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Choosing an Online Shopping Cart
for your Online Business |
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Online Shopping Carts -
Shopping Cart Programs
By Nick Hunter
Online Shopping Carts
have become more dynamic and effective over the years. However, there are some
that suffer from poor functionality, compatibility, and effectiveness.
There are sources of
information on cart programs, but this will break it down for you so you
absolutely choose the right one. Once you install a cart program into your
website, it can be complicated and time consuming to switch it later.
If you can allow me to be
"basic" here for a minute: A shopping cart program is installed on a secure
server to work within your website or connected to your website using a secure
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The online cart will allow
customers to choose products that they wish to buy. Once the customer is ready
to "Check Out" and buy, the cart then sends the information to your merchant and
processor, so the payment can be processed. Having an online Internet cart that
is compatible with processors such as Versign or whoever you choose to process
your credit card orders is vital.
Things to consider with online shopping carts:
- The compatibility
Do you want to offer an
affiliate program, so other sites can send traffic to your website and you can
pay them a commission? Not every shopping cart can handle that integration. You
don't want an online cart installed and "put live", only to realize later that
it does not integrate with your favorite affiliate software program.
Online credit card
processors must be compatible to your cart software. If you stick with the top
companies, this should not be a problem - but you must ask: "Is your cart
program compatible with xxxx processor?"
- Who are their other
customers?
Most established cart
software companies will have a list of sample customers. This is very helpful in
your decision making for several reasons.
One: you want to see how
the cart functions "live". Do you like the look of the screens (you can usually
change the colors to suit your site), the speed - although that depends on the
server, graphics, scripts and other things that may be slowing the site down,
separate from the cart.
Two: Seeing the customer
sites that use the online cart can also tell you how successful the cart company
is. You want to try to make sure this company has enough clients. It is very
important that this company is established, successful and has a track record.
This is a major integration and you don't want to have to do this all over
again. If the cart program company goes out of business for any reason, you'll
have to do the whole thing over!
- See a demo
You want to be the
customer when viewing an online demo of the cart. You also want to see how easy
it is to log in, make changes, add products, download orders and get reports.
Never purchase a cart without seeing it live.
- Features
Do you get an email when
an order is placed? Does the customer get a timely email? Can it be integrated
with UPS or other shipping companies? Does it allow for state-by-state sales
tax? Make a list of things you would need.
- Live support
Most companies have email
support and that is good, but "live support", especially in the first 30 or 60
days is very important. Most established shopping cart companies will install
the cart software for you and test it. Before or after the installation, website
owners will need assistance. Even the most experienced webmasters incur issues
and being able to reach someone in those times of need is very helpful. It is a
deal maker or breaker for me. I want human beings!
- Price
Always a factor, right?
Well, don't let it be too big a factor here. Price is more of a concern when it
includes monthly fees. Some companies will offer a cheaper sign up, but have
monthly charges like a hosting company. I try to avoid these arrangements. I'd
rather pay $400 and it's mine, than $100 set up and $25 or $50 a month. It is
almost always better to buy the cart outright. I'd also rather pay a little
more, knowing some of that money is going towards support staff and upgrades.
- Upgrades and
enhancements
Are they free? Does the
cart license allow you to use it for other domains?
Like I said earlier, the
choices have never been broader, but choices can bring confusion. The good part
is almost all of the online cart programs have demos that you can play with and
you'll know the right one for you. Don't be cheap and make sure you can call
someone when you have problems.
Best of luck to you with
your online business!
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About The Author
Nick Hunter is a marketing
specialist and the President of American Investment Training (AIT). He also
writes for
runawebbusiness.com - a website dedicated to operating an Internet business.
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