| With a little knowledge, skills, and determination, anyone | | | | 4 - Communications |
| can start an ecommerce business. In this article, I'll go | | | | Even in ecommerce, communication with your |
| over a few of the basic components that you'll need | | | | customers is very important. At the bare minimum, you |
| when starting your ecommerce business. | | | | should have an email address and physical address for |
| 1 - Product or service | | | | your customers to contact you at. Ideally, you should |
| If you don't have your own product or service to | | | | also have a toll-free number. |
| market, you can market other people's products, either | | | | 5 - Webhosting |
| via affiliate programs, dropshippers, or network | | | | Of course, you'll need a server to host your website |
| marketing programs. Once you've found a top quality | | | | and software on. There are many reputable hosts that |
| product or service to market, you're ready to get | | | | offer everything you'll need for under ten dollars. Use a |
| started! | | | | web host rating website to find a good host. |
| 2 - Shopping Cart software | | | | 6 - Marketing |
| To sell products online, you will need some kind of | | | | Many small business owners fail at one of the most |
| shopping cart software, to facilitate online ordering and | | | | important points - marketing. If you don't properly |
| order processing. I recommend Oscommerce - It is | | | | market your website, you won't make any sales, and |
| free, very flexible, and feature-filled. | | | | your business will fail. The key is to utilize marketing |
| 3 - Online Payments | | | | methods which are effective and profitable for your |
| To sell online, you'll need a way to accept online | | | | business. Experiment to find what works best, but here |
| payments. The easiest way to do this is via Paypal. | | | | are a few tried and true methods to start with: pay |
| However, Paypal is not the most convenient for your | | | | per click marketing, search engine optimization, article |
| customers - it's better for them if you get a merchant | | | | marketing, shopping comparison websites, email |
| account and accept credit cards. | | | | marketing, and joint ventures. |