web store's grand opening summary

This job offers thesis and summary help for the following piece:

2SMB BOOT CAMP
Your Web Store's
Grand Opening
A hosted online storefront solution can launch your
e-commerce showroom.
WEB STORE
PROVIDERS
Yahoo! Merchant
Starter
? ? ? ? ?
This makes it easy to build
and manage your Web
store. And SiteBuilder 2,1
software is simple to use
yet powerful.
Setup, $50; $39,95 a
month
go.pcmag.com/^ahoo
merchant
ProStores
Not rated
ProStores offers Website
hosting with 5GB
storage space, up to 50
e-mail boxes, and tollfree
24/7 tech support.
$29,95 per month
www.prostores.com
» GET MORE ADVICE
For more about smailbusiness
issues, goto:
go.pcmag,com/smb
BY MATTHEW D. 5ARREL
S A TEENAGKR. I HAD A SUMMER JOB
working in White's B;irnegat Light
Market as a stock boy, Mike White,
the second-generation owner, used to
walk around the store constantly with
a clipboard and take inventory. Then he would walk
back to the stockroom, present us with the clipboard,
and say, "You can't sell a product that isn't
on the shelves." Businesses today don't rely only on
physical shelves but also on virtual shelves. If you're
looking to open a Web storefront, then at the very
least you'll need to build the shelves, stock them,
and provide an easy checkout process.
The first step in building a Web storefront is to
shop for and select an c-commeree service. The
process will be easier and faster if you know beforehand
which features are most important and
how to evaluate them.
One of the most powerful features a hosted
e-commerce solution offers is a w izard that will
take you from start to finish in the development
of a fully operational Web storefront. Along with
the wizard is usually a choice of templates, so you
can update the site. Make sure tha: your provider
offers a template that you can customize easily.
The ability to import catalog data is crucial because
you don't want to waste timi? and employee
resources typing in product information. Equally
Yahoo! SiteBuilder. the software included with Merchant
Starter, uses simple templates and tutorials.
important is the ability to export data so that you
can track and analyze it locally.
Another vital element is to have multiple ways
to accept payment. PayPal is a big convenience, as
is the ability to process credit cards directly. Also,
a good shipping program is absolutely necessary
for a successful Web storefront. Any hosted
e-commerce solution must include automated
and accurate shipping modules that tie in with the
major shipping companies, such as USPS, UPS,
FedEx, and DHL,
It's not enough merelj' to build a store; you've
got to bring customers in via successful marketing.
Look for a provider that lets you build and
use a mailing list. The ability to run promotions,
such as gift certificates and coupons, and an
affiliate program can also be important. Integration
with XML-based sht)pping feeds, such as Yahoo!
Shopping, is critical because it will increase
your exposure.
The importance of good service and support
at a fair price goes without saying. Make sure that
support is available when you need it and in the
method that you need. You can't underestimate
the value of picking up the phone and straightening
out a problem instantly. Every minute your site
is down or acting fiaky ctmld translate into dozens
of lost sates when users become frustrated and decide
to click somewhere else. Also, make sure to
demo each service that interests you and evaluate
it in terms of the features listed in this articie.
If none of the Web storefront providers seem
right for you, then you may want to consider
building your own site and adding a standalone
e-commerce shopping cart, such as MIVA Merchant
or Actinic Catalog. There arc also plenty of
ASP, PHP, and Perl solutions that a Web developer
can integrate into your site. Whatever solution you
choose, it will definitely save you the headache of
carrying around a clipboard like Mr. White.
Matthew D. Sarrel is a consultant and former technical
director of PC Magazine LabA. Instructions for the summary:
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SMB BOOT CAMP
Your Web Store's
Grand Opening
A hosted online storefront solution can launch your
e-commerce showroom.
WEB STORE
PROVIDERS
Yahoo! Merchant
Starter
? ? ? ? ?
This makes it easy to build
and manage your Web
store. And SiteBuilder 2,1
software is simple to use
yet powerful.
Setup, $50; $39,95 a
month
go.pcmag.com/^ahoo
merchant
ProStores
Not rated
ProStores offers Website
hosting with 5GB
storage space, up to 50
e-mail boxes, and tollfree
24/7 tech support.
$29,95 per month
www.prostores.com
» GET MORE ADVICE
For more about smailbusiness
issues, goto:
go.pcmag,com/smb
BY MATTHEW D. 5ARREL
S A TEENAGKR. I HAD A SUMMER JOB
working in White's B;irnegat Light
Market as a stock boy, Mike White,
the second-generation owner, used to
walk around the store constantly with
a clipboard and take inventory. Then he would walk
back to the stockroom, present us with the clipboard,
and say, "You can't sell a product that isn't
on the shelves." Businesses today don't rely only on
physical shelves but also on virtual shelves. If you're
looking to open a Web storefront, then at the very
least you'll need to build the shelves, stock them,
and provide an easy checkout process.
The first step in building a Web storefront is to
shop for and select an c-commeree service. The
process will be easier and faster if you know beforehand
which features are most important and
how to evaluate them.
One of the most powerful features a hosted
e-commerce solution offers is a w izard that will
take you from start to finish in the development
of a fully operational Web storefront. Along with
the wizard is usually a choice of templates, so you
can update the site. Make sure tha: your provider
offers a template that you can customize easily.
The ability to import catalog data is crucial because
you don't want to waste timi? and employee
resources typing in product information. Equally
Yahoo! SiteBuilder. the software included with Merchant
Starter, uses simple templates and tutorials.
important is the ability to export data so that you
can track and analyze it locally.
Another vital element is to have multiple ways
to accept payment. PayPal is a big convenience, as
is the ability to process credit cards directly. Also,
a good shipping program is absolutely necessary
for a successful Web storefront. Any hosted
e-commerce solution must include automated
and accurate shipping modules that tie in with the
major shipping companies, such as USPS, UPS,
FedEx, and DHL,
It's not enough merelj' to build a store; you've
got to bring customers in via successful marketing.
Look for a provider that lets you build and
use a mailing list. The ability to run promotions,
such as gift certificates and coupons, and an
affiliate program can also be important. Integration
with XML-based sht)pping feeds, such as Yahoo!
Shopping, is critical because it will increase
your exposure.
The importance of good service and support
at a fair price goes without saying. Make sure that
support is available when you need it and in the
method that you need. You can't underestimate
the value of picking up the phone and straightening
out a problem instantly. Every minute your site
is down or acting fiaky ctmld translate into dozens
of lost sates when users become frustrated and decide
to click somewhere else. Also, make sure to
demo each service that interests you and evaluate
it in terms of the features listed in this articie.
If none of the Web storefront providers seem
right for you, then you may want to consider
building your own site and adding a standalone
e-commerce shopping cart, such as MIVA Merchant
or Actinic Catalog. There arc also plenty of
ASP, PHP, and Perl solutions that a Web developer
can integrate into your site. Whatever solution you
choose, it will definitely save you the headache of
carrying around a clipboard like Mr. White.
Matthew D. Sarrel is a consultant and former technical
director of PC Magazine Lab