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e-Commerce Shopping Overview (Effective Electronic Commerce)

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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:

Brand and position your company online?
Do you want to impress customers with fancy design and flash?
Do you want Internet users to call you or visit your physical store? Or
Do you want to generate high revenue with shortest sales cycle possible -- ÃƒÂ la 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 and also with these financial institutions:

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"

What's your unique selling proposition?
What benefits do you offer that differentiate your business from others?
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 ' 6 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 LessÃ¢â‚¬Â¦

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

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