Shopping and Ecommerce

March 14, 2009

Beat the Holiday Rush by Shopping Online

Filed under: Shopping — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 1:20 pm
Shopping
Aditi Miscall asked:


Shopping online during the holidays is quickly becoming one of the most popular options for shoppers. Although many shoppers still enjoy the hustle and bustle of doing their holiday shopping in traditional stores and may also enjoy the festive decorations festooning stores during the holiday season, many shoppers are glad to have the option to do at least part of their holiday shopping online. This is because there are a myriad of benefits to shopping online during the holiday season. Two of the most common benefits include the ability to do last minute shopping online and the convenience of avoiding overcrowded stores during the holiday season. This article will discuss these two advantages in greater detail and will also provide information on some of the other advantages to online shopping which are also important to holiday shoppers.



Last Minute Shopping for Holiday Gifts

Although there are some shoppers who are well prepared and do their holiday shopping in advance, many shoppers find themselves scrambling to purchase gifts at the last minute. These last minute shoppers far outnumber the well organized individuals who complete their holiday shopping months in advance. This category also includes not only chronic procrastinators who put off holiday shopping until the last minute but also includes well intentioned shoppers who were caught by surprise with a need to purchase gifts for a few extra people at the last minute. Fortunately for these last minute shoppers, online shopping take a great deal of the stress out of last minute shopping.

One of the greatest benefits of last minute shopping is the ability to ship gifts to friends and relatives. The available shipping options may even make it possible for shoppers to have these gifts arrive within 24 hours after making the purchase. Shoppers may pay a premium for these express shipping services but it can be a worthwhile investment for last minute shoppers who would otherwise be caught empty handed.

Avoiding Holiday Crowds by Shopping Online

The crowds at traditional stores can unbelievable during the holiday season. Finding a parking space often becomes a stressful situation and simply navigating stores can be chaotic. While some shoppers thrive in this type of environment most shoppers find this to be stressful. Furthermore some shoppers may enjoy this type of environment for brief periods of time but may have difficulty completing their holiday shopping with so much chaos surrounding them. Fortunately, online shopping provides a welcomed escape to much of the shopping chaos of traditional stores.

Online shoppers can shop when it is most convenient for them and typically the most troubling crowd related problems they experience is slow loading of websites which are overloaded by website visitors. Waiting for a few extra moments for a website to reload may be somewhat frustrating but it is significantly less stressful than standing in line at a crowded store for long periods of time.



Added Benefits to Shopping Online During the Holidays

There are also other benefits to shopping online during the holidays which do not necessarily pertain to the holiday season but certainly simplify the process of shopping online for holiday gifts. One of these benefits is the ability to comparison shop with ease. When shopping online comparison shopping is as easy as opening two different websites from competitors and comparing the products they have available and the prices they are charging for these products. This is much simpler than running around from one store to another to find out which stores have a particular item available and how much each store is currently charging for this item.

Another benefit to shopping online is the ability to purchase items from stores located far away. Holiday shoppers who limit themselves to traditional stores are also limiting the products which are available to them. These traditional shoppers can only purchase items which they physically find in a store while online shoppers can search stores around the world for a particular item. This can be particular useful for shoppers who are looking for a specific item which is hard to locate.



Online Shopping in India: in Trend These Days

Filed under: Gifts — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 11:00 am
Shopping
Raisa Raima asked:


 

Online shopping in India is increasingly becoming popular as in the other parts of the world. Everyone wants to shop from the comfort of his home and thus saves his time and money. Convenience is what we look for. If we talk about online shopping, we can get complete freedom when we go online. We can take our own time to research about the features and read reviews. We can even compare a variety of products based on their price and specifications.

Going online lets you search any type of information. By going online, one can book airline tickets, buy movie tickets, pay their bills, book their favourite restaurants and lots more.

The online shopping stores give a variety of choices to the customers. This mode of shopping allows safe and secure payments. The various deals and offers available online can help the customers get the products at a low price when compared to a street store. This way your shopping experience not only becomes comfortable but also exciting.

Earlier, one had no choice but to shop at the traditional markets to buy products. These market had limited choices and sometimes the customers were unsatisfied with the variety of brands available there. But with the coming of online market, people have actually started enjoying shopping online. They are overwhelmed by the fact that they can shop while sitting at their homes without having to go all the way to stores.

There are many advantages you get while online shopping in India. If you wish to buy a gift for your loved one, you can get a variety of choices online. The wide number of brands give you a variety of choice. One can select the product as per his demand. Offers like cash backs, discounts, special gifts are luring the customers. The fact that you get numerous options to buy products at discounted rates which make you feel excited. Consumers are trying to buy more and more products online. The categories of products available online include music, books, jewellery, gifts and lots more. So, whichever product you are looking for, it is just a click away from you.

When we count the advantages of online shopping portals, they include:

Consumers can shop any time they wish to

One can compare prices and features with other products

The user can take his own time to research

Read reviews written by other customers

The variety of online shopping India stores has been designed to meet the shopping needs of the consumers. The development of internet has made all this possible. The various benefits which the customer gets are incredible. There are companies which are providing an array of products promoting over the Internet.

With the availability of a large number of online stores, the users can easily compare prices and then make a wise decision. When you go online, you can read customers’ reviews are based on their personal experiences. This way you can select the right product for your needs.

The immense benefits offered by the shopping portals has made our lives full of comfort and luxury. Just explore the shopping websites and start your purchase. Shopping was never easier take the best benefit from these shops. Select from the large collection of brands and products and get the lowest price around. Online shopping is creating waves and catching up at a fast pace. So, start shopping and you would be so amazed by it that you’ll use it again and again.

No doubt, it is the most preferred mode of shopping which offers amazing benefits. With India entering into the world of online shopping, it can be concluded that it is competing strongly with the other countries.



Discount Shopping Online.is it for You?

Filed under: Home And Family — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 8:53 am
Shopping
Chuck Arnone asked:


To make sure that you have an easy time discount shopping online, all measures for security are taken. First, it is important to be safe when you are looking for discount shopping online. Another important tip for security while discount shopping online is that you should never send any of your personal info via email. If you are not just looking for discount shopping online but looking for the top quality product available, then online shopping can help you here too. You might find you can save money by trying to find one of the larger discount shopping online sites as even if they don’t have the cheapest price you can save money on shipping by buying several items at the one site.

Products

Search for thousands of products online to find the best price. The secret shoppers find the best discounts for consumer items. Products like electronics, computers, jewelry, and more are just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to high quality products and even designer brands, you can normally find them all online and in most cases at a discounted price. If you’re trying to find unique gift ideas for a friend or loved one, you can get great bargains and products by discount shopping at an online gift store. Shop with confidence, huge selection of brand-name products from well chosen trusted and secure online stores. So,those who are discount shopping for these products can browse through all the categories at one central location when visiting an online shopping center mall.

Save

Shop, Compare and save on thousands of items everyday from electronics to shoes and more. 80% is not an uncommon savings off retail prices. Save on diamonds, gold, silver and gemstone jewelry. Shop & Save …the only way to shop. Discount shopping is fun because you save money and it almost becomes a challenge to see how much money you can save.

Travel

In fact many of our members would NEVER get involved in a network marketing opportunity, but because of the value in our products and the powerful ways you can save money on dining, travel, shopping, recreation, and lots more, it’s a no brainer. Promotional discount codes for online shopping at hundreds of retailers, travel companies, and consumer services. Your choices are unlimited when it comes to travel sites which leads to better savings. Discount shopping online is a great way to keep money in your checkbook and still be able to purchase a few luxuries. Money can be saved when online sources are used. When you shop online for gifts, you are saving valuable time because you don’t have to shop around from store to store. With thousands of online stores and discounts available from the comfort of your own home, youll wonder why you didnt start discount shopping online sooner.

Foods

The gourmet and specialty foods market is booming across the country. There are incredible gourmet foods that never make it into food shopsthe best smoked hams, amazing cookies and other productsbut how do you find them. Gourmet foods, exclusive services, pampering, luxury goods, glamorous gifts&&&the finer things in life. Artisan dairy products: artisanal butter, farmstead and artisanal cheeses and gourmet yogurt. Gourmet sweets and desserts: cake, cookies and brownies, candy, fudge and the very best chocolate, plus ice cream, pies and dessert sauces and toppings. Gourmet oil and vinegar: balsamic vinegar, other gourmet vinegars, olive oil, nut oil and other fine oils. Your tastebuds will enjoy anything you want fromseafood to hors d’oeuvres. Snacks: potato chips, pretzels and popcorn. Specialty Gourmet Areas: Diet Gourmet Food, Kosher Gourmet Food and Organic Gourmet Food, including health and wellness foods, and Kids’ Food Luxury Foods: caviar, foie gras, fine seafood including lobster, shrimp and smoked salmon. Figuring out where you’ll get the best and freshest foods at the lowest price is a matter of understanding the market, in particular, understanding how the wholesale beverage and food distributors work. Sources for gourmet business gifts, baskets and gourmet foods can be found at specialty food stores.



Shopping Cart Technology Limitations and Moving/pushing Product Catalog Data to Shopping Comparison Sites and Marketplaces: 5 Q & A’ to Help

Filed under: Ecommerce — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 7:50 am
Shopping
Chip Arndt asked:


As EVP at MerchantAdvantage, one of my responsibilities is to analyze multiple shopping cart technologies before integrating storefront data into our Channel Management system.

This is an essential process as it ensures that an online merchant’s data is compliant with our data transport system from which we easily distribute data into various marketing channels, such as shopping comparison sites, comparison shopping engines, marketplaces, such as Amazon, Shop.com and Underbid, and other unique marketing channels such as m-commerce sites, such as iSave.com, mPoria.com, mShopper.com, and review and coupon sites, such as PowerReviews.com and MyCoupons.com.

As I do this, I have established 3 points of analysis to make the process as reliable as possible. As technology changes, and new marketing outlets emerge, I think it is important for each merchant to look at their shopping cart infrastructure and analyze the ease of portability of their data into other systems in order to keep ongoing marketing integration “surprise-less”.

Merchants should perform this type of analysis in between the busy season; let’s say before or after March – ergo after the holiday season and before the summer rush. My suggestion is that a technical person should compile a list of questions to ask their shopping cart vendor, in order to ensure that the online merchant fully understands the “power” and “limitations” of their shopping cart technology and how it allows the online merchant to utilize many other software technologies to help the online merchant grow their business.

To begin, here are some definitions to consider – just so we understand each other.

Portability: A shopping cart’s capacity to integrate into a totally disparate system without losing product data impact.

Data Impact: The scale of impact that product data has functioning independently within an online merchant’s or marketed outside of an online merchant’s website. Product data contained within a an individual shopping cart, and website, may have “high impact” on marketing — as product descriptions, manufacturing names, pictures, pricing, and general marketing is robust and current.

However, if incorrectly formatted and mapped to an outside “software system”, the robust product data will have a “low impact” if it is taken out of its current shopping cart technology infrastructure and put on/within a marketing. In order to maintain product data’s “high impact” it is essential to ensure that the original data is mapped to correspond to the required elements of a marketing channel. This might include updating and creating: varied coding requirements, dropping/eliminating symbols, dropping/eliminating line breaks, adding varied prices and inventories levels, changing pictures and product names, and updating marketing descriptions.

An example of something that can cause “low impact” data on marketing channels is a shopping cart’s capacity to output a “new” product file on a scheduled basis, without encoding or symbols. This type of “new and daily export” yields usable data and not blank columns, or duplicate columns, in a data feed to marketing feed, that then will be rejected.

Marketing Outlet or Channel: A separate system used to market product data and drive sales into an online merchant’s site or on another site on behalf of the online merchant.

Marketplace: A marketing channel where the purchase is made outside of the cart and orders are fulfilled by the merchant. The order may be processed by the marketplace or the merchant, but the merchant is somewhat invisible during the view and ordering process. Examples would be Amazon.com, Shop.com, and Underbid.com.

CSE: Comparison Shopping Engine, a.k.a. Comparison Shopping site. This is a marketing channel where the goal is to drive a consumer back to your shopping cart to complete the purchase there. CSEs may charge the merchant a pay-per-click pay-per-lead or commission from all sales referred by the CSE to the online merchant, such as couparison shopping sites do.

Parent /Child Relationship, Options: Many products have options associate with the product before a final purchase is made, i.e., size, color, etc. This is especially true with clothing. These options show up on web pages and the website directs the consumer to select certain options related to a product before the consumer proceeds to checkout. This is great when the purchase happens on the merchant’s website, but how does an online merchant handle all of these options when exporting data to marketing channels and having to deal with a myriad of taxonomy and mapping issues as they relate to each marketing channel?

To answer this, the online merchant must assess:

1. the origination point of the data within their shopping cart technology

2. the options available to access the date therein

3. portability issues (i.e. ease of output and export)

…ultimately forcing the online merchant to analyze how the data is stored in its rawest form in the original database.

Just because a shopping cart technology can export data does not mean that that data is exported in the “form” that you need it exported. For instance, some shopping cart technologies export feature creates new line items for each option; some may create a field with every possible color/size possibility, while others do not.

Essentially shopping cart technologies, while trying to “play well with other,” simply do not and export features inherent in many shopping cart technologies are not designed to sync easily with the many requirements that are essential to working with marketing channels.

This lack of syncing of data is why we created MerchantAdvantage – to make the communication between systems seamless – and is the NUMBER ONE BREAKING POINT for online merchants to work with, and integrate with, systems and marketing channels out side of the their shopping cart technology.

So what should an online merchant be asking themselves to work effectively and efficiently with marketing channels and other systems out side of their shopping cart technology?

Remembering the definitions I outlined above, here are the questions I ask of online merchants about their shopping cart technology before transporting their data to ensure that we have the same “highest impact” data on/within marketing channels. I would be glad to do it with any online merchant, just give us a call at MerchantAdvantage, or you can do it on your own.

5 Questions to ask about your company data & company to see if your shopping cart is portable:

1. Where will this data be used to market? Marketplaces, CSEs, other marketing channels?

2. Is there a unique identifier for each product that stays the same all of the time?

a. Is that unique number for joined products (options) referenced in all joined products (i.e., do child products reference parent – see definition above)?

3. Are there Product URLs and Image URLs? And do they work?

4. Are there encoded characters, ASCII Characters, Line-breaks, or data anomalies?

5. Can any product data export process be automated?

a. Is the location to where exports are updated and pushed to always available on the internet

b. Is the location updated on a scheduled basis that parallels your shopping cart technology cart updates and changes?

5 Questions to ask to see if your portability is optimized:

1. Is each piece of necessary data stored in separate fields or columns, i.e., manufacturer, manufacturer part number, or availability, and not all clumped together in one general description.

Special Note: Some marketing channels require this data in different orders and formatting unique to their marketing channel.

2. Are the marketing descriptions sensible and concise, containing all important data at the front of the description (within first 100 characters)?

Special Note: descriptions can be indexed/searchable and are usually trimmed to the first set of 100 characters.

3. Is the “Cost Field” present in the export?

Special Note: Adjustments to the “Pricing” and “Marketing” fields may be made at any time of the product data dispersion process.

4. Do the unique identifiers match competitors’ unique identifiers?

Special Note: Consumers will and can see your items when viewing competitors’ products on CSEs.

5. Does my data meet all of the requirements of each requested marking channel that I am trying to get/feed to?

Special Note: Each marketing channel requires different types and formats of data delivery.

Okay, now what?

My suggestions:

1. after each question has been answered and each possible point-of-failure has been addressed then you can move onto the planning and process of into which marketing channels you want to work with and feed your product catalog data.

2. You have taken the most important step of data feed integration and marketing, namely understanding what your shopping cart technology allows you to do and not to do and, most important, understanding what you need to do to make sure that you create and market the “highest impact” data to your marketing channels.

3. Integration is ready to be achieved.

Good luck and if you would like to make your life a lot simpler, give us a shout at MerchantAdvantage, we would be glad to work with you, and start feeding and having fun with over 100 marketing channels, cost effectively, with the most uptime, least surprises and zero technician’s heart attacks!!

Happy Holidays!

– Chip Arndt

chip@eTaildTail.com

chip@merchantadvantage.com



US Online Shopping Portals are Best for Shopping

Filed under: Shopping — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 7:01 am
Shopping
Matthew Watson asked:


If you have no time to go for shopping then online shopping is the best option for you. US is known for providing best goods and this is a reason why so many visitors are found searching on the US online shopping portals. We all love to buy branded clothes, sunglasses, footwear and other things. US online shopping is the best offer for people who want to buy branded things without compromising on the quality.

Looking at the demand of US products several US online shopping portals have come into the international market to serve the needs of buyers. People residing any where across the globe can shop products from US through the online shopping facility. Everything be it cosmetics, accessories, clothings, books, footwear etc are available at different US online shopping portals.

Through a simple mouse click people can now shop the most exquisite collection of products. It is the US online shopping facility that has made US shopping very easy for buyers while making them enjoy shopping. A person can now experience shopping in one go by buying all kinds of products from a single US online shopping site. Some of the shopping hubs even provide discount offers to their regular customers and sometimes complementary coupons as well.

There are number of US online shopping portals these days that encourage buyers to buy products online but a person must go for the best US online shopping portal that provides all kinds of facilities. Look for an US online shopping portal that delivers your products at your place without any delay.

So, all those who want to enhance their looks must go for US online shopping and buy the most happening stuffs for themselves. Buying products through US shopping portals will surely be a good experience for buyers. So, experience US online shopping to maximum while buying goods.



Comparison Shopping Benefits!

Filed under: Shopping — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 6:46 am
Shopping
Ken Wilson asked:


Gone are the days when you prepared yourself with patience and cash to go out on a shopping spree. In today’s modern world, we have found much more convenient ways to fulfill our shopping needs, having the Internet technology to thank for that. The advent of this technology has led to an unbelievable growth of online shopping, a lot of people preferring to use the Internet for such purposes. The industry of e-shopping has developed to the extent that we can buy anything we like from the Internet, benefiting from the most incredible prices and additional discounts.

It is hard to say when did online shopping started to gain so much influence but today we certainly cannot do without it. With just one single click, you can browse through a wide variety of products, ranging from appliances, clothing, computers and jewelry. Apart from the diversity offered, there is one other interesting aspect brought on by the development of e-shopping, meaning the shopping engine. There you can check out all the categories, comparing all of your options and making sure that you took the right decision. One of the essential things of online shopping is to be aware of having purchased a product that speaks of high-quality and that also has an affordable price.

And if you are wondering what are the advantages of comparison shopping, then you should know that there are more than you can imagine. Ever since the first virtual shop opened its gates, consumers were dazzled with the variety of products and offers. They are not sure where to find the best products and also the best price. Comparison shopping has come as an important resource, helping consumers to take improved purchasing decisions and increased the popularity of online shopping even more. The online market is extremely competitive and customers need to know where to find the most affordable products, not to mention a reliable shopping engine. The need to be informed came with the appearance of online shopping and it must be fulfilled no matter the costs.

A shopping engine can grant access to products from diverse categories, along with their price and detailed descriptions. Comparison shopping has the main benefit of rewarding consumers with multiple choices, allowing them to examine the same product under different producers. They can check the product details, its accessibility and also the opinions of others who have purchased the exact same products. In general, they can make sure that the money they pay represents the value of the product bought.

Shopping has evolved a lot in the past few years, especially since the introduction of virtual shopping sites and the development of comparison shopping. We do not have to settle for the first and most obvious choice any more, having the possibility to search for the product we want and choose the most convenient one. A shopping engine can offer both the lowest price and the best value, allowing us to perform our daily shopping right from the comfort of our own homes, sitting in front of the computer and benefiting the most from this technology. Orders are placed quite easily and they are completely secure, the consumer benefiting sometimes from free shipping or really low shipping taxes. Is the Internet great or what?

The reason why online shopping has grown to this level is because we do not have time anymore to go around the stores and shop. We prefer to check all of our options sitting in front of the computer and use comparison shopping to compare both products and services. The Internet seems flooded with products and a shopping engine can certainly help us take better decisions. As a consumer, you do not have to search intensively for the products you want, as you are sure to find something you like quickly. The problem lies in finding the product at an affordable price and at the quality level you requested.

You may find a lot of great deals but you must not let yourself tricked by those that sound too good to be true. Always go for reliable and reputed shopping portals, allowing yourself to take pleasure in comparison shopping. Shopping is an essential activity for us as a human beings and it is even more fun when it is done on the Internet. No matter if you search for a brand new computer, the latest fashion in clothing and accessories or some really cool electronics for your home, you are bound to have a great experience when it comes to online shopping. Just go ahead and find a shopping engine to your liking!



Be a Man and Shop Online

Filed under: Clothing — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 6:11 am
Shopping
David Arrington asked:


Men’s shopping is certainly going to be a trend on online shopping. If you are a man and you want to make yourself look good then you might want to consider shopping online versus shopping at the mall. Why should you go shopping online instead of shopping at the mall? There are many reasons why you should go shopping online versus shopping at the mall and one of these is that is that there are a lot more things to find on the internet than things to find at the mall. The internet is basically a bottomless pit of products that you can buy. If you are a male and you would like to get your hands on a nice suit then maybe you are better off buying your suit over the internet versus buying your suit at the mall. What if you would like to buy sports equipment? If you want to buy your favorite Nike shoes, then you may be better off shopping online than going to the mall and looking for your shoes. Why is it better to go shopping online for your Nike shoes? You will see all the models of Nike shoes over the internet and you will be able to purchase them anytime. If you are in the mall, you are going to be restricted by the four corners of the shop. What is inside the shop is the only things that you can buy. Over the internet, the case is different. There are no walls and there are no corners. You are free to buy whatever Nike item you find in cyberspace.

Another reason why you should buy over the internet is because of the information available. There are so many product reviews online. You are going to love reading what other people think regarding a certain product. For example, men’s shopping for Nike shoes can come up in several search engines. If you want reviews on certain products then you should check out the product reviews that are available online. If you are thinking about buying the new Lebron Nike shoes then you should check out what other people have to say about the product. Will you be able to jump higher with Lebron Nike shoes? Will you be able to run faster with the Lebron Nike shoes? Are the Lebron Nike shoes capable of withstanding pressure and preventing injuries? These are the questions that you will ask and when you do online shopping, you will be able to find answers on the internet. You are not going to be lost when you have the internet as your guide. You will be able to find out whether a product is a good buy or is a bad buy. You will not be wasting your money on useless products anymore. If you want to get the best deal then you should certainly go online shopping instead of shopping at the mall. If you want to buy quality products then you should prefer shopping online over shopping at the mall. Going to the mall in today’s times is not the way to go. Go shopping online and discover a whole new world of buying products! You are going to enjoy this new way of buying products and you are going to be more satisfied as a consumer in the long run.



Shopping Cart Solutions

Filed under: Ecommerce — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 6:00 am
Shopping
Hassan_Ahmed asked:


Choosing the best shopping cart solutions for your launch into ecommerce is critical to the success of your online business. If you’re wanting to learn more about this sometimes confusing world, this guide will explain the points you should consider before purchasing a cart.

If you’re currently in the market for software or services and would like our recommendations, Please check our NextAge Shopping Cart software at http://www.nextagecart.com . They have a Powerful SEO Shopping Cart Script

What is a shopping cart?

In a basic definition, it’s a series of scripts that keep track of items a visitor picks to buy from your site until they proceed to the “checkout”. A popular misconception is that shopping carts handle the whole financial transaction, but they only really act as a front end which passes information via a secure connection (another service) to a payment gateway – a separate service altogether.

The payment gateway service then channels the requests and transfers throughout relevant financial networks, including the Internet merchant account with your bank. It then sends back confirmation or denial back to the shopping cart software. For further information on the “back-end” aspects of ecommerce; The good news is that there are literally hundreds of shopping cart packages available. The bad news is the same as the good. Sometimes, too many choices make it very difficult to make a decision – especially when all companies claim to have the superior product. I recently experienced this challenge by reviewing over 130 shopping cart programs. I hope this article may make your life just a little bit easier!

Free or premium shopping carts?

It’s very important before you begin reviewing software and services to be to be very specific in what you actually want the cart to be able to do. It may be that you really don’t require all the bells and buzzers offered by high end packages – if this is the case, then a good package will cost around the $US150 mark. Some companies offer free shopping carts, but bear in mind that nothing in this world is truly free – read the fine print.

Free ecommerce solutions

One of the best free ecommerce solutions around is Paypal, which integrates basic shopping cart functions with a payment gateway and merchant account – funds are paid to you via check or through direct deposit. Paypal is an excellent way to begin in ecommerce and is very widely accepted around the world.

You only pay a small percentage of each sale and there are no monthly fees or setup costs, plus you receive free fraud protection – no chargeback fees to worry about. Paypal also offers web developers a wide variety of easy to use tools to assist with rapid implementation.

What other features do shopping carts have?

Shopping cart software has come a long way in recent years, and many packages are so advanced that they are in effect entire store fronts. Some integrated elements of benefit to your online business you may wish to consider include:

Suggest sell/cross selling functions

Just as in the physical world, impulse buying via the Internet is quite common. Some shopping carts will suggest another product to complement a customers current selection. If offered at a discount rate, this strategy proves quite successful.

Quantity discounts/coupons

Many shopping carts now allow for the calculation of discount rates based on the number of units a customer wishes to purchase. Coupon functions allow you to issue special offers as part of your marketing campaigns. Usually, prospective clients are given special codes that are matched against a particular item or overall discount rate.

Autoresponders

If you follow up all your clients with regular email offers, you may want to consider shopping cart software that has integrated autoresponder capabilities – this will streamline your operations and can be used for maintaining other contact lists as well. Why buy two pieces of software when you can get them rolled into one?

Affiliate modules

One of the most effective, low cost ways to advertise your product is through an affiliate program. Your outlay is minimal if you only pay on performance; i.e. sales generated. An affiliate module can handle the signup process, provide statistics, streamline communications and keep track of payments to be made to affiliates.

Other features commonly incorporated into carts include inventory tracking, sales tax calculation and stationery creation/management.

There’s a number of questions you’ll want to ask yourself when compiling a shopping cart wish list:

What kind of shopping cart does my hosting service support?

Shopping cart scripts are written in many different coding formats – PERL, PHP, ASP just to name a few. Be sure to check with your host before purchasing a program. If you’re currently in the market for software or services and would like our recommendations, Please check our NextAge Shopping Cart software at http://www.nextagecart.com . They have a Powerful SEO Shopping Cart Script

What is my budget?

It’s easy to blow your budget on a turbo-charged shopping cart only to find that there were a number of other critical items you didn’t factor in – like a payment gateway, or the fact that the cart software may be so complex that you need to hire somebody else to assist in implementation!

What kind of delivery mechanisms will I require?

If you are selling hard goods that need shipping, choice of cart is a little easier as this is a standard function. Many carts also offer customers the ability to calculate different shipping options. If you are trading in soft goods such as software and want to make delivery available online immediately, you’ll need to carefully compare carts.

As an example, some shopping carts that are capable of delivering goods online redirect customers to a static download page after a successful transaction. This isn’t a good idea as the customer (and his/her friends) are able to return to the page to download again and again. A better equipped shopping cart will only provide customers with a temporary URL, that will be unique to that customer and may only be available for a few hours after purchase before it is deleted.

Another strategy employed by some carts for soft goods online delivery is to use a static URL for downloading, but scripting is implemented to ensure the visitor to the page has come via the shopping cart after a successful transaction has occurred.

Yet another soft goods delivery means used by carts is that the software is attached to an email sent to the customer after a successful transaction. This may be suitable for very small files, but I don’t think many ISP’s would appreciate you sending 20 megabyte attachments to a customers inbox – in fact, it would not be possible in many instances.

Where will my business be in 6 months time?

Does the package allow for scalability? While you may not require bells and buzzers now, as your business grows you may find that your needs change. The better shopping carts are in a modular format which allow for scalability with minimum downtime. Be sure to check the prices of modules you may need in the future. It isn’t uncommon for companies is to offer the base model for next to nothing and then to charge like wounded bulls for any upgrades.

Is the cart software compatible with my payment gateway?

There are dozens of different payment gateways which plug into various shopping cart packages – but perhaps not yours! Before purchasing your cart, also review gateway services supported by the software (and also make sure that the payment gateway is compatible with the Internet merchant account you have with your bank). It can be a bit of a challenge getting the cart you want to talk to the gateway service you want and also to your bank! Read our guide to

What kind of payments are supported by the cart?

Credit card transactions are now a normal part of our online world. If your shopping cart software does not support credit card transactions or if you have not enabled credit card processing, you’re in trouble – you may as well just close up shop!

There are still some customers who will refuse to use a credit card over the Internet, so you will need to be able to offer other forms of payment – e.g. money orders, echecks etc.

What about disaster planning?

A good shopping cart application will have excellent support for backing up files and allowing for export into a variety of formats. Flexible exporting functions will also be of value in the future should you need to change carts and wish to import existing data into a new application. If you’re currently in the market for software or services and would like our recommendations, Please check our NextAge Shopping Cart software at http://www.nextagecart.com . They have a Powerful SEO Shopping Cart Script

What level of support will I need and receive?

All shopping cart providers will tell you that their software is simple to install and configure. Few will be actually correct in making that statement. If you don’t have the technical expertise to configure your shopping cart, get quotes from the company or a third party contractor to undertake this work for you.

Test out the support system by sending a query to the sales department – if they don’t respond quickly this is usually a good indicator that after sales support will be even worse!

Also, read the fine print before parting with your hard earned cash – you may find that technical support will be charged out per incident.

Some shopping cart software companies also offer user forums as part of their service. This is an excellent bonus. If you are having problems with setting up your scripts, no doubt someone else has experienced the same issues and may be willing to help you out.

Be sure to review the company’s “bug” policy; i.e. if a error in the software is fixed and an updated version is released, will you be entitled to recieve that upgrade or patch at no cost.

While I am all for supporting the solo programmers, a shopping cart is so crucial that it may not be wise to purchase a product from a one-man operation as customer support may not be efficient. If you’re currently in the market for software or services and would like our recommendations, Please check our NextAge Shopping Cart software at http://www.nextagecart.com . They have a Powerful SEO Shopping Cart Script

Remotely or locally hosted shopping cart?

Some shopping cart programs can be purchased as stand alone programs or as pay per month services hosted on another companies’ server. Remotely hosted options usually allow for extensive customization of pages to fit in with your sites look and feel.

Remote hosting advantages

Fast implementation, secure connection supplied, monitoring of service and usually many other features are offered as part of the service. Because the cart is actually hosted on another server, you can also save on bandwidth charges – especially if your products are soft goods and delivered online.

Some remotely hosted shopping carts are in effect total marketing solutions, containing options to run affiliate programs and the ability to send sequential pre-defined messages to clients and leads. Some of these services are excellent for people ‘testing the water’ as they also include gateway services and even an Internet merchant account!

If you are looking for features without needing to spending thousands of dollars up front, remotely hosted may be the way to go. Plan on spending at least US$60 per month for these kinds of services. Compare prices carefully – I have seen one company charge US$200 a month for the same service provided by another for $US59 per month. Remember, this added recurring expense will need to be taken into account when establishing a price level for your products and services.

Remote hosting disadvantages

What happens if the company goes belly up overnight? Remote hosting also tends to give you less control over how cart pages display. If you are going to use a remotely hosted service, check the company history carefully. Some operators have also been known to ‘harvest’ your client databases for spamming purposes.

Local hosting advantages

Total control over the software, no ongoing fees.

Local hosting disadvantages

Time spent in installation, configuration and maintenance, greater initial outlay, requires SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to be enabled on your site which usually incurs an extra charge per month.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider before purchasing shopping cart software or services. It is very important to remember that the shopping cart is only one part of your ecommerce arsenal. Without an effective payment gateway and Internet merchant account (sometimes these are combined), the cart is useless.

Don’t rush your decision to purchase based on marketing hype – the future of your business is at stake!



7 Reasons to Shop Online This Holiday Season

Filed under: Shopping — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 5:20 am
Shopping
Nial McFadyen asked:


Some people love heading out to the malls and big box stores for an afternoon of bargain hunting, but if you are like me, I cringe at the thought. Fighting for a parking spot and waiting in line at the checkout are not my idea of a good time. Holiday shopping only amplifies my disdain for shopping malls and big box stores. I would much rather sit at home with my feet up and a hot cup of coffee and do all my shopping online. There are many reasons why people are turning to the internet for their holiday shopping, so as an avid online shopper I have created a list of what I think are seven convincing reasons you may want to consider staying at home and doing your shopping online this year.

7 Reasons to Shop Online:

1. Avoid the lines. As you might have already guessed, this is my number one reason for shopping online. Avoiding the lines is not just about avoiding people, it is about saving time, and shopping when it is convenient for you. Instead of running out to the mall on a Thursday night, head home, have dinner with your family, and then after you put the kids to bed, hop online and do a little shopping.

2. Better selection. There is nothing worse than coming up with the perfect gift idea, and then showing up at a store only to find that the item is out of stock, the wrong size or the wrong color. When shopping online you have a much better chance of finding the exact gift you want. And large online retailers like Amazon.com can offer way more CDs and DVDs than even the largest Wal-mart could ever dream of carrying.

3. Save money on gas. This may seem insignificant, but with the price of gas these days, every time you hop in the car it cost you a dollar or two. And I don’t know about you, but when I’m out shopping I always end up stopping for a coffee, grabbing a quick snack, and buying a few thing I don’t really need. More often than not, a trip for a $30 gift can end up costing you $100.

4. No sales tax. Many people don’t know this, but most online retailers don’t charge any sales tax. Technically people are supposed to be responsible for remitting any unpaid sales tax from their online purchases directly to their state, but until the government decides to do something about this, your online purchases will remain virtually tax free.

5. Comparison shopping. Once you have found the perfect gift, don’t just hit that buy button. There are many internet retailers, selling the exact same products all competing for your hard earned money. Do a Google search or check out some of the comparison shopping sites, and you might be surprised at the price you will find.

6. Free shipping. Studies have shown that people are 60% more likely to shop online with a retailer that offers free shipping than one that does not. The good news for us consumers, is that the majority of online retailers are listening. Over 75% of online retailers say that they will be offering free shipping this holiday season.

7. Coupon Codes. Electronic coupon codes are a great way to save money when shopping online. Before you buy anything online, do a quick search to see if there are any coupon codes available for the specific product or retailer you are looking for. Coupon codes are gaining popularity with both consumers and retailers, and they are an easy way to save 5% – 10% off your online purchases.

Before you begin your online shopping experience, here are a few words of advice to make sure all your holiday shopping is safe and secure. Shopping at bigger and well known retailers is usually a better idea than shopping at a small web site you have never heard of before. When you are at a web site’s checkout page the “http” in the URL should change to “https” and you should also see a closed padlock on your web browser, this will ensure that your personal information will be secure. The safest way to shop online is with your credit card. Most credit card companies have protection plans, so if you need to resolve a dispute, or if you think someone tried to rip you off, your credit card company will refund your money. Best wishes, and may your online holiday shopping be safe, secure, and fun.



What’s the Buzz About Shopping Bots?

Filed under: Ecommerce — Tags: , , — Rajendrasinh Padhiar @ 3:59 am
Shopping
Jeev Trika asked:


When was the last time you went around hunting for a discount? I am sure a lot of us are familiar with the sight of someone in the family clipping out newspaper coupons and sifting through catalogues for some good deals. The search for saving money has always been around in different forms. After all, when it comes to saving a buck or two, everyone is interested.

Now, the Internet puts a new twist to the whole idea of discount shopping. As people become more and more comfortable with shopping online, they realize that they actually can search out products based on the budget they have for a certain product. It’s a rather easy process. There are numerous shopping comparison sites where you can search out what kind of offers retailers have and make a decision based on that information.

Shopping comparison sites, more popularly known as ‘shopping bots’, are appearing all over the Internet. The Internet has already taken the strain out of shopping and now shopping comparison sites are here to make the whole deal easier (though there are others who believe that shopping bots are not doing as well as one might think they are). Shopping bots take advantage of the fact that there is too much information on the Internet. If you want to buy, say for example, a mobile phone, simply searching the words “mobile phone” or “buying mobile phones” (or other variations of these search terms) will most probably give you a mind-boggling list of results. You couldn’t possibly go through all those sites without driving yourself crazy with information overload.

A better option might be to refer to a shopping bot. A shopping bot will give you prices that are available online based on your specifics. So you can actually choose the brand and model of the mobile phone you want and these sites will help you find the relevant information and usually the best prices.

It all comes down to the fact that everyone loves to save money. Previously, the obvious choice was to scurry in and out of stores, gathering information and then making your final decision. Shopping bots make it possible to do the same by sitting in front of your computer screen. Shopping bots are not necessarily used only as part of a high involvement purchase. Even if the product that a shopper is seeking to purchase costs only a few dollars, he or she might choose to refer to a shopping bot. This is mainly due to the convenience factor. Information can be found on a shopping comparison site within a matter of minutes, if not seconds.

One thing we all have got quite used to is the amount of choice we have when we buy something regardless of if it is online or offline. That is one major attraction that shopping bots have for consumers. As if the Internet didn’t already provide enough choices, shopping bots aim at bringing all these choices on to one page for you. Online shoppers also put in a fair amount of confidence into these bots and this is what these sites should aim to maintain.

The flipside of comparison shopping sites, on the other hand, is that they might not actually be giving you what they are saying they are giving you. There are sites on the Internet, which does a good job at finding the best that there is on offer, and there are other sites that don’t perform so well with the information gathering. Your task is to identify the good quality bots from the less efficient ones.

At the same time, it pays (no pun intended) to know how these shopping bots actually work. To the general population it might seem like shopping comparison sites rank products merely based on their prices. That does not always need to be the case. There are instances where retailers can pay for top ranking which means that those retailers who are willing to pay more will occupy the top slots on the site. This is a slightly sticky situation since consumers might not realize that a site appears on top, not because it has the cheapest offer, but because it has paid to be there.

Not all shoppers are all starry-eyed about shopping bots. There are plenty who are not really convinced that these comparison sites are as good as they claim to be. It could be the skepticism towards something that works so easily. After all, there are plenty of people who believe that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Then again, there is also that section of consumers who believe that they can do a better job at finding the best prices available and do not need to rely on a website for that.

It all comes down to your personal attitudes towards shopping comparison sites. There is no doubt that these sites make shopping online easier than it already is. It, of course, helps to know how these sites work so that you can be aware of where the information is coming from. After all, it is your hard earned money that is going to these retailers.



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