Creating a website, especially an
E-commerce enabled website can be a very complex implementation. There are
many factors and variables to consider in an E-commerce website.
The cost of designing and implementing
an E-commerce site can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Some statistical informational available places
the average cost of setting up an E-commerce site at $10,000.00. The cost
of setting up the site will depend on the size of the site, number of
products offered, complexity of the integration, and the e-commerce solution
deployed. There are several hundred E-commerce, shopping cart and
payment solutions available on the market to choose from. The solution
you choose is relative to and dependent upon your business model.
Once the site has been designed and
created it needs to be deployed, hosted and maintained. Again the cost of
deployment and the monthly maintenance fees will vary depending on the
solution and provider. An E-commerce site can be hosted
and maintained for as little as $20.00 a month to upwards of $20,000.00 a
month.
Implementing an E-commerce website
involves more than just designing the website and publishing it on the World
Wide Web for all the world to see. Designing a website with design
software is generally the easiest part unless your website needs "custom
programming" using compiled programming languages or database
integration.
Here are some of the issues to
consider regarding your site. This is certainly not an exhaustive list
but covers some of the top level issues:
-
Designing the site (layout, colors,
images)
-
Having a business plan for your
business and website
-
Securing your domain name
-
Complying with all the legal issues of
having a website such as licensing, sales tax issues, domestic and global
issues, trademarks, copyrights, contracts, privacy and security.
-
Selecting an ISP or your hosting
solution
-
Selecting the most appropriate
shopping cart and payment solution
-
Product fulfillment
-
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
-
Integrating your website transactions
with a database and accounting system
-
and one of the most important factors,
"MARKETING YOUR WEBSITE".
At Ewell Educational and Technology we
specialize in solutions for home and small businesses. As
"Certified E-commerce Designers and Certified Instructors" we can offer you
insights into the "best solution to fit your needs". We
can offer you training on how to create the site yourself for a
consulting/training fee, create the site for you in varying degrees or offer
you a complete turnkey solution.
There are numerous books (see
below) available
about E-commerce and placing your business on the web. As an
"Educational" product company, we have books available on these topics if
you want to teach yourself.
Please send us an email if you have
specific questions.
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