E-Commerce or Shopping cart web sites can be simple or complex. Simple sites selling a few items are not the subject of this post. They are relatively simple and should cost little to no more than a brochure style website. (Yes, nobody knows if it is “web site” or “website” as far as I can tell.)
Complex shopping cart sites are similar to setting up a physical store. You have to count your inventory, price all your products, create a place for them to be displayed, get a payment system in place, get a security system in place and then market your product(s). It is like a second physical location.
People we run into often times feel the web is easier than the physical world. In some cases it is more difficult to establish a business on the web than a store front. Here is a list of questions we ask people before they enter this highly competitive market.
1. Is your product unique or do other people sell it?
2. If it is not unique have you compared your prices to those on Ebay.com & Google Shopping?
3. How many items and variables do you intend to place in your shopping cart? This includes quantity variables, size variables etc.
a. Are there going to be various shipping options based on Zip Code or will it be flat rate?
b. Does your state require you to charge tax when selling within the state? (Most out of state transactions do not require you to pay the tax)
4. Are you doing drop shipments from a manufacturer that does not sell direct?
5. Would you be interested in loading your own shopping cart items if you were shown how to do it?
6. Do you currently accept credit cards at a place of business or do you need a credit card gateway provider?
7. Is your product sold seasonally or year round?
8. Is your product to be sold in a geographic region or globally?
9. Have you budgeted for this particular project?
After you answer these questions you can decide if you still want to proceed. You may wonder if we try to discourage people. It is not that at all. We simply want successful clients and happy customers. If you are making a mistake we certainly do not want to take your hard earned money for nothing. I know it is hard to believe there is a company that still cares more about you than the almighty dollar, but it is true.
If you still want to proceed feel free to give us a call or use the Comment section of this blog post.
