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E-Commerce: Fundamentals of Building Web-Based Businesses. Timothy Lee UALR Arkansas SBTDC. Categories of Consumers. Newbies Time Sensitive Clicks & Mortar Hooked Online Hunters & Gathers Brand Loyalists. Business to Consumer. Convenience Goods Replenishment Goods Research Goods.
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E-Commerce: Fundamentals of Building Web-Based Businesses Timothy Lee UALR Arkansas SBTDC
Categories of Consumers • Newbies • Time Sensitive • Clicks & Mortar • Hooked Online • Hunters & Gathers • Brand Loyalists
Business to Consumer • Convenience Goods • Replenishment Goods • Research Goods
Taxes and the Web • Internet Tax Freedom Act • interstate moratorium • Streamlines Sales and Use Tax Acts • Intrastate taxes • Destination based
Obstacles Facing Small Businesses • Costs • Security Concerns • Technical Expertise • Customer Service • Lack of Qualified Workers
Phases of Internet Involvement • Connectivity (Brochureware) • Customer Connections (Pre-Commerce) • Commerce (Simple Commerce)
Step 1 - Create the online content Step 2 - Host the content on the Internet Step 3 - Market the website and content Step 4 - Collect and record customer orders Step 5 - Process payments Step 6 - Fulfill customer orders 6-Step Development Process
Content is King! • News • Product Reviews • Customer Service • Search Tools
Elements of Good Online Design • General Layout • Navigation • Key elements • Masthead /Logo • Navigation • “The Offer” • Title / Meta Tags • Download Time
Registering a Domain Name • Choose a Domain Name • Check Name Availability • Register New Name with hosting service
10 minutes Stand up and stretch… Get a drink of water… Swap business cards… Let’s Take a Break !
Locating a Web Host Unix/Linux &Apache • Apache web server • CGI / PERL scripts Windows NT & IIS • IIS web server • FrontPage extensions • ASP scripts
Minimum Free Domain Registration 500 MB storage Unlimited traffic 5-10 POP3 boxes Statistics FTP access Desirable Custom CGI Unlimited aliases Autoresponders Secure server (SSL) Shopping Cart Log files access Web Hosting Features
Uploading Your Website • File Transfer Protocol (FTP) • Most common method • Full control of files • Frontpage • FTP “shell” • both NT & Unix
Marketing Your Website E-Mail Techniques • E-mail Address • Signature Files • Mailing Lists • Autoresponders • Bulk E-mail
Marketing Your Website WWW Techniques • Content • Meta Tags • Search Engines • Reciprocal Links • Blogs • Podcasts
Marketing Your Website Offline Techniques • Stationary • Paid Advertising
Getting Found in the Search Engines • Indices • Yahoo.com • Dmoz.org • Search Engines • Google • MSN / Live • How to register
Collecting and Recording Customer Orders • Printable Order Forms • Toll-Free Telephone • Shopping Carts
Minimum Easily Add, Modify, Delete Items Customize Interface Calculate Taxes / Shipping Credit card validation E-mail Notification Desirable Upload Product Database / Spreadsheet Product Images Real-time Credit Card Processing Customer Order Tracking Shopping Cart Features
Shopping Cart Software • ISP / Host Provided • Zen Cart • OScommerce • CGI / PERL scripts www.cgi-resources.com • 3rd Party Software
Cart Installation and Testing • Configuration • Product Loading • Manual • File Upload • Testing
Payment Systems • COD (online email form) • Checks (print & mail web page) • Credit Cards (script & secure server) • Virtual Cash / Wallets (script & secure server)
Processing Credit Card Payments • Using Existing Systems • Automating Payments • PayPal • Authorize.net • Alternatives
Credit Cards • Secure server (SSL) • HTML Form to database • Merchant Account • Don’t Factor!!
Fulfilling Customer Orders • In-house Fulfillment • Outsourcing Fulfillment Services • iFulfill.com
Fulfillment Problems • Overselling • Slow Response Time • Returns • Charge Backs