Ecommerce: How It Works - Part One

So let's take ecommerce and make it three-dimensional and relate it to a retail store. This will help take all the technical bits and give them real-world application.

Before you get the physical space to open the store you get a business licence and incorporation. This would be similar to domain registration. The name you choose, like the name of your business, should be a good reflection of who you are and/or what you do.

Now that you have the name (domain) you need a store to attach it to. This is why any purchase of service through our site begins with asking if you are transferring or buying a domain.

Choosing a store requires you to know how much space you need, can afford and what services and amenities it has. You also then decide if you need to renovate or add new functions to suit your business. This is the same as choosing your hosting package. This is the physical space your "store" occupies. The size and features are offered in packages but you can add on or upgrade any package to suit your needs.

Now that you have your name and space, you need to create a store that meets your customers needs and expectations. You have to think about signage (marketing) and layout and atmosphere. You have to think about how you display your merchandise, the flow of the store (can customers move around the displays?) and the sales areas. This all is the same when you start designing your website. The most important person is your end visitor. You are building this site to welcome and inform them, to allow them to shop with ease then pay for their purchases safely, easily, and with confidence. Your website should be easy to find, easy to use and easy to get back to. Choosing a designer that can convey these principles is important. The look and feel is secondary to form and function. Ecommerce Continued >