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Page 9 of
21:
Questions to Ask Before Buying E-Commerce
Software
Before you buy your platform, look back at your business plan (you
did make one, didn't you?) and find out what specific tools you'll need.
Based on your needs, ask the vendor's salesperson the following:
Some Really Key Questions:
Do you provide tech support, by telephone, 24/7?
What other important tools are included? Web analytics? Hosting?
Accounting package?
Does the platform help with cross-selling and up-selling?
Does the platform have built-in site search? Is so, what kind of tools
will I have to enable me to influence search results?
From the page the shopper chooses an item on, what is the total amount
of pages they must click through to complete the purchase?
(A higher number of page results in a higher percentage of abandoned
shopping carts.)
Site Building Questions:
How many products will your software allow me display? Dozens?
Thousands?
Is there a wide array of templates that come with the software, so I can
avoid a cookie-cutter look?
If I hire a HTML expert to jazz up the site, will custom-written HTML
pages interface with your software?
Does your solution generate both static and dynamic Web pages? (Static
pages are written in HTML and are more likely to get recognized by
search engines; dynamic pages are created as a shopper requests them,
and allow you to more easily present a large catalog of items.)
How much do upgrades cost?
What sort of flexibility does the product shipping section allow me to
offer? Will it be easy for me to offer a shipping discount based on
total customer purchase?
Marketing and CRM (customer relationship management) Questions:
Does the platform help with gathering shoppers' e-mails, and
administering an e-mail marketing campaign?
Does your system include a method for tracking coupons or special
offers?
Can shoppers keep their own lists of favorite items, or previously
bought items, on the site? (Shoppers really like this, and it boosts
sales.)
Merchant Administration Tool Questions:
What notification system will tell me I've got an order? (Some
systems send the merchant an e-mail; others require you to check a Web
interface.)
Will the software send the shopper an automatic confirmation e-mail? To
what extent can I customize this e-mail?
Database/Inventory Questions:
What databases will run with your platform? Does the software allow
my site to be connected to a real time database that reflects constant
changes in inventory and prices?
What features does the software have to allow me to update inventory
level based on my bricks and mortar in-store inventory?
What file formats does it work with to import and export inventory
reports?
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Page 10
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Online Money-Making Opportunities
Several Systems to make real money via
Internet
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