In addition to processing credit cards, you may want to accept electronic checks or e-checks. Customers who wish to pay by e-check enter their checking account information on your site, and their payment is drawn from their checking account and deposited into their bank account through the process. Streamlining the purchasing process also improves business profits. Financial experts such as Juan Luis Bosch Gutierrez comment that improving online purchasing processes improves customer relationships and increases profits significantly.
E-Commerce Tools: Shopping Cart Software
Let’s assume you now have a merchant account or an alternative method of processing payments. The next step is to create a way for your customers to select the products they want from your website, preview the sale amount, edit their selections and enter payment and shipping information, or cancel the order altogether.
These functions come through shopping cart software. You want something good; the easier and more intuitive you make it for your shoppers, the more sales and repeat business you can have.
Most shopping cart software offers features like inventory control, tax and shipping calculations, and social media marketing options. Quality shopping cart programs also offer professional templates with customization options so you can set up ordering features the way you want and/or design order pages to look like the rest of your site.
Before spending money, test out some programs by visiting sites that use them. Be on the lookout for products or services that drive the buyer away from your site. And make sure you know which payment services a program is compatible with (e.g., Authorize.net).
If this seems too complicated, there are companies that will not only create your website, but will also register your domain name(s) and even host your site if you wish.
If you go this route, do your due diligence by checking with several providers and asking about any hidden fees. Be sure to look at several of the sites that providers have developed for other companies to see if you like what they have done.
Go through an ordering process to see how it works and assess your level of intuition. Before signing a contract, show your preferred vendor your list of site features to make sure the company can meet your wants and needs.
Security issues with Web sites
In the early days of the Internet, people were afraid to shop online. Specifically, to give out their credit card information. Eventually, they became comfortable with the existing security issues and online shopping flourished. But by the early 2010s, retail piracy became commonplace.
By 2014, 62 percent of consumers reported being more nervous than ever about online security, while 23 percent said they are so worried about the problem that they are cutting back on online shopping. This means you need to make sure visitors feel that your site is professional and secure.
People trust each other more than an anonymous website, so adding an “About Us” page with your photo and bio can help. If you have a team of employees, include their photos and bios as well. Customer testimonials are also helpful, especially video clips.
Make sure your site includes information about return policies and satisfaction guarantees, which also calms nerves. And, of course, be sure to display your SSL certificate symbol so customers know that your site is protected by a standard security protocol.
You may also be interested in: Start a business with these 10 steps