| Choosing the best shopping cart solutions for your | | | | carts is that the software is attached to an email |
| launch into ecommerce is critical to the success of | | | | sent to the customer after a successful |
| your online business. If you're wanting to learn | | | | transaction. This may be suitable for very small |
| more about this sometimes confusing world, this | | | | files, but I don't think many ISP's would appreciate |
| guide will explain the points you should consider | | | | you sending 20 megabyte attachments to a |
| before purchasing a cart. | | | | customers inbox - in fact, it would not be possible |
| If you're currently in the market for software or | | | | in many instances. |
| services and would like our recommendations, | | | | Where will my business be in 6 months time? |
| Please check our NextAge Shopping Cart | | | | Does the package allow for scalability? While you |
| software at . They have a Powerful SEO | | | | may not require bells and buzzers now, as your |
| Shopping Cart Script | | | | business grows you may find that your needs |
| What is a shopping cart? | | | | change. The better shopping carts are in a |
| In a basic definition, it's a series of scripts that | | | | modular format which allow for scalability with |
| keep track of items a visitor picks to buy from | | | | minimum downtime. Be sure to check the prices |
| your site until they proceed to the "checkout". A | | | | of modules you may need in the future. It isn't |
| popular misconception is that shopping carts | | | | uncommon for companies is to offer the base |
| handle the whole financial transaction, but they | | | | model for next to nothing and then to charge like |
| only really act as a front end which passes | | | | wounded bulls for any upgrades. |
| information via a secure connection (another | | | | Is the cart software compatible with my |
| service) to a payment gateway - a separate | | | | payment gateway? |
| service altogether. | | | | There are dozens of different payment gateways |
| The payment gateway service then channels the | | | | which plug into various shopping cart packages - |
| requests and transfers throughout relevant | | | | but perhaps not yours! Before purchasing your |
| financial networks, including the Internet merchant | | | | cart, also review gateway services supported by |
| account with your bank. It then sends back | | | | the software (and also make sure that the |
| confirmation or denial back to the shopping cart | | | | payment gateway is compatible with the Internet |
| software. For further information on the | | | | merchant account you have with your bank). It |
| "back-end" aspects of ecommerce; The good | | | | can be a bit of a challenge getting the cart you |
| news is that there are literally hundreds of | | | | want to talk to the gateway service you want |
| shopping cart packages available. The bad news is | | | | and also to your bank! Read our guide to |
| the same as the good. Sometimes, too many | | | | What kind of payments are supported by the |
| choices make it very difficult to make a decision - | | | | cart? |
| especially when all companies claim to have the | | | | Credit card transactions are now a normal part of |
| superior product. I recently experienced this | | | | our online world. If your shopping cart software |
| challenge by reviewing over 130 shopping cart | | | | does not support credit card transactions or if |
| programs. I hope this article may make your life | | | | you have not enabled credit card processing, |
| just a little bit easier! | | | | you're in trouble - you may as well just close up |
| Free or premium shopping carts? | | | | shop! |
| It's very important before you begin reviewing | | | | There are still some customers who will refuse to |
| software and services to be to be very specific | | | | use a credit card over the Internet, so you will |
| in what you actually want the cart to be able to | | | | need to be able to offer other forms of payment |
| do. It may be that you really don't require all the | | | | - e.g. money orders, echecks etc. |
| bells and buzzers offered by high end packages - | | | | What about disaster planning? |
| if this is the case, then a good package will cost | | | | A good shopping cart application will have excellent |
| around the $US150 mark. Some companies offer | | | | support for backing up files and allowing for |
| free shopping carts, but bear in mind that nothing | | | | export into a variety of formats. Flexible |
| in this world is truly free - read the fine print. | | | | exporting functions will also be of value in the |
| Free ecommerce solutions | | | | future should you need to change carts and wish |
| One of the best free ecommerce solutions | | | | to import existing data into a new application. If |
| around is Paypal, which integrates basic shopping | | | | you're currently in the market for software or |
| cart functions with a payment gateway and | | | | services and would like our recommendations, |
| merchant account - funds are paid to you via | | | | Please check our NextAge Shopping Cart |
| check or through direct deposit. Paypal is an | | | | software at . They have a Powerful SEO |
| excellent way to begin in ecommerce and is very | | | | Shopping Cart Script |
| widely accepted around the world. | | | | What level of support will I need and receive? |
| You only pay a small percentage of each sale and | | | | All shopping cart providers will tell you that their |
| there are no monthly fees or setup costs, plus | | | | software is simple to install and configure. Few will |
| you receive free fraud protection - no | | | | be actually correct in making that statement. If |
| chargeback fees to worry about. Paypal also | | | | you don't have the technical expertise to |
| offers web developers a wide variety of easy to | | | | configure your shopping cart, get quotes from the |
| use tools to assist with rapid implementation. | | | | company or a third party contractor to undertake |
| What other features do shopping carts have? | | | | this work for you. |
| Shopping cart software has come a long way in | | | | Test out the support system by sending a query |
| recent years, and many packages are so | | | | to the sales department - if they don't respond |
| advanced that they are in effect entire store | | | | quickly this is usually a good indicator that after |
| fronts. Some integrated elements of benefit to | | | | sales support will be even worse! |
| your online business you may wish to consider | | | | Also, read the fine print before parting with your |
| include: | | | | hard earned cash - you may find that technical |
| Suggest sell/cross selling functions | | | | support will be charged out per incident. |
| Just as in the physical world, impulse buying via | | | | Some shopping cart software companies also |
| the Internet is quite common. Some shopping | | | | offer user forums as part of their service. This is |
| carts will suggest another product to complement | | | | an excellent bonus. If you are having problems |
| a customers current selection. If offered at a | | | | with setting up your scripts, no doubt someone |
| discount rate, this strategy proves quite | | | | else has experienced the same issues and may |
| successful. | | | | be willing to help you out. |
| Quantity discounts/coupons | | | | Be sure to review the company's "bug" policy; i.e. |
| Many shopping carts now allow for the calculation | | | | if a error in the software is fixed and an updated |
| of discount rates based on the number of units a | | | | version is released, will you be entitled to recieve |
| customer wishes to purchase. Coupon functions | | | | that upgrade or patch at no cost. |
| allow you to issue special offers as part of your | | | | While I am all for supporting the solo |
| marketing campaigns. Usually, prospective clients | | | | programmers, a shopping cart is so crucial that it |
| are given special codes that are matched against | | | | may not be wise to purchase a product from a |
| a particular item or overall discount rate. | | | | one-man operation as customer support may not |
| Autoresponders | | | | be efficient. If you're currently in the market for |
| If you follow up all your clients with regular email | | | | software or services and would like our |
| offers, you may want to consider shopping cart | | | | recommendations, Please check our NextAge |
| software that has integrated autoresponder | | | | Shopping Cart software at . They have a |
| capabilities - this will streamline your operations | | | | Powerful SEO Shopping Cart Script |
| and can be used for maintaining other contact lists | | | | Remotely or locally hosted shopping cart? |
| as well. Why buy two pieces of software when | | | | Some shopping cart programs can be purchased |
| you can get them rolled into one? | | | | as stand alone programs or as pay per month |
| Affiliate modules | | | | services hosted on another companies' server. |
| One of the most effective, low cost ways to | | | | Remotely hosted options usually allow for |
| advertise your product is through an affiliate | | | | extensive customization of pages to fit in with |
| program. Your outlay is minimal if you only pay on | | | | your sites look and feel. |
| performance; i.e. sales generated. An affiliate | | | | Remote hosting advantages |
| module can handle the signup process, provide | | | | Fast implementation, secure connection supplied, |
| statistics, streamline communications and keep | | | | monitoring of service and usually many other |
| track of payments to be made to affiliates. | | | | features are offered as part of the service. |
| Other features commonly incorporated into carts | | | | Because the cart is actually hosted on another |
| include inventory tracking, sales tax calculation and | | | | server, you can also save on bandwidth charges - |
| stationery creation/management. | | | | especially if your products are soft goods and |
| There's a number of questions you'll want to ask | | | | delivered online. |
| yourself when compiling a shopping cart wish list: | | | | Some remotely hosted shopping carts are in |
| What kind of shopping cart does my hosting | | | | effect total marketing solutions, containing options |
| service support? | | | | to run affiliate programs and the ability to send |
| Shopping cart scripts are written in many | | | | sequential pre-defined messages to clients and |
| different coding formats - PERL, PHP, ASP just to | | | | leads. Some of these services are excellent for |
| name a few. Be sure to check with your host | | | | people 'testing the water' as they also include |
| before purchasing a program. If you're currently in | | | | gateway services and even an Internet merchant |
| the market for software or services and would | | | | account! |
| like our recommendations, Please check our | | | | If you are looking for features without needing to |
| NextAge Shopping Cart software at . They have | | | | spending thousands of dollars up front, remotely |
| a Powerful SEO Shopping Cart Script | | | | hosted may be the way to go. Plan on spending |
| What is my budget? | | | | at least US$60 per month for these kinds of |
| It's easy to blow your budget on a turbo-charged | | | | services. Compare prices carefully - I have seen |
| shopping cart only to find that there were a | | | | one company charge US$200 a month for the |
| number of other critical items you didn't factor in | | | | same service provided by another for $US59 per |
| - like a payment gateway, or the fact that the | | | | month. Remember, this added recurring expense |
| cart software may be so complex that you need | | | | will need to be taken into account when |
| to hire somebody else to assist in implementation! | | | | establishing a price level for your products and |
| What kind of delivery mechanisms will I require? | | | | services. |
| If you are selling hard goods that need shipping, | | | | Remote hosting disadvantages |
| choice of cart is a little easier as this is a standard | | | | What happens if the company goes belly up |
| function. Many carts also offer customers the | | | | overnight? Remote hosting also tends to give you |
| ability to calculate different shipping options. If you | | | | less control over how cart pages display. If you |
| are trading in soft goods such as software and | | | | are going to use a remotely hosted service, |
| want to make delivery available online | | | | check the company history carefully. Some |
| immediately, you'll need to carefully compare | | | | operators have also been known to 'harvest' your |
| carts. | | | | client databases for spamming purposes. |
| As an example, some shopping carts that are | | | | Local hosting advantages |
| capable of delivering goods online redirect | | | | Total control over the software, no ongoing fees. |
| customers to a static download page after a | | | | Local hosting disadvantages |
| successful transaction. This isn't a good idea as | | | | Time spent in installation, configuration and |
| the customer (and his/her friends) are able to | | | | maintenance, greater initial outlay, requires SSL |
| return to the page to download again and again. A | | | | (Secure Sockets Layer) to be enabled on your |
| better equipped shopping cart will only provide | | | | site which usually incurs an extra charge per |
| customers with a temporary URL, that will be | | | | month. |
| unique to that customer and may only be | | | | As you can see, there is a lot to consider before |
| available for a few hours after purchase before it | | | | purchasing shopping cart software or services. It |
| is deleted. | | | | is very important to remember that the shopping |
| Another strategy employed by some carts for | | | | cart is only one part of your ecommerce arsenal. |
| soft goods online delivery is to use a static URL | | | | Without an effective payment gateway and |
| for downloading, but scripting is implemented to | | | | Internet merchant account (sometimes these are |
| ensure the visitor to the page has come via the | | | | combined), the cart is useless. |
| shopping cart after a successful transaction has | | | | Don't rush your decision to purchase based on |
| occurred. | | | | marketing hype - the future of your business is |
| Yet another soft goods delivery means used by | | | | at stake! |