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March 24, 2010
Now Offering: Free 30 minute consultaion!
December 18, 2009
We have added industry terms & web site setup for your education.
Industry Terms Website Setup
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 Setting Up an E-Commerce Website
When setting up a web site that takes credit cards there are things to consider. It takes a few different companies to make it happen. Your shopping cart allows the customer to select products or services to purchase. A gateway links to the check out page of the shopping cart and securely take the credit card information passing it to a processor that will either approve or decline the transaction. When working with a shopping card company, gateway company and processor it is very important that they can connect with each other. This is done through an API. Once linked the process runs very smoothly. One of the most important events that occurs is the approval process. Once the client enters the credit card information – the amount of time it takes is vital to the business. If this takes more than 10 seconds the customer may become impatient and may stop the transaction or hit the submit button again possibly resulting in two transactions. It should take less than 5 seconds. If the gateway and the shopping cart are not already connected they can charge you a programming fee for the time to connect the two which can be a lot of money. Most shopping cart companies will post a list of gateways they are already connected with. Some shopping cart companies will try and have you use the gateway and processor they have established relationships with – here they can increase the fees you pay because you don’t have other options.
Tools added that are specific to your type of business can make the process more efficient and effective. One of the latest craze is to have a voice or even a host appear on the site and present the business to the client. They can point out specials or give reasons why the business or website are a good place to do business.
There is a big difference in cost when it comes to an online business and just because you spend more it doesn’t always mean it is better. Monthly minimums and hidden fees can hurt a business regardless if your business is just getting started or a mature company.
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