By Justin Meighan
Web Developer
Although not a new development by any stretch of the imagination, e-commerce solutions are often overlooked during the initial website design and development phase.
Many sites are developed simply as online brochures, with product details and pricing made readily available to an online audience. Due to the explosion of sales on the Internet these brochure sites are in a unique position to convert potential product browsers into paying customers.
In recent years there has been an increase in Internet security. This increase in security is reflected in our willingness to buy products and services over the Internet. With this in mind the integration of low cost, highly effective e-commerce solutions becomes a must for many sites currently serving as brochure sites.
E-commerce solutions require a certain level of hosting. Due to the increased security of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), the cost of hosting your e-commerce site could lead to an increase in hosting costs. However e-commerce providers such as Paypal and Realex offer cost effective e-commerce solutions, which do not require a change to your hosting needs. Rather than host your own transactions, a user from your site will be forwarded to a secure page using your websites' interface. To the user the change would be seamless, however they are now on a page hosted by external e-commerce provider with full credit card payment functionality and an increased level of security. All that remain is for your site to forward a user with an appropriate price and the e-commerce payment provider does the rest!
By adding e-commerce functionality to your website, you offer yet another medium through which to market and sell your products and services. In addition you may save money selling certain products and services online due to savings made on overheads. The increase in Internet sales can only promote and expand e-commerce into new areas.
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