December 2017 – E-Commerce POC

Why is it so Important to be a Knowledgable Reseller? **

More than anything else, a reseller needs to remain knowledgeable about the industry he/she is working in. The reason for this is that the more knowledgeable the reseller possesses, the more organized, adaptable, flexible, and successful the reseller will be. And, of course, this will boost the success potential of the business enormously.

** The 25 Most Important Ecommerce Terms **

Product Feed: A file maintaining all the requisite information about a product list associated with an ecommerce site.

Such feeds provide product information to search engines which aid in reseller inexpensively finding customers.

Data Feed: This is a process in which user can receive updated from a data source.

For resellers, the ability to stay in the loop with their affiliate service and to keep their customers informed becomes possible.

XML: XML stands for Extensible Markup Language and it is means of encoding documents electronically.

Resellers will employ it to exchange data over the internet in a safe and secure manner.

RMA: RMA stands for Return Material Authorization which is the process of returning goods or services for replacement or repair.

Resellers need a RMA system in place so they are not forced to accept losses on defective products.

Import Duties: These are taxes the recipient of a package from a foreign company will need to pay on the receipt of certain items.

Dropshippers need to know how much customers will pay on import duties so they can adjust their pricing and shipping accordingly.

This can help the company still remains cost effective for customers.

VAT: VAT stands for Value Added Tax and it is a fee charged on all levels of consumption and sale. Mostly used in Europe, a VAT tax can add upwards of 20% to the cost of an order.

Billing Address: This is the address associated with the credit card used in the purchase.

Proving a billing address to the reseller allows the reseller to charge the credit card. It also aids in preventing the use of stolen credit card.

Shipping Address: This is the specific address the customer would like the order shipped to. It may or may not be the same address as the billing address.

Ecommerce Portal: This is an online hub where sellers, suppliers, and consumers can interact.

For the reseller, such a portal can greatly expand social media marketing potential.

Merchant: A merchant is someone that sells a product directly to a customer.

Merchants should not be confused with suppliers which are, in essence, wholesalers that provide products for merchants or retailers to sell.

CMS: A Content Management System allows for the proper maintenance and management of workflow.

Dropshippers will find it enormously helpful to maintain organization.

Ecommerce has been a major player in the retail market place for more than a decade now. Initially invented in 1979 by Michael Aldridge, a British entrepreneur, the trend only exploded with the widespread popularity of the internet. Industry statistics this year estimate that 44% of consumers will shop online for holiday gifts this year, and as the market share is ever increasing, a number of companies continue to turn to the world of online shopping almost every day. For most companies looking into this type of website, however, there are a number of different concerns that must be addressed before you can ever begin to build a site that attracts customers and promotes sales.

Industries where Ecommerce May be Useful

Before a company ever starts down the path toward online sales, it may be helpful to take a look at which industries get the most out of the process. The answer is a pretty simple one – almost any industry. Take the city of London, for example. Long a mecca of shopping for people around the world, you couldn’t visit this city’s unique shops without actually visiting the UK. With the popularity of ecommerce, however, everything from famed department stores like Harrods to much smaller venues like Honest Jon’s are finding real success in the online marketplace. Whether you market auto parts to do-it-yourselfers or used books, you’re likely to find a home in the world of ecommerce.

The Site Design

Designing your site is key to the process of online shopping. That, however, is the case with any online venture. Customers must be able to find exactly what they’re looking for. Wandering around the forlorn virtual aisles of your e-store will do little but make them abandon their shopping cart and visit a competitor, leaving you without the online sale that is so essential to your bottom line. Here are just a few of the most important tips necessary to help your customers find the product they want:

Keep the Number of Clicks Required to a Minimum: If your customer has to click eight times to buy a single used book, you have a real problem on your hands. Perhaps one click is the search through the various categories. The next click leads them to a category description. From there, perhaps they have to click on a sub category. The process can get endless and frustrating. The rule of thumb is that more than four clicks to the point where they must provide their personal information is unnecessary and can cause a poor buy rate.

Add to Cart or Buy Buttons Must Be Obvious: It’s the first rule of any website design. Your customers have to understand what they are supposed to do, and nowhere is this more true than in an online shopping experience. Your customers should never have to scroll below the fold to find the right button to push to purchase their item from you.

Show the Price: This one may seem like an obvious marker, but many online retailers require more than one click before the potential buyer can look at the price of any given item. If you don’t show them what the item costs immediately, you risk losing them right away.

Month: December 2017

Dropship Resources, 25 Ecommerce Terms All Resellers Should Know

Moving Toward Ecommerce Site Design