E-commerce Shopping Cart: Licensed or Hosted?

Products or services that are sold over the internet and other computer systems are known as electronic commerce or simply E-commerce. It also facilitates data exchange during any online transactions over the website, which makes the exchange of data over the Internet a sensitive process.With the ubiquitous presence of the Internet in our homes and other public facilities, e-commerce is also spreading.

In order to assure clients that their personal data is secure when purchasing from their websites, merchants use various types of an E-commerce shopping cart software. An e-commerce shopping cart is similar to a shopping cart or shopping basket, only it is a software that interfaces between the merchant’s website and its infrastructure that allows clients to select, review, and ultimately purchase merchandise.

E-commerce websites prefer to have an integrated e-commerce shopping cart software for data security and for increased profitability. Experts have observed that clients who feel threatened over the security of their data when purchasing online usually discontinue the process. Thus, e-commerce sites take their e-commerce shopping cart software seriously. Merchants can opt to use a licensed shopping cart software or the hosted version.

A licensed e-commerce shopping cart software usually requires a one-time fee upon download and installation. Because the business owners own a license, they can use any web server with the correct requirements to host the shopping cart. At the same time, they can edit and customize the application. On the other hand, a hosted version may require a monthly or annual payment or even an additional percentage charge based on the sales to the service provider that hosts website. This version has limited customization because it already has templates that users can choose from. However, they are assured that the providers keep updating the software for security purposes as well as for new features.

Whether licensed or hosted, merchants using any type of e-commerce shopping carts must comply with the VISA regulations that govern the Payment Card Industry (PCI). These regulations are monitored and developed by the major providers in the payment industry such as Visa Inc.

Online Marketing: Are You In or Out?

The existence of the Internet has given entrepreneurs many opportunities to promote their products or services through online marketing. It is a growing trend in the business world. So, why should you be in on this trend? Getting on board the online marketing wagon allows you to access a broader target market but with specific interests or behaviors. It does not rely on expecting certain customers to be interested, it knows the interests or behaviors of the target audience. Thus, you will not be wasting your financial resources on purchasing ads that may not even be seen by your target market.

Using online marketing brings your products or services to a global audience. The internet allows real time interactions so you can immediately elicit responses from your prospective clients and at the same time provide your responses to them in an instant. This highly interactive nature of the internet can be very rewarding to you and your clients. So, why are you still not in on this lucrative trend?

Online marketing can let you know which of your marketing campaigns are effective or not to your target market. This is tracked by using methods such as pay per action or pay per click. It is an inexpensive promotional platform when the cost of the campaign is compared against the scope of the audience. Although, some buyers may feel limited due to their inability to try the products, online marketing can still produce quick results because customers can decide to purchase or gather more information at their convenience.

Online marketing brings together the technical and creative nature of the internet such as sales, development, and design. But, its scope is broad because it not only means marketing through the internet. It also covers marketing using email and management of digital customer data. As with other marketing strategies, online marketing must be done consistently in order to get quantifiable results. In order to get your desired results, you will need to create an online marketing plan, and consistently implement it in order to generate traffic to your site and gain more customers. Take advantage of this strategy and get ahead of your competitors!