eCommerce, eBusiness, Marketing & Design Overview:

The guide is intended to introduce new eCommerce professionals or companies to the three most important phases of starting, promoting and maintaining an eCommerce business or website. Within it we will cover brief introductions to eCommerce, including what it’s, how far it has come and features specific to eCommerce. We’ll also be introducing, defining and explaining eCommerce marketing and eCommerce website design. In addition, the three main areas of this guide will list and explain many of the biggest benefits to conducting business Online, marketing Online and designing the site correctly.
What exactly is eCommerce & eBusiness?

eCommerce Defined:

eCommerce, that is short for electronic commerce, is the method used to distribute, buy, sell or market services and goods, and the transfer of funds online, through electronic communications or networks. Electronic commerce is usually referred to as Online commerce, Web commerce, eBusiness, eRetail, eTailing, e-tailing, ecommerce, eCommerce, e-commerce, ecom or EC.

Beginning & Way forward for eCommerce:

eCommerce basically began (although debated) in 1994 when Jeff Bezos started Amazon.com away from his own garage. Well known eCommerce stores include sites like eBay, Dell, Walmart and many more. Since 1994, businesses of most shapes and sizes have began launching or expanding their Online presence. At any given time, there are approximately 8 million consumers worldwide that actively shop and purchase through Web based stores or retailers (nearly one tenth in our world population). Online studies have claimed that online retail revenues will surpass the quarter-trillion-dollar mark by 2011.

eCommerce Site Features:

Typical business internet sites do not usually have the same features as eCommerce enabled web stores do. In order to effectively distribute, market then sell goods or services Online you will need certain features only entirely on eCommerce sites. Features might include a shopping cart, ability to process charge cards, online product catalog, automated inventory system, databases, bulk email program, statistics tracking as well as other non-computer technologies such as product warehousing and shipping transportation.
Which are the Benefits of eCommerce & eBusiness?

The processes involved with conducting business on the Internet and opening an eCommerce shop to sell from have several benefits to both merchants and the customers who buy from them. The greatest benefits of conducting business Online add a cheaper upfront cost to the merchant, it’s easier to setup and open the store and it’s faster to get an Online business up, running and making sales.

Helps Create New Relationship Opportunities:

Expanding or opening an eBusiness can produce a world of opportunity and helps to ascertain new relationships with potential prospects, potential business associates and new service manufacturers. Just by being in an easy to find location that is accessible to users worldwide, you will be available for others to discover and approach you about new opportunities. Customers that do not know you exist are fully aware of about you, product suppliers will request you add their items and other businesses will approach you about partnership opportunities. Many of these opportunities would not present themselves lacking any Online presence or site so they can discover you on their own.

Open for Business 24×7:

An eCommerce site basically gives you the ability to have unlimited store hours, giving your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week use of shop and buy items from you. Some merchants choose to limit their hours to days a week, but orders can nonetheless be made over the weekend and customers could make contact 24/7 via email, phone or fax. In addition, the costs associated with having your store open 24/7 tend to be less than maintaining a physical storefront or phone operator with 247 operation capability. You are able to literally take orders and let customers shop while you sleep, take vacations or from remote locations.

Increases Brand or Product Awareness:

Through an Online business means that you can literally reach out to millions of consumers looking for everything you sell anywhere in the world. By contacting new markets and displaying your internet site prominently in front of them, you will be able to help increase your company/domain brand name and also increase awareness about your product line. By giving users 24/7 access in an easy to find location, you will help to create more word of mouth buzz for the eBusiness, in turn helping to promote your brand name and products. Users who haven’t been aware of you will discover you exist and help spread the phrase about you.

Helps Establish Customer Loyalty:

An eCommerce storefront will help create an easier means for your clients to purchase the items you sell and offers a unique way to display and describe your products or services in a informative, visual and interactive way. The customers you have will become more loyal shoppers every time they visit, making eCommerce ideal for improved customer satisfaction and visitor loyalty. If you are offer your products for sale Online, consumers will be able to shop from your catalog quicker, get updates on new items or product discounts and will shop or buy anytime they wish.

Possibility to Increase Overall Business Sales:

An eCommerce store that’s an extension of a physical storefront is a great way to boost overall business sales and potentially increase company profits in general. Companies who already work from a physical location are typically unaware of how much more they could be making only if they were to expand into their Online marketplaces. Selling Online reveals many opportunities for businesses both new and old. It’s a great way to increase sales, especially if you already have a physical store.

Possible ways to Increase Company Profits:

As pointed out above, opening an Online extension of the store or moving your organization solely Online are great methods to boost sales and potentially profits. Remember, just because SALES increase it does not indicate that company PROFITS increases also. Online businesses do have a better chance of increasing sales and profits by checking an eCommerce store to offer the items they offer. Sales and profits would be the lifeblood of any company, so it makes sense to increase them anywhere possible and whenever possible through the entire existence of your company. More sales, more profits, bigger budgets, etc.

Possibility to Decrease Some Costs:

Along with potentially increasing sales and profits, eBusiness owners may also typically reduce the costs of running their business by moving it or expanding it into the Online world. eCommerce stores can run with less employees including sellers, customer service reps, order fulfillment staff among others. eBusinesses also do not need a physical location in order to stay operational, which can keep your charges down related to building leases, phone bills, utility costs along with other costs associated with running a brick-and-mortar storefront.

Expands Geographical or Customer Reach:

As mentioned, owning an eCommerce business typically means no limits regarding who and where you can sell your products or services. Some countries outside the Usa have additional regulations, licensing requirements or currency differences, but generally you won’t be limited on the customers it is possible to reach out to. Physical storefronts are restricted to the city in which they are located, Internet businesses aren’t limited unless you put geographical limits set up. At the very least, you should consider targeting U.S. buyers, but additionally consider, Canada, UK, Australia yet others. Sell to anyone, anywhere, anytime!

Permits Smaller Market or Niche Targeting:

Although your customer reach may expand away from local area, you may only need to target smaller consumer markets and buyer niches to your eCommerce products. Owning an Online store gives the merchant much treatments for who they target and reach out to notify about the items for sale in their store. Currently, you can target women, men, a generation of users, a certain race and many more smaller niche markets. This is typically done by placing keywords those niche markets use on a regular basis when researching the items you offer.

Allows for Easier Delivery of Information:

An Online store and Web brochure are great ways to deliver and display information regarding your company and the products you sell. By having an Online presence your customers will have direct access to product information, company information, specials, promotions, real time data and much more information that they’ll easily find just by visiting your internet site day or night. Not only does it benefit your customers, but it’s also generally easier for merchants to update their site rather than break down an available display and put up another for the next event. It saves both your customers and you precious time and can enable you to plan more updates or better sales as it will be much easier for you to update and remove.
What is eCommerce Marketing?

eCommerce Marketing Defined:

eCommerce marketing can be defined in many different ways and can include both Online or Offline campaign strategies. Frequently, it’s considered to be the marketing of products and services over the Internet or any other electronic network (like a mobile phone or pda). eCommerce marketing is usually referred to as ecommerce optimization, internet marketing, search engine marketing, sem, search engine optimization, seo, catalog optimization, catalog seo, product seo, merchant marketing and more variations of those terms.

Beginning & Way ahead for eCommerce Marketing:

eCommerce marketing began once the first shopping cart enabled sites started showing up all over the Net. As competition in leading markets such as consumer electronics, gifts, clothing or apparel and outdoor goods began to grow so did the requirement for eCommerce marketing. Online retailers who first began to market through the Internet saw huge potential for success Online and many of them saw enormous profits all the way up until the dot com boom. Because the dot com boom, eCommerce marketing has evolved into a whole new mix of strategies and techniques designed to increase exposure from a multitude of channels to the eCommerce seller. Marketing professionals have spent hours and hours testing, experimenting and reporting which strategies work and which seem to have no positive affects. Presently there are many different ways to market an eCommerce enabled site.

Marketing Strategies & Techniques:

eCommerce marketing today is usually made up of several creative or unique mixes of traditional and new-age marketing strategies that may include techniques related to direct mail, email marketing, search engine optimization, CPC or sponsored listings, building related links, establishing brand recognition and social internet marketing. There are many other ways to market an eCommerce store and new means of reaching out to potential customers are always being discovered and tested.
What are the Benefits of eCommerce Marketing?

The processes a part of marketing products on the Internet and increasing company or brand recognition among consumer markets have several benefits to both Online shoppers and merchant store owners. The biggest benefits of eCommerce marketing include less costs than print advertising, helps build customer relationships, brand credibility plus it costs less to get an eCommerce marketing campaign running and operational.

Regulations and tax breaks for Conducting Business Online:

It’s quite common knowledge that conducting business Online has certain tax advantages in comparison to brick-and-mortar selling. Many eCommerce merchants who qualify for such tax deductions may find that they can save more in taxes than when they sold using traditional retail or perhaps a physical storefront. Home-based eBusiness can deduct lots of the same things traditional businesses can. Traditional businesses can write-off utility, rent or mortgage bills as costs to do business and Online merchants also can write-off certain portions of utilities. Vehicles are another common deduction together with office equipment and other time allocated to setting up or running the company. Consider the tax benefits you might reap by conducting business through eCommerce.

Cheaper than Print Advertising:

Many traditional companies are used to more traditional marketing campaigns including print and yellow page advertising. Many traditional companies are not aware that a majority of eCommerce marketing strategies are far cheaper than any of the best Offline, print advertising methods which have been used for years. Traditional advertising continues to be a quality form of marketing, yet it’s not always cost effective, especially for smaller businesses. Print advertising can get expensive because there may be a need to update regularly, which requires new work be planned and generated. It’s much quicker and more cost effective to update and maintain eCommerce marketing campaigns, especially as technology continues to improve. By conducting business On the web and using the proven form of eCommerce marketing, merchants have the potential to generate far more in ROI with less spend compared to they could ever hope to expect from costly print promotional initiatives.

Interactive Ads or Marketing Campaigns:

Using advertising that engages potential prospects is key in todays fast paced, very little time consumer shopping space. One advantage of eCommerce marketing is the merchants capability to develop and improve several interactive advertising or marketing campaigns made to reach out and engage shoppers. Videos, flash, presentations, graphics, moving animations. They could all be used as interactive devices to aid entice shoppers to drop in and look around for the products or services offered. Interactive ads and applications on the Web are predicted to reach new heights as technology improves.

Flexible Ad or Marketing Campaigns:

Many traditional marketing strategies are limited with what they can offer and what sort of flexibility each initiative has. For instance, with print advertising there’s only so much you can do, but with eCommerce marketing there’s literally no cap no end to the flexibility of nearly any campaign. Merchants can get more creative marketing ideas and launch them with all the power and assistance of the Web (for both delivery and functionality). eCommerce marketing initiatives can be automated and are much more flexible than many of the traditional marketing or advertising methods.

Builds Lasting Customer Relationships:

The relationships you form with shoppers and existing customers can well determine the overall success associated with a business, Online or off, however eBusinesses use a lot more tools, methods and way of building long standing customer relationships than traditional businesses do. Technology and the reach of the Web makes it easier for eCommerce merchants to make long lasting relationships. That, combined with tools that make customer management and servicing more effective, using up less time, has also sparked more creative approaches to market to customers Online. eCommerce marketing and doing work Online can have a direct relation to how customers view the overall brand or product. If done correctly, it will help build lasting customer relationships, which in itself has benefits.

Helps Build Brand Credibility:

In several of the same ways eCommerce marketing helps you to engage and get to know customers, additionally, it has benefits which may increase brand awareness and credibility among shoppers searching for what you sell. With the ever expanding listing of Online marketing channels, it’s getting easier for eCommerce merchants to spread the word and saturate certain areas of the Web with their products and brand. As shoppers scour the net for information about a product that interests them they spot the companies and brands which they see, many take note and store the offending articles for next time. By utilizing the correct marketing channels in your niche, you might very well find yourself building long standing credibility and brand awareness among shoppers and existing customers. Better brand awareness and credibility likewise helps to increase word of mouth buzz.

Gather Feedback from Customers:

Having a website that displays and provides products for sale is a great way to attract customers, generate income and grow a business, however many eCommerce merchants don’t see all the additional advantages of running an eCommerce business similar to their ability to gather feedback about the site, brand or products directly from customers or shoppers. eCommerce marketing initiatives aren’t always about a promotion or selling the merchandise, some are meant to gather information or feedback from customers about how precisely the business can improve. Doing work Online and offering polls, questionnaires and feedback forms is a good way to get direct input from existing customers and also shoppers who haven’t yet purchased.

Conduct Cheap Researching the market:

Many eCommerce merchants use the website, customers and competitors in order to conduct market research surrounding a certain product or one in which they desire to introduce in the future. It’s much easier to catch a glimpse into a particular selling market while using resources and data online businesses, including your own. Wanting to conduct market research for a offline store can be difficult and may take much time to plan and execute. Using the availability of data on the Web and through the use of new technologies offered on the Web, eCommerce merchants have the ability to conduct market or product research quickly, efficiently and without hassle.

Lower Startup Costs Increase Efficiency:

Often it is much cheaper and takes less startup capital to spread out up an eCommerce business compared to a retail store location or chain. Internet business does not require as many of the ingredients necessary for business as a traditional business does. There’s typically no permits, fewer licenses, no lease to pay on, smaller utility bill, less or no employees to engage and no inventory to stock or manage on shelves. By beginning the business with less investment capital or startup funds, it can benefit to increase efficiency and leaves more available funds for actually marketing the emblem or products.

Lower Startup Costs Increase Profitability:

As stated, it cost far less to startup an eCommerce business than a traditional retail business. For most of the same reason that lower startup costs improve efficiency, they also help eCommerce merchants to potentially increase profitability. Obviously, if it takes less of the bottom line to obtain things up and running it may need less in return to generate a profit off of the eCommerce marketing tactics you choose to use. As mentioned, eCommerce marketing is cheaper than traditional advertising, therefore it costs less to work Online and costs less to market Online, than it will take less in return to really turn a profit, helping anyones chances for increased profitability.

Increases Growth or Opportunity Potential:

Online marketing has the potential to increase store growth in a much quicker rate than traditional marketing or retail business. eCommerce marketing can also generate more opportunities for almost any business no matter the products you sell and potentially at a much quicker rate. Major media networks may pick up on you via Online channels and report your business to consumers, while you may not have ended up on their radar had you simply sold offline. That’s just one example, there are many more opportunities plus a much higher chance of early growth through conducting and marketing an eCommerce business. The Online market offers a much fairer playing field and opens up doors that otherwise could be closed off to a retailer. It allows nearly any company, no matter their size to grow and have the same potential opportunities as larger sellers do.

Global Market Reach:

The internet spans across and reaches exactly that, the world. With the reach and technology offered through eCommerce, merchants have the ability to target consumers anywhere in the world, even smaller sections or local regions. eCommerce marketing initiatives can be deployed in a variety of ways, however the reach may span globally, rather than only within a certain city or region. possessing type of reach opens up the possibility that customers can find the business everywhere you look they reside and buy from their website without having to travel to another location. having global market reach means potentially having customers globally, without the limitations of traditional media or geographic boundaries.

Possible ways to Market Any Product:

The net constantly has millions of users hunting for a vast number of different products or services. When it exists, chances are there’s a minimum of a few people searching for it Online. eCommerce marketing and selling Online allows merchants to focus on and reach these audiences, even on a limited budget. This creates the potential for anyone to sell anything Online (assuming it’s legal to sell). Merchants can now offer niche items and market those things to the right individuals using creative and innovative eCommerce marketing ideas.

Flexible Schedule or More Personal Time:

Running an Online business can be as time demanding and require as much attention as a traditional business, nonetheless it does give merchants a chance to maintain a flexible schedule and will possibly even allow them more time out of the business to spend doing other activities they love. Having a schedule we control and private time is something everyone desires. Working Online and marketing through the different channels the net provides finally gives much more of us the freedom we desire. As mentioned, it typically takes far less time for you to startup and launch an internet business, however that doesn’t necessarily mean it will take less time to manage. The time it can save you can be used however you please.

Ability for Multiple Revenue Streams:

Once you’ve successfully launched and marketed one Web business you may wish to do it again with another online business, or maybe you already have a full-time job and you also run a successful eBusiness on the side. In any event, by conducting business Online you open all kinda of possibility of multiple revenue streams. May merchants have been able to successfully maintain their Online stores while still working their Job job. Others have opened a series or multiple Online stores to be able to generate multiple streams of revenue. eCommerce marketing makes it much simpler to own and operate multiple business or entity Online.

Streamlines Sales Process & Ad Copy:

eCommerce marketing and offering products available over the Internet can help businesses streamline sales processes and advertising copy used within marketing campaigns. With more customers and a greater reach it’s easier for merchants to gain insights and feedback concerning how marketing initiatives are performing and if each one is generating the desired ROI. Testing, experimenting and rotating campaigns or ad copy might help businesses to improve and streamline many processes within the store, from processes related to customers, sales or marketing.

Helps Promote Brick-and-Mortar Businesses:

So, imagine if you own a brick-and-mortar business already and you’re thinking of expanding into eCommerce? Don’t think long, it’s a great idea and also the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Many traditional companies are finding that by expanding their business design and marketing plans to the Online space that they in turn get more exposure to their physical stores. eCommerce marketing initiatives work great for promoting an offline business, however you still need an Online place for customers to reference on the internet. In a perfect world all brick-and-mortars would in addition have a presence Online, but it’s not the case as of yet. Jumping into eCommerce and ultizing the power of Online marketing is a great method to promote and help grow a retail brick-and-mortar location.
What exactly is eCommerce Web Design?

eCommerce Web Design Defined:

eCommerce web design is normally defined as the planning, creation and arrangement of files, text, graphics and processes used within an eCommerce enabled website. The files make up different sections of the site which typically include pages, categories, subcategories and products. eCommerce web design is commonly called web design, web development, site design, site development, shop design/development, store design/development, online store design/development, eCommerce design/development or shopping cart design/development (including variations of those terms).

Beginning & Future of eCommerce Website design:

eCommerce designs have evolved over the years from plain looking designs with few graphics and little attract fully interactive eCommerce sites using the latest in graphic design and programming technologies. The periods of simple layouts and fashions are pretty much done with as competition increases and much more merchants are attempting to improve the look, feel and usability of these eCommerce designs. Now it is more widespread to see gradient graphics, more selections for shoppers, features surrounding customers, better layouts, faster load time, videos, more payment options and far much more. New age eCommerce design is about being creative and original, just about anything that can be though of may be accomplished using current eCommerce design technology to have an eCommerce business.

eCommerce Design Methods & Features:

eCommerce design today typically includes several unique features or elements and can be performed using a variety of popular web design methods. A database, shopping cart software, ability to accept payments, security certificate, products, policies and more are all common eCommerce design features. There are also eCommerce design and shopping cart application process best practices that can increase the risk for task of knowing how to style and eCommerce site easier. Popular methods of eCommerce design include using HTML (and stem languages), ASP, ASP.net, PHP, CSS, Ajax, JavaScript, XML among others. Popular methods for creating eCommerce graphics include using Photoshop, Flash as well as other graphics or video programs.
Which are the Benefits of eCommerce Web Design?

Allows for Faster, Easier, Efficient Discovery:

A web-based business’ ability to be discovered by shoppers, current customers and search engines is extremely important for merchants who aspire to grow their eCommerce adventure into a success. Quality eCommerce design allows for quicker, easier, more efficient discovery by consumers or search engine bots. By using eCommerce design guidelines and following certain usability guidelines, you’ll find that the discovery process will nearly look after itself, meaning the merchant could have little to no maintenance down the road. The faster, easier and more efficient you can make your processes of discovery the faster your organization will grow to the next stage. For optimum results, keep improving, keep testing and constantly refine your designs.

Potential to Improve Accessibility:

Having an online business that is easy to discover is just part of the formula within eCommerce design. Additionally, merchants will need a store which is accessible to their shoppers, existing customers and also search engines. Accessibility is a major factor when making and implementing a site, if users and search engines cannot access Your entire important pages you will find that it may dwindle your chances of success or at the very least slows down chances you would have experienced if the store was originally constructed with accessibility best practices in mind. Use hyper links as opposed to image links, utilize a sitemap, keep track of indexed pages and link your website together in an organized, straightforward, easy to use way. Make sure that pages that lie deeper inside the site can be accessed from pages higher in the site and the other way around. Making your business site more accessible in the beginning will save the merchant long, hassle and re-designing in the end.

Possible ways to Improve Usability:
Using quality eCommerce design methods won’t make your site easier to discover and access, additionally, it may potentially improve how shoppers, current customers and check engine use the site. The way a site is built can hinder how users interact and make use of the site. If you put up features that become roadblocks, the site will become less usable. If you put up features that are made with usability best practices in mind you will find that shoppers will be happy with their experience, customers will return and appearance engines will give you the placement you deserve of their listings. Many merchants don’t know that the way in which a site was created can actually make or break the sites usability ultimately. Study what users within your niche want, give it to them to make it easy to understand, within a visible location which is easy for anyone to use.

Simpler to Maintain Over Time:
If an eCommerce design is performed correctly from the very beginning, it’ll make the task of design maintenance easier over time. Typically, merchants must update their site regularly anyway, but using design recommendations from the start will make you updates more uncommon and easier to implement. not only this, but whenever new eCommerce design guidelines are discovered, viewers it takes you less time and less steps to catch up with those, giving you more time to actually run the business enterprise, manage customers, products and things like marketing strategies or promotions. Simply speaking, make your site easy to discover, make it accessible to users and make it usable to anybody who may eventually land on your page. In the end, you’ll reduce expenses time updating and maintaining your website than others who were not aware, ignored or didn’t pay attention during the design and implementation phase with the business.

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