Putting together a website that you intend to use as an online business can be a very large undertaking. There are many key elements of the site that must not be neglected during the design stage. These areas will be essential when it comes to allowing your site to function flawlessly. Failure to adequately test your site before the official launch could result in a disaster that your online business is not able to recover from. Make sure that you hire an experienced web designer who has been doing this type of work for several years. Here are a few of the biggest areas of concern for your website.
1. Shopping cart
Each of your customers will put all of their items into a virtual shopping cart prior to making their purchases. This shopping cart will keep track of all the items that the person is buying so he or she can refer back to it. It will also keep a running total so the customer can see how much he or she will need to pay. A virtual shopping cart is an essential part of any online business that sells various products. Therefore, it is important that the online shopping carts of your customers are working perfectly so they are able to pay for their purchases quickly and efficiently.
2. Payment processing
It is always wise to allow your customers to use as many different forms of payment as possible. The key is to make the shopping experience very convenient for your customers. Limiting the ways that people can pay for purchases will turn some people off and cause them to do their shopping at competing websites who offer the payment methods they prefer. It goes without saying that you need to prevent such a thing from happening with your own online business. You must also carefully research the company that you will select to be your merchant service provider. This company will make it possible for you to accept debit and credit card purchases from the people who visit your site. It is important to understand that not all of these companies are the same. The rates charged by merchant service providers can be quite different. Therefore, compare their rates before you commit to one.
3. Inventory
People want to have access to a very large selection when they do their online shopping. This is why you must give your customers more than just two or three choices for various items. Studies have shown that people are less likely to purchase an item from websites that do not have a large inventory. People want to compare the different brands to make sure they are getting the most for their money. They will go somewhere else if your site does not allow them to do this. You should delay the debut of your site if you do not have a sufficient inventory. It would be better to wait until you can offer your customers a greater selection of products.
