e-Commerce Overview

 

e-Commerce Shopping Overview (Effective Electronic Commerce)



Before you can create a sophisticated e-commerce website you need a comprehensive design blueprint, and this process begins with defining the purpose -- as well as prioritizing the various objectives -- of your online presence. Over the last few years, too many ebusinesses have launched with unfocused goals and, as a consequence, awkwardly-designed Websites that quickly fail.


Cazarin Web Group DBA Cazarin Interactive is a Minneapolis / St Paul -based website design Agency based in Minneapolis Minnesota. Since April of 1998, we have been providing a creative array of Internet technology based marketing solutions. We value passion, integrity, and excellence, with a vision of the inconceivable.

 



 

Effective Electronic Commerce

 
Before you can create a sophisticated e-commerce website you need a comprehensive design blueprint, and this process begins with defining the purpose -- as well as prioritizing the various objectives -- of your online presence. Over the last few years, too many ebusinesses have launched with unfocused goals and, as a consequence, awkwardly-designed Websites that quickly fail.

Is the purpose of your site to:
  1. Brand and position your company online?
  2. Do you want to impress customers with fancy design and flash?
  3. Do you want Internet users to call you or visit your physical store? Or
  4. Do you want to generate high revenue with shortest sales cycle possible -- àla pure ecommerce?

Sadly, in executing ecommerce Web design, many of these goals have been misunderstood or poorly prioritized, in turn jeopardizing the overarching sales objectives of a business Website. In other words, when developing an ecommerce Website, it's customer acquisition that should remain your top design priority. That means a sharp distinction needs to be drawn between the art of Website design and the art of designing a marketing-driven ecommerce Websites. You can review our portfolio which contains many examples of e-commerce website designs.

 

Merchant Accounts:
In order for you to be able to accept credit cards on the Internet you need to have an Internet based merchant account. 

Get the best RATE for your credit card transactions we ecourage you to apply with your own bank.  Also make sure that your gateway is Authorize.Net to make it easy to integrate.

Cazarin uses Product Cart from Early Impact as its shopping cart.

Sample of Cazarin's Shopping Cart

Three Web Design principals for Smart eCommerce

To efficiently reach ecommerce goals, a marketing-driven Website is going to be your vehicle. That means planning your site -- and orienting your Web design -- around three guiding "design principals."

Design principal No. 1: Your "Value Proposition"
  1. What's your unique selling proposition?
  2. What benefits do you offer that differentiate your business from others?
  3. What features or services do you offer that build value while giving you a definitive edge over the competition?
Distilling your unique value proposition and communicating it quickly and clearly on your Website is the first element of profitable ecommerce Web design.  According to a study from the University of Minnesota the people browsing a site will give up to 6 seconds or less to a webpage (usually the home) to find out if they have the service or product the browser is seeking.

Design Principal No. 2: Your Target Audience
Understanding your market -- and defining the needs of your target demographic -- is an essential part of any business enterprise. Online it's no different: design not for yourself, but for you target audience. Articulate meaningful benefits and situate your style and content in the context of your customers' immediate needs and desires. www.laptopsonline.com is a good example of an online store that caters to a very specific market. In designing for this audience, the site could have easily obliterated ecommerce objectives. While maintaining a lucid ecommerce agenda and a highly useable navigation and sales platform. At the same time, laptopsonline also provides sufficient design elements to signal its credibility to a discerning target demographic in this market.

Design Principal No. 3: Task-Analysis -- Achieving a Defined Objective

Once you're satisfied that your value proposition is being communicated to your target customer, you need a clear, focused sales process. Here, analyze the components of your sales channels, provide the necessary educational steps and requisite product information, and design a Website that optimizes action while eliminating distraction. Make it easy for customers to buy from you.

In the case of www.luggageforme.com, the modus operandi is simple: get the online customer to find all needs for luggage in either way: by type, brand and purchase it easily. Here, design and content are oriented around the understanding that 99% of people are already intimately familiar with product specification and competitor pricing. By using a "List Price", "Discounts", " strategy, Luggage for Me orients visitors with sufficient content, then mobilizes customers to act, to communicate, to get a personalized one-on-one experience for products that have become Internet commodities.

Designing for the ' Second Principle'

To make a powerful impression.
  • To establish your professionalism and start building trust.
  • To generate the interest of your target audience.
  • To begin downloading your value proposition and to initiate a compelling sales overture.

The three design principal guidelines above serve the six-second principle well and provide a blueprint for effective Website marketing and sales flow. Most online shoppers have little time to waste.

Our team has experience creating over 220 websites since 1998, we have seen many businesses succeed and others fail.  We have the knowledge to help you and guide you to create or enhance a successful website on the Internet. 

Please Contact us now or request a Quote we will give you advice and create a website that is the best for your goals and budget.

eCommerce Purchase Flow Process

The following steps take place every time an item is purchased online.  This process will happen you have automated the complete process by having a merchant number and you have embedded it with your shopping cart.

 

eCommerce Funds Transfer

The following is a diagram showing how the funds are transferred to your account.

  • Acquiring Bank is the bank of the business who owns the eCommerce website.
  • Issuing Bank is the institution that issued Visa / Master Card to the buyer

Sample of Cazarin's Shopping Cart

Don't Settle for Less

Competitors
 

Contact ! - Cazarin Web Group



 

Benefits of Effective E-commerce Websites built correctly:

  • Reduce printing cost - if your website offers a good printing option.
  • Reduces direct mailing costs - if you have PDF brochures.
  • Increases sales - if you address the need of your prospects.
  • Creates another contact channel to your company in Cyberspace through your website.
  • Creates the ability to take orders 24 hours x 7 days - your website never sleeps.
  • Ease of updating product information on the website.
  • Increases customer service while decreasing customer service cost
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Industry

Geographic Scope

Market Considerations
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Perishables
  • Retail - Games
  • Tools
  • Consumables
  • Health & Beauty
  • Local
  • Regional
  • National
  • International
  • Business -> Consumer
  • Business -> Business
  • Business -> Distribution Channel
    (we help develop channels without alienating the end user)
  • Business -> Advocate Group
 

E-commerce At Work
Store Management Shopper Features
Online Sales Reports Save Cart Feature
Order Management Gift Wrap
Affiliate Programs Wish List
Order Fufillment Gift Wrap with Messages
Customer Management Multiple Ship To Addresses
Retain Customer Profiles through Login Customer Address Books
E-Mail Order Notification Gift Certificates
Customer Management Utility Integrated Shipment Tracking
Customer Specific Pricing Running Cart Total
Catalog Management Order Processing and Fulfillment
Catalog Search Credit Card (online and offline)
Unlimited Subcategories e-Check (offline)
Inventory Tracking e-Check (online)
Weight Sensitive Attributes COD
Customer Defined Attributes Purchase Orders
Quick Search Integrated Merchant Accounts/Gateways
Sales and Discounts  Wells Fargo Secure Source
e-Coupons  Bank of America
Product or Vendor Specific Coupons  World Pay
Store Wide Sales  Card Service International
Product Sales  Authorize.net
Vendor Specific Sales  PayPal
Volume Pricing Phone/Fax
Free Shipping Based on Order Amount Two Tier Tax Capable
Promotion Utilities 3rd Tax Tier
Promotional Mail Utility Online Order Tracking
E-Mail to Friend International Support
Upsell Capabilities Currency Conversion Support
Related Products Foreign Currency Support
Shipping Calculations Foreign Tax Calculations
Carrier Based Data Export
 UPS Data Export to QuickBooks
 USPS  
 FedEX  
 Freightquote.com (40 + LTL Carriers)  
 Canada Post  
Product Based  
Value Based  
Automated Drop Shipping  





Testimonials


also was inspired by your enthusiastic staff ...The vision you had was clear, you executed quickly and it is paying off.

~ Noyz Entertainment


Let's Talk

Call: 763-420-9992 (Business Hours - 8:00am to 5:00pm CST)
Contact Inquiry - (Questions)
RFQ Form - (Request for website Quote)
Employment - (Apply for a job at Cazarin)
RFQ Video - (Request for Video Quote)
White Papers & Resources - (Guides to help you plan your website)


Industries Served


Portfolio
Services
Contact Us
Call: 763-420-9992 (Business Hours - 8:00am to 5:00pm CST)
Contact Inquiry - (Questions)
RFQ Form - (Request for website Quote)
Employment - (Apply for a job at Cazarin)
RFQ Video - (Request for Video Quote)