Creating an Online Store

 

I want to know more about Search

 

An online store is a place located within a website where customers can view and select products or services. It is the online equivalent of a printed catalog. The e-commerce role that an online store plays within the website of a given business can vary greatly:

• Supplement business activities -- Online stores can supplement existing businesses by offering a limited selection of items that complement an existing business. For example, the website of a sit-down dining establishment may include a small online store to sell gift certificates and promotional clothing such as T-shirts, to offsite customers.
• Integrate business activities -- Online stores can increase the revenue and efficiency of an existing business. For example, the website of a pizza restaurant may allow customers to place takeout and delivery orders online. This might improve a restaurant's efficiency by taking orders and processing payment without using employees. It might also increase revenue by attracting customers who prefer to place orders online.
• Drive business activities -- Online stores can create new revenue opportunities. For example, an independent bookstore can use an online store to sell its entire inventory online. This creates a worldwide market for the bookstore's products which could far exceed revenue generated by in-store customers.

The key to developing an effective online store is making it easy for customers to find what they want. This requires organizing the store in a logical manner and including the appropriate amount of information about each product. Business owners must anticipate product-related questions that customers may ask and arrange product information in a manner that answers these questions in the order that they occur:

• Does this site sell what I want? Items in an online store must be easy to find. Most stores provide multiple ways to find the same information. For example, site visitors may be able to simultaneously click on a product's name or photograph, click on the name of a product category or manufacturer, or use an online search form to select products of interest.
• Does this site have what I want? When customers browse individual product pages, they need to know as much information as possible about an item to ensure it is the item they are looking for. Product pages with good photographs sell more products than pages without them. Since photographs don't accurately reflect product dimensions or colors, it is equally important to specify all product attributes. This includes product name, manufacturer, size, color, weight, availability and price.
• How much is it? Online customers need to know the total price of an item. This includes the selling price, handling charges, shipping costs and applicable taxes. You must also specify how you will accept payment. Credit cards and express payments are commonplace methods of payment for online stores.

Once the customers find what they're looking for, they typically put the selection in a "shopping cart" and search for other items. This makes it easier for the customer to purchase multiple items, as well as to buy things he may not have been looking for.