. | | | | package is recommended as affordable ecommerce |
| 1) What not to look out for? | | | | solution for companies that fall in mid-sized business |
| Most people who search for "affordable ecommerce | | | | category. |
| solutions" will input "cheap ecommerce solutions" as | | | | Rent a space/store in a network-based e-commerce |
| their search phrase on yahoo/msn/google or any other | | | | solution These web based-solutions are quite |
| search engine and end up with a lot of websites | | | | inexpensive and provide a lot of features. You have to |
| providing cheap e-commerce packages. But one | | | | just customize your store by picking a theme (looks |
| should keep in mind that everything good comes at a | | | | and settings). Being web based they are very fast. |
| price. Cheap website hosting providers will advertise | | | | You don't need to install any software, customize it |
| their website as "cheap & easy", but beyond the | | | | and put in your product information. And you are ready |
| advertising lies the 99% failure rate of old-fashioned | | | | to go e-shopping on your own store. If you think that |
| Web hosting. If you still want to trust a cheap | | | | this kind of ecommerce solution provider provides |
| e-commerce service provider please check their track | | | | what you are looking for then go ahead and sign-up |
| record before you sign-up. | | | | for it. The good part is that there is no installation |
| 2) What to look out for? | | | | involved so no complications. If you feel that this |
| It has been rightly said, "If we fail to plan we plan to | | | | package meets all your requirements then you should |
| fail". This holds true with every project small or big. So | | | | settle for this option. But you'll surely want more in |
| lets chalk out what we will to decide which is the best | | | | days to come. And will feel something is missing once |
| e-commerce solution for your website. Take a pencil | | | | a few months pass by. A store is recommended as |
| and paper and list these points: | | | | affordable ecommerce solution for small or mid-sized |
| 1) Product and Customer: Keeping your product | | | | business Ask a web designing company to build you a |
| products in mind think of what your customer will be | | | | website from scratch If you run a large Enterprise and |
| looking for. Not and highlight the points that come to | | | | feel that it has outgrown the Ready-to-use |
| your mind. Do you have an international market for | | | | ecommerce software package or smaller storefront |
| your product? | | | | services, you can get a unique customized website |
| 2) Payment Options: What payment options you will | | | | made from scratch according to your specifications. It |
| be required to provide the customer. There are many | | | | always good to develop once own ecommerce |
| available like paypal, firepay, xoom etc | | | | website as it the developers are always available for |
| 3) Shopping cart: Do you need one? It's a necessity if | | | | any updating or changes that you might decide to |
| you have more than one product if you have a single | | | | have later on. This scenario also leads us to two |
| product then you might opt out of this feature. | | | | choices: 1) Hiring the same company to design and |
| 4) Advertising & Promotion: How you are going to | | | | host your site. 2) Hosting with one and letting another |
| advertise and promote your website for attracting | | | | company design your site. Hiring the same |
| customers and increasing sales. There are a number | | | | ecommerce solution provider company to design and |
| of ways of doing this like banners, advertisements etc | | | | host your site This option wont let you be more flexible |
| you will need to hole in on a few. | | | | with the hosting platform and you might end up with a |
| 5) Your Budget: There are a lot of ecommerce | | | | platform that the designing company finds the best. Do |
| solution providers available on the Internet but you | | | | not forget to read user's reviews about the hosting |
| should be having an idea of the $$ that you are ready | | | | and the support provided before you sign-up with any |
| to spend on them before you take the big leap as | | | | design + hosting company. Some reviews may be |
| some of them have hidden costs. You may choose a | | | | fake so you should try and contact the customers |
| package and then know that a few features that | | | | personally if possible to know the company's |
| were not included cost you a lot when you buy them. | | | | ecommerce hosting capacity and efficiency. If you find |
| Depending on these points we can shortlist some | | | | that they have had previous issues related to hosting |
| basic features to look out for in our ecommerce | | | | or updating with any customers get it clarified from a |
| solution service provider | | | | support personnel. Do study if they allow easy |
| 1) Payment Options: What are the payment options | | | | updating. Also find if it can be done on your own or |
| available with the ecommerce service provider (ESP)? | | | | you have to upload it through some respective |
| 2) Shipping: For international trade this is a necessity. Is | | | | personnel of hosting company. Hosting with one and |
| your ESP providing it to you? | | | | letting another company design your site. Expect for a |
| 3) Web design/Hosting: How would you like the over all | | | | few ecommerce solution providers that provide both |
| design of your store? Is the layout provided by the | | | | hosting and design most of them are found lacking in |
| ecommerce service provider easy to use and | | | | one of the skills or both. But if you are thinking of |
| understand for the customer? | | | | separate hosting and design then you will have to |
| 4) Features: What extra features will you be looking | | | | make sure that the designer should be aware of the |
| for in your ecommerce package? Will you be content | | | | hosting services which will be utilized and services |
| with payment, security, tax and shipping solution only or | | | | rendered by them. When making a choice between |
| do you require more? This will require a thorough | | | | designers take a look at the ecommerce websites |
| review of at least a few ecommerce solution | | | | they have made in the past and ask for references. |
| providers and what you really need. | | | | Call the references or mail them and ask them their |
| If you are a corporate body you will need to bring all | | | | experience with the designer. While choosing a host be |
| your departments together to get their ideas on sales | | | | sure not to commit mistakes that you will repent later |
| promotion/advertising etc. It will be a day's hard work | | | | take the designer into consultation if you have already |
| but the rewards will be substantial if proper planning is | | | | chosen one. These two options are recommended for |
| met with efficient execution. | | | | big corporate companies. |
| These are a few different scenarios that you will find | | | | How to decide which option is the right one for you? |
| yourself in after you have listed all the points. Should | | | | Companies are generally categorized into three 1) |
| you opt for: 1) A ready to use ecommerce package. | | | | Small Business 2) Mid-Sized Business 3) Corporate |
| 2) Rent a space/store in a network-based | | | | Business If you can enlist your company in one of |
| e-commerce solution. 3) Ask a web designing | | | | these categories then you have already found a |
| company to build you a website from scratch | | | | solution in the recommendation provided at the bottom |
| Most of the e-commerce solution providers will have a | | | | of each option. If you think that you are going to make |
| basic scheme where you can add a product/category, | | | | it big on the Internet then you should opt for the third |
| delete a product/category, check the order status, | | | | option. Though I would recommend getting a feel of |
| calculate shipping cost deducting taxes if any, owner | | | | the online business before you go for the bigger |
| can see all the list of purchases, he can make the item | | | | package. Coming to an end of the article. The topic of |
| shipped, out of stock, credit card denied, etc. For more | | | | ecommerce solution has such a wide scope that it is |
| info on this please check affordable ecommerce | | | | not possible for any article to cover it. Having read |
| solutions | | | | through this article you might have got a brief idea of |
| Ready-to-use Ecommerce Package A ready-made | | | | how to choose a perfect ecommerce service |
| package of ecommerce solution software like | | | | provider (hosting and design) who fulfils all your |
| InterShop that will help you display your products and | | | | requirements. If you need more information on |
| meet most of your needs. These ready-to-use | | | | affordable ecommerce solution providers please click |
| packages have a lot of features available. But if you | | | | here. Best of luck. |
| need something customized it will come at a price. | | | | |