By: james dacanay
Submitted: 2011-01-15 02:40:11 | Word Count: 367
The internet is changing the way people shop. With goods from groceries to leather-bound Bible holders being available online, consumers are increasingly seeing the convenience of shopping without having to leave their own front doors. Indeed, it’s expected that by 2020 the percentage of online retail sales will be some 40% of all retail sales.
For website owners, especially of commercial sites, e-commerce can seem like a golden opportunity. However, setting up an online shop is not without its risks and pitfalls, so here are a few tips for beginners.
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Start by doing market research, which should inform your decision of whether to set up an online shop at all. Setting up an effective e-commerce site can be expensive and time-consuming, so it’s essential to be as sure as you can that you are not wasting your time. Your current site statistics (how busy your site is) and requests to buy direct from the site on your forums could complement your market research.
The next step is to acquire a merchant account. This is a legal requirement in the UK, enabling traders to accept credit and debit card transactions online. You can apply directly to banks for one of these accounts, or go through a third party who will assist you in the measure to be taken to qualify for one of these accounts.
You will also need some effective shopping cart software. Should you choose website hosting by EUKHost you will find that free shopping cart software comes automatically with a number of our packages. With affordable website hosting from EUKHost your e-commerce site will also benefit from very high levels of uptime, enabling customers to make purchases at times suitable for them. In-fact choosing website hosting by EUKHost will provide your e-commerce site with a stable and reliable platform for the future.
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