If you want to sell products or services on your website, there are various solutions you can use. One of the most popular is Paypal for good reason. However, ecommerce software may be the better solution for your situation. Let's take a look at reasons why.
The main benefit of using Paypal is that you can get up and running in just a few minutes. If you use ecommerce software, you will need to take the time to install it as well as learn the ins-and-outs of the software.
However, Paypal is only suitable if you only have a few products in your stable. You have to create a separate page for every product you offer with Paypal. This can be time-consuming.
Ecommerce software also gives you a lot more options than Paypal does. You can give your customers discounts if you want to. The software also allows you to choose different shipping options.
When it comes to getting ecommerce software, you have a multitude of choices. For starters, there are free and paid programs for you to use. Free programs are suitable for startup, but usually offer less customization options than paid programs.
You should also take note that your web hosting company may offer free shopping cart software in your hosting package. The only bad things about going this route is that you may experience a lot of trouble if you ever decide to change hosting companies in the future.
When setting up your store, you have the option of using ecommerce templates. They allow you to customize the look and feel of your store with ease. You will save a lot of money by not having to hire a designer.
If you're looking to setup a store on the internet, you find yourself needing a merchant services account. This will allow you to accept credit and debit cards on your website. Many times, you can also accept these cards over the phone or by fax too. When looking for a company to do business with, make sure you compare upfront rates as well as fees for use.
Having a Paypal shopping cart allows you to get setup and taking orders quickly and easily. However, once you start offering more products, you should strongly consider upgrading to more advanced ecommerce software. You'll have much more customization options. You may even have access to software for free through your web hosting company.
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Edison Chase lives in Boston and writes about internet businesses, pets, home ownership and the local social scene. His subjects include Boston computer stores and Boston Gay dating