Installing the right shopping cart from the beginning can save hours of downtime and frustration for new online business owners. With hundreds of cart systems on the market, the option exists to contract out for the service or install the system in-house. Here are some tips to help make the best decision.

First, consider cost versus available time. The business owner with a generous start-up budget and little programming experience might consider hiring someone to install the shopping cart. However, many new ventures find the entrepreneur with less money than time, making the cost of a good programmer or web master prohibitive.

On the other hand, taking on the project with little or no experience can cost a business even more in terms of down time, lost sales if the website doesn’t function properly, and ultimately, the cost to hire someone to take over the installation and correct any mistakes.

It is wise for the do-it-yourselfer to budget for technical assistance in the event that problems are encountered. Another safety measure is to purchase a shopping cart from a provider that offers customer support and technical assistance. Some companies offer online videos or other training as part of the purchase price, which could eliminate many installation problems before they occur.

Whether or not a professional is hired to perform the installation, it is important to make sure the shopping cart offers all the features that the business owner anticipates needing. The ability to customize in some ways is desirable – for example, to alter the appearance of pages so the cart matches the rest of the website – but all the desired functionality should already be in place. Internet marketing experts advise against buying software that has to be re-programmed, as this can be extremely expensive.

Any good shopping cart should offer commonly used features such as:
– calculating shipping, tax, and sale totals
– allowing changes to be made to the cart at any time before the customer finalizes the transaction
– the option to continue shopping at any point before the transaction is finalized
– the capability to accept coupons and discount codes
– customizable thank-you and order confirmation pages following the sale

Additional features to look for is up-sell capability, which recommends similar products based on the customer’s preferences before the sale is completed. Internet marketers have found that automated suggestions lead to thousands of dollars in increased sales.

Also related to higher revenues, the cart should ideally come with a built-in affiliate program for businesses that wish to derive the benefits of a network of marketing affiliates.

Other useful features include report generation, transfer of data to the business owner’s accounting and database programs, email and mail-merge functions, and ad tracking.

While the do-it-yourself approach is the right choice for some website owners, the best decision will be reached after considering time and cost factors and selecting the ideal shopping cart in advance.

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For online business owners today, offering the options customers want is a vital aspect of winning the sale. Multiple payment methods give consumers a choice, but credit card payments are far and away the most popular. Credit cards are convenient for consumers to use and sites that accept them show higher revenues from impulse purchases and other add-ons.

There are two ways that ecommerce sites can arrange to accept credit card payments. One is by establishing a merchant account through the business owner’s own bank. Another is to use a third-party service to process the payments.

Bank Merchant Accounts – Most banks offer merchant accounts and processing gateways to their account holders. Funds from credit card purchases, less the agreed-upon fees, are deposited into the merchant account, then moved to the owner’s business or personal account on a regular basis (usually within 24 hours). The primary disadvantage is that approval for merchant accounts is more difficult to obtain for internet businesses than for standard retail businesses. Every bank has its own qualification guidelines and fee schedules.

Third-party services such as PayPal eliminate the need for a merchant account. They offer real-time processing of payments and transfer of funds to the business owner’s account for a fee, usually a small flat rate plus a percentage of the sale total per transaction.

Other features available might include a shopping cart that the business owner can install on the website, conversion from U.S. dollars to foreign currency, the ability to accept multiple forms of payment (such as electronic debits or echecks), customer service, and set-up assistance.

PayPal offers three account types, two of which can be used by merchants to accept credit card payments: the Premier Account and the Business Account. An individual can open a Premier Account, but a Business Account can only be opened by a registered business. A 2.9 percent fee is charged for receiving a payment, but as the dollar volume increases, the rate drops. Premier and Merchant Account holders can incorporate special html code into their website to create a “Buy Now” button. With one click, the customer is taken to a payment page to complete the transaction.

PayPal also provides a shopping cart to merchants. This software lets the consumer select multiple items for purchase, then proceed to the payment page to pay for all selections at once.

The cost for setting up a merchant account, processing gateway, and shopping cart can range from $500 to $1,500, more so if the etailer chooses to hire a web master to consult on or install the system.

For the start-up or small business owner, third-party services such as PayPal may provide a more accessible, affordable alternative to traditional banking options.

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For those new to the world of ecommerce, understanding commonly used terminology can help to demystify the process of getting started. Ecommerce, or selling on the internet, requires having a place where sales occur, getting customers to that place, and closing the sale.

In ecommerce, the “place” customers shop is the website, sometimes called the storefront. A commerce server is the software that controls the appearance and functionality of the website.

Common marketing practices include advertising the storefront on other websites, using search-driven services such as Google AdWords, creating information-packed email publications called ezines, and opt-in newsletters, which require potential customers to request the information.

When customers click on the link in a newsletter, ezine, or ad, they are taken to a landing page. Each new visitor counts as a page impression, or hit. Tracking these numbers gives the etailer an idea of how effective their marketing efforts are.

Items positioned above the fold are those that appear in the part of the web page that first shows up when the storefront is loaded. In etailing, it is common practice to use this prime position to promote those products or services that the company most wants to customers to see.

When customers visit the storefront, cookies are deposited in their computers. These small files track the customer’s preferences. For example, cookies record what pages have been visited and what products have been placed in the customer’s shopping cart.

The shopping cart is the software that tracks items the customer selects for purchase, calculates the sales total, and collects payment information. This software can be incorporated into the storefront and managed by the etailer, or into a separate program that etailers contract an independent party to maintain and host.

When a customer takes action to purchase, this is called a conversion. High conversion rates are as important as page impressions, so etailers strive to make their websites easy to use and often offer customers incentives for completing the purchase.

Offering multiple payment options is one way to make the process easier for customers. Etailers typically accept payment via PayPal (an online funds transfer service), by credit cards, and through echecks which take funds directly from the customer’s checking account.

Customer relations management (CRM) refers to all practices and procedures the etailer uses to ensure a positive experience for customers. This can include providing live support or a toll-free number, sending confirmation and thank-you emails following a purchase, offering a fair and efficient return and refund policy, and maintaining contact after the purchase to encourage repeat business.

Like any new field, ecommerce has its own language and culture. Understanding the vocabulary removes the confusion and frees etailers to become more effective in their marketing and sales efforts.

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The internet has become an invaluable marketing tool for virtually any product or service, so much so that many people first make the decision to start an online business, then consider what items to offer for sale. There are a number of approaches that can be considered, and the options are not limited to offering merchandise alone.

Merchants who choose to sell a selection of products use their website as an online catalog and order-taking center. Software, books and music top the list of most widely purchased products through online venues.

Things to keep in mind while deciding what products to offer include size and weight, which will affect shipping; durability of the product, since fragile or perishable items also present shipping challenges; and the existing supply and demand in the market.

Rather than produce a product of their own, some business owners choose to act as a broker or distributor for products produced by another individual or company. Crafters and other artists often seek such channels through which to sell their wares. Other venues for obtaining products include trade shows, wholesalers, and local businesses that would like a wider customer base.

Services can also be sold over the internet. In fact, the web offers a convenient, cost-effective way for service providers to tell their story, link to samples of their work, and allow a method of contact for consumers who would like additional information.

Information continues to be one of the most sought-after products that consumers purchase online. Ebooks, white papers, special reports, and ongoing subscriptions can generate substantially higher profit margins than product sales, since associated costs are minimal.

It is wise to research both demand for a product or service as well as existing suppliers before making a final decision on what to sell. Search tools such as Google Overture and Yahoo allow merchants to test keywords to determine how popular those search terms are. Highly sought-after items are likely to be bigger sellers, provided there isn’t already a lot of competition for that business.

Some website owners generate revenue without actively selling any product or service. A website devoted to providing information about a particular topic, for example, can earn income by selling ad space to merchants with related products. Cost-per-click (CPC) advertising is similar, but instead of paying a flat fee for ad space, merchants pay the affiliate a small amount for each visitor that clicks the link.

Affiliate marketing is another way to earn income with selling. Affiliates display ads or links for a merchant on their site. When visitors use the link to make a purchase from that merchant, the affiliate is paid a commission.

There are many options that business owners can consider beyond selling a product online. A wide variety of opportunities today make it possible for any business owner to succeed in ecommerce.

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This is the ideal time for business owners, in almost every industry imaginable, to jump on the bandwagon and join the e-commerce revolution. Providing an online shopping option can greatly increase the customer base of a business.

When a business owner makes the informed decision to offer products or services online, he is really ‘going global’, oftentimes with minimal effort. Even the smallest business with e-commerce abilities has discovered how easy it is to market their product to those a world away.

Online shopping is growing by leaps and bounds. This is not a surprising fact, when taking into consideration the millions of people who regularly surf the Internet.

Consumers are more comfortable with online shopping than ever before. This is due, in part, to the advances that have been made in regard to online security over the past several years.

Even those individuals who would have never divulged their credit card information in the past are now shopping from home because they feel safe doing so. Why? It’s convenient, it saves gas, it’s less stressful, and shopping online offers a much greater selection of merchandise than what they will find locally.

There will always be consumers who remain adamant about the fact that they will never make an online purchase. However, neighborhood businesses can still benefit from providing e-commerce options, as those same consumers freely admit to using the Internet for extensive price comparisons before actually making a final purchase.

The news gets better. With additional payment options becoming more readily available, even the individuals who currently feel e-commerce is not safe just might end up jumping the fence.

These options include: Bill Me Later (this payment provider sends out a paper bill, and consumers can send payment via check or money order), PayPal, Google Checkout, Verified By Visa and MasterCard Secure Code options.

Cyber Source Corporation, one of the leading electronic payment providers, reported that their 2007 fourth-quarter revenue totaled $45.4 million dollars. That reflects an astounding increase of 117% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Forrester Research predicts that annual e-commerce sales will top $258 billion dollars, this year alone. They estimate the numbers for 2010 will exceed $316 billion dollars in online sales.

Travel related vendors will be happy to note that travel related products are typically the largest online sales driver. In fact, a huge percentage of travel products and services are purchased by those who are very affluent.

Again, there is no better time than the present for business owners to set up shop in cyberspace. With continual improvements, online sales will only continue to increase. Millions of shoppers agree: e-commerce really is the most convenient, hassle free, enjoyable way to shop!

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Shopping online is fast, convenient and fun, but before making any purchases online, there are some things you should be aware of to protect yourself and your wallet.

First… Who are you dealing with?

Make sure you know all of the necessary information about the merchant and get the address, email, phone, and contact details so that you can check their reliability and verify credibility. Whenever I am dealing with an unfamiliar merchant, I always request info from their customer service to see if and how they respond to support request. No response or untimely responses tell me immediately that they are not consumer “friendly” or supportive and I’m off to find another merchant that does value their customers.

How much is this going to cost?

Check product pricing, and be sure to look for hidden charges. Shipping, taxes and the like are usually standard but sometimes there are hidden handling charges or currency conversion fees if buying internationally. Be aware of the TOTAL costs before committing to any purchase. If the pricing and fees appear to be inflated, do a product comparison search and see if you can get a better deal.

Am I ordering the right product?

Product identification is crucial when buying online. Since you can’t hold or see the actual product yourself, you can easily choose the wrong product. Verify the product details, be clear as to exactly what you are ordering by checking the product description carefully. If you are unsure, contact the vendor and request more information (this is also a good way to check their customer support at the same time). Guessing can be costly.

Is the product “In Stock”?

Before ordering, check stock availability. Whether or not the product is in stock and available should be clearly displayed on the website. If not, contact customer service to verify and be sure. Hot selling items may be on back order and may take a long time before being shipped. If you’re willing to wait, then order, otherwise, look elsewhere for that particular item. If it’s a hot seller, there’s sure to be other merchants offering the same product.

How is it going to be shipped? And when?

Delivery options vary from merchant to merchant. Some offer many different shipping options, and some may only ship via one method provider only. With the different shipping options come different fees and time constraints. Make sure you are aware of the costs and how long it will take before it is shipped or delivered. Most merchants will post this information with option forms either with the product or on the Shopping Cart. Always look for tracking information and whether or not insurance is offered. You should also receive a shipping confirmation via email when the item is shipped. If buying a high priced item it is recommended that you insure your purchase in the event of shipping damages or loss for your own protection. Not all vendors will replace or refund your purchase if that happens. And once again, be aware of any additional fees.

Payment Options… How are you paying for your purchase?

First, before entering any payment information, make sure you are on a SECURE PAYMENT PAGE. Look at the URL address in your browser and make sure the prefix is “https”. If there is no “s” the page is probably not secure or encrypted. Use at your own risk! You will find that payment options vary from vendor to vendor, but most always offer credit and debit card processing of some kind either through their own shopping cart or that of a third party like Paypal or 2Checkout etc. Many will also accept checks and money orders. If you feel more secure “snail mailing” your order and payment, many sites will offer a form for you to fill out, print and mail. Whatever you choose, be sure it is SECURE.

Protecting your Identity and Personal Information

Be aware of the personal information you are being asked for and what they are going to do with it. If you are asked for your personal information there should be a proper explanation as to what and how the information will be used. Most times this will be clearly stated in the Legal or Policy Area of the website. Privacy Policies are a must for any vendor and can usually be found in the footer of the website. There may also be a FAQ page, where they address customer questions and concerns. Be sure to read through both of these. If you feel they are requesting information not related to the purchase itself, do not enter it. Things like Social Security numbers etc. should never be asked for or entered. Protect your identity.

Did you receive a confirmation or receipt?

Once you have made your purchase and entered all of the necessary payment information and submitted, you should immediately receive a confirmation of some kind with a follow up confirmation to your email address. If you do not receive a confirmation CONTACT THE MERCHANT. Sometimes glitches occur and either the payment didn’t go through or the website may be having script problems. Always make sure you receive a confirmation and receipt for your protection. A clearly defined ordering process should be available for you on the website so you know what to expect and how to contact them in the event of any problems.

Do they have a return or refund policy?

Even under the best of circumstances, sometimes the product you ordered is not what you expected or wanted. Maybe it is defective or missing parts. Whatever the case may be, it’s important that you know the Return or Refund Policy before ordering in the event you have to return your item. Some merchants may charge a restocking fee, require you to get a RA# before returning and then there are those that will not accept any returns or give a refund. Refund Policies should also be stated on all merchant websites. If you do not see one, once again, contact customer support and request the information. Knowing all of this beforehand will save you a lot of grief if in the end if you have to send your purchase back.

Shopping online is much easier and much more secure these days than it was just a few years back. Technology has improved and security encryption software makes credit card processing quick and safe for both you and the merchant. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can purchase just about anything and have it sent to your front door. Just use your head, spend wisely and do it safely.

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It’s that time of the year again, and more and more people are looking to doing their taxes at home.  With programs like TurboTax and TaxACT available, the process can be simplified and the refund swift in coming.  However, going it alone is not always the wisest or most cost-efficient choice.

Let’s weigh some of the key factors in determining whether or not to enlist the aid of a professional tax service.

1. Is it worth your time?

For the self-employed, it may be more advantageous to enlist the services of a professional tax preparer or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).  Doing your own taxes, especially those related to a business, takes time.  And, time is money.

2. Do you have the knowledge to glean all of the tax-related benefits involved in owning your own business?

Being self-employed may just be one of the greatest tax strategies of our time.  As a self-employed individual, you are in control of your taxable income. With the right know-how, you can fully control how much tax you pay.  In fact, there are many tax advantages to being self-employed, and, oftentimes, a professional can find tax savings and deductions related to your business that you may have otherwise overlooked.

Ultimately, for the self-employed it’s a matter of weighing the cost against the advantages of hiring a professional.  Keep in mind however, hiring a professional can often result in tax savings that more than make up for the cost of the service.

3. What if you aren’t self-employed?  What if you are filing for yourself or your family?

In this case it may be worthwhile to consider going it alone.  Programs like TurboTax and the free program TaxACT walk you through the process step-by-step and often make receiving your refund a simple and expedient process.

Above all else though, the best rule of thumb to follow in either situation is to trust yourself.  Base your decision on whichever route gives you the most peace of mind.  If you are comfortable completing the tax forms and utilizing the programs available for going it on your own, then this may be the best route for you.  If however, you have any doubts or concerns, your best bet may be to hire a professional.

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The Internet is awash with content.  Content of all types can be found on websites and posted on forums.  Just about any subject you are looking to learn about can be accessed on the Internet.  Using articles to market your business is a free promotion that is highly effective.

What have you spent?  You may have spent a few hours doing research on your topic and then you sat down to write some interesting content.  The content was posted on your own site or sold to other sites that deal in buying articles.

The best way to use article marketing is to write about something that you know.  A topic that is familiar offers a host of different spins on one subject that can be marketed in a variety of places.  You can submit articles to online sites, e-zines, print magazines, and newsletters.  Any one of these places will give your work more exposure.

Come up with several ideas for article content.  Keep a notebook with you so that you can jot down article subjects and titles.  If you are putting together several “how to” articles, keep a list of what to include in the articles.  The more information that you have on hand, the quicker you will be able to produce an article.

Surf the Web to see what types of articles are out there.  If the subject that you have chosen is pretty much done to distraction, choose something else to focus on.  Most of us have more than one area of interest or expertise so we can use that to find another marketing avenue.

What about rewrites?  If you are the owner of the content, exercise your right to use it again and rewrite it from another angle to get more use out of the subject.  Tailor your articles to the specific guidelines of the site or publication where you will be submitting them for consideration.

Above all, don’t forget to plug your website or product at the end of the article.  Most sites will let you have a small bio at the end.  If they do, use it to the hilt.  Always, always include a hyperlink to your website so that people can find you easily.  They will want to read more on the subject and this can’t be done if they can’t locate your site.

A hyperlink will take them directly to the website.  If you forget to use the http:// at the beginning, they will have to copy and paste into the browser.  People want things to be as easy as possible and so do you if you want their traffic.

Article marketing is free and fun and best of all,  profitable.  Use the knowledge that you have gained on a particular subject to enhance your business and make you some money.  People are always looking for good sources of information.  Make sure you’re one of them!

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There are literally thousands of online joint venture possibilities to pursue.  However, they generally fall into a few basic categories: list leveraging, product creation and general sharing.  Here are ten online joint venture possibilities:

1.  List leveraging.  This is a common and generally simple joint venture.  If you have a great opt in list and someone has a great product, you can promote their product to your list for a percentage of the sales.

2.  Information marketing businesses can partner to bundle their products together and promote them to their combined email lists.  The benefit to this type of arrangement is potentially huge.  Each business increases their exposure and customer base, each business makes money, and each business gives their customer and email list an opportunity to take benefit from a new product.

3.  Another simple joint venture might involve sharing or exchanging text links or banners with other related web sites.

4. Partner with another online business with a similar target market to create and share a web site.  For example, you create dog training information products and your partner makes home made dog treats.  You will both be marketing and advertising the same web site which means double the traffic.

5. A very simple online joint venture is to exchange testimonials or endorsements for each others products or services.  For example, if you are a virtual assistant, you could promote the services of a web design firm or copywriter you’ve used.  In return, they could promote your services as a virtual assistant.

6. If you have a product that is nearing the end of its life and sales are dwindling, you could offer it as a free bonus for another businesses product or service.  In exchange, ask for a small portion of the profits.

7. Offer to insert a promotional ad for another business into your product package.  You could take a small percentage of the profits or ask them to return the favor.

8. Trade ezine ads with relevant businesses that have similar target markets.

9. Create a promotional giveaway with another business and publish your ads and links in the report, ebook, or even talk about them in a video or audio product.  You’re essentially sharing the labor to put together a promotion that will reach both your list members and the list members of your partner, which means you’re doubling your reach.

10. Create a freeware program with another business. Include a promotional ad for each of your businesses in the program. Submit it to freeware and freebie sites.

When considering the many possibilities of joint venture partnerships, consider what skills, strengths and assets you can bring to the partnership.  This will likely give you numerous possibilities and then all you have to do is find the right partner.

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You’ve decided you want to do a joint venture and now need someone to join forces with.  But just how do you choose a potential JV partner?  And more importantly, how do you approach or contact them? Then what?  For the first timer, these are all issues that could stop you dead in your tracks.  But fear not, doing a joint venture is really not that hard especially if you follow these simple guidelines.

#1  Research them to make sure they’re a person you really want to work with.  This can include: a Google, a credit check, a Better Business Bureau check and even a police check, as well as talking with their competition, suppliers, vendors, landlords, customers, neighbors and staff.

#2  Learn as much as you can about their business from the same sources, so that you are well prepared and knowledgeable about their business, demographic marketing target, profit margins, problems, aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses.

#3  Initial contact.  The next step can be handled a number of ways.  One way is to email your prospect and tell them you’re impressed with their business and you’ve sent a proposal to them. You can use FedEx to let them know you’re serious and tell them it’ll be delivered that way.  Most people don’t just toss something from FedEx.  Your proposal is basically a sales letter whereby you lay out your idea and take the time to present the benefits of this joint venture to your partner.

Your other option is to pick up the telephone or send an email.  The trouble with email is that if this person doesn’t know you, they may simply delete your email.  A phone call means you’ll at least know you’ve made a connection.  While picking up the phone is a scary thought for many, this is a joint venture, you don’t really have anything to lose.

OK… So what do you say…?

Any good salesperson knows that the pitch has to be all about what benefits the person will receive by partnering with you.  Start the conversation enthusiastically with a brief intro about who you are and then jump right into what you know, and are impressed with, about their business.  A little bit of honest flattery and the fact that you’ve done your research will generally get you the attention you need for the next phase…your pitch.  Here is some of the information you’ll need:

• What you bring to the table
• What your partner will bring to the table
• What the potential profits are and how you came to those numbers.
• What is fair for each person involved
• How and when each person will be paid

And that’s it.  Offer to send the proposal to them in writing and then give your potential partner time to think it over.  Set up a time to meet or communicate again and say goodbye.  Walla.  That’s it.  You’re done.  Chances are you may have a strong indication of their interest before you hang up.  If you feel it is a “no”, you’ve become familiar with the process and next time it will be easier and you may have better luck.  If the answer is a “yes” – then Congratulations!

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