There are plenty of shopping cart options for e-businesses of all sizes. Because of the overwhelming array of options, you’ll need to narrow down the field. Before you start shopping for a cart solution, make a list of what you need your cart to do.
* Can you install and configure the cart software yourself, or will you need help?
* What kind of transaction volume will it be handling?
* Will it easily integrate into your existing online store?
* How much can you afford to pay for your cart solution?
* What level of security and encryption will you — and your customers — be comfortable with?
The first question is probably the most significant. If you are tech-savvy and feel comfortable setting up your own shopping cart, you will be able to take advantage of one of the many free, open-source carts out there. But if you need a hosted solution, that will take you in another direction entirely.
osCommerce is one of the oldest and most respected free, open-source solutions. It will work on most any PHP-enabled Web server, and will work with most of the popular payment gateways. There are many other open-source solutions, including ZenCart, PhpShop, and MyMarket.
Quick Shopping Cart® makes it easy to create your own online store in just minutes!
But if you need to start accepting payments today, PayPal may be the way to go. You can sign up for an account in minutes, and PayPal’s cart application is free. Once your account is activated, you can start accepting bank transfers, e-checks, credit card payments, and payments from your customers’ PayPal accounts. PayPal’s fees are a little higher than most other big merchant account processors, but the convenience is worth it for many
Category : Advertising &Blog &Design &E-Commerce &Websites
Do your business card whisper or holler?
The marketing adage below definitely has truth to it.
He who has a thing to sell
And goes and whispers in a well
Is not as apt to get the dollars
As he who climbs a tree and hollers.”
A typical business card design: The typical business card states a name, company name, address, phone, fax and maybe an e-mail address. This can cause you to loose out on a potential customers. For instance, plain old boring cards doesn’t convey to the customer what you can do, represent or the type of culture your business has.
A marketing tool: A marketable business card design states all of the above but also states at least one very powerful reason to do business with you (what you can do for the customer) More often than none this helps the potential customer become interested right away.
Professional business card design do allot more than just convey the information that’s printed on them. An ugly, card that’s printed from your computer will let the person know loud and clear “I AM A BEGINNER AND I NEED HELP”. A professionally designed business card conveys a first impression that last long after you are gone. After all, isn’t that what you want? Take the time and get your business cards done professionally!
Your business cards are the most portable, affordable and versatile marketing tool you will use, this will not be the case if it is a quiet and shy business card thats barely whispering your products or services.
Category : Advertising &Blog &Business &Business Cards &Design
Your business card is one of the most important marketing tools you’ll ever create. You give your business card to prospects and customers so they have your contact information. You tuck your business card inside of presentation folders, drop it in letters, and use it in a myriad of other ways to let people know who you are and what you do. And, if you run ads in local newspapers, your business card may even double as camera-ready copy for the publication’s “business card ad” pages.
But no matter how you use your business card, it won’t be the marketing workhorse it should be unless it looks professional, is easy to read, and helps customers and prospects remember what you sell and why they should buy it from you.
Category : Advertising &Blog &Branding &Business &Business Cards &Design
- Have a professional website. It’s not just good enough to just have a website, you must reflect your brand image. If your known as a top notch photographer, the last thing you want is a website designed 10 years ago. It doesn’t reflect well on you. Everyone, yes everyone, uses the web today to check references. If someone recommends your service, you can almost guarantee that they will go online to look for you. Your website design should be updated at least every two years to stay current.
- Blogs are good. Blogs help your business on multiple levels. First off, valuable content on a consistent basis will make you look like an expert. People are looking for experts, not apprentices. The software that powers blogs has multiple advantages. It’s very easy to publish. It’s a database driven environment where style is separate from content so you will not need to go back to your web design agency for every little change. And use of tags and sitemaps make basic search engine optimization easy. But the real reason blogs are great is that they enable conversation. Two-way dialog is much more valuable than a company that just dumps messaging and collateral on their customers.
