One of the main benefits of having a business presence on the Web is to allow customers to buy directly from your site. Millions of shoppers love the convenience of buying online, shipping to a variety of locations and the peace of mind that comes with secure payment options—all without ever having to leave their homes.
An ecommerce-enabled Web site offers products and services with little overhead cost to further maximize profits. Online stores can accept orders around the clock, 365 days a year. And unlike cashiers and office staff, you don't have to pay your Web site wages or benefits.
What You Need
Selling online is easy. All you need is a Web hosting plan that supports online transactions. An ecommerce Web hosting plan is just like a regular, shared Web hosting plan with storage and traffic allowances, email accounts and other features. The difference is an ecommerce plan includes a shopping cart and secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate. You will also need a merchant account that accepts online payments, which usually is not included in your hosting plan.
Learn more about shopping carts and SSL certificates.
Types of Online Stores
When you’re ready to start selling your products online, you don't have to dive in headfirst with an ecommerce site the size of Amazon.com. Learn about the different types of online stores you can choose from.