The Internet has developed at such a rapid pace that things have become much easier for the regular person with limited IT knowledge. As far as any business is concerned, a good web presence is essential in this modern world of e-commerce. This used to be quite a daunting prospect, requiring the assistance of IT professionals to navigate you through the maze of different stages involved in creating your own website.
Web hosting providers offer a simple solution
There are many reputable online web-hosting providers, who can really take the strain out of website construction. If you wish to design your own website, a quick online search will reveal many reputable companies who host both individual and company websites on their servers. This also means that the cost is very low, with many offering free basic services to individual bloggers. They have packages to suit everyone, and can even update and maintain your site for you, leaving you to focus on other aspects of your business.
Online design templates
Creating a website used to begin with the design process, which was somewhat complex. First you Select a colour scheme, then decide how many columns and pages to have. It is nice to know that there are online templates suitable for all purposes, so you can simply click on your preferred design, add your content, and your site will be created within minutes.
What kind of site do I want?
Even though web design has become simple, you need to consider what type of business you have. If you will have a lot of media content on the site, then you should choose an appropriate design and package. A reputable web host provider will advise you on every aspect of your new venture, offering total solutions, whatever your needs.
Online payment facilities
If you are selling products, you will require an e-commerce site, which involves a shopping cart option, as well as credit card payment facilities. Most businesses wish to offer their customers a quick and simple method of payment. By having online credit card facilities, you can:
- Attract international customers with automated currency exchange rates
- Facilitate instant purchases
- Offer instant product dispatching without waiting for cheque clearance
One thing a buyer does not want to do is wait. If you do not have credit card facilities on your website, you will lose a large percentage of customers, as they do not wish to fill in forms and send cheques to the supplier. Convenience is everything with ecommerce, so it is essential to make the purchasing experience as convenient as possible for the customer.
There are a number of ways you can do this, one is to open a trading account with your local bank. There will be requirements, and they may vary from country to country, so best to check with your bank. Another way to do this is to use a third party merchant, often referred to as a “payment gateway”. This company will take a small commission from each sale for providing the facility. A reputable web hosting service will be able to provide you will a payment gateway, with the minimum of fuss, allowing your business to grow.