ECommerce Basics

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E-Commerce Basics

• Greg Gould
• Center Director
• Maine Small Business Development Center at AVCOG
• 125 Manley Road
• Auburn, ME 04210
• [phone]
• ggould_at_avcog.org

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Presented by
Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine
SBDC) Maine SBDC is a partnership program of
the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in
association with the SBA/SBDC, the Maine
Department of Economic and Community Development
(DECD), the University of Southern Maine (USM),
and leading economic and/or community development
hosting organizations (Hosts), with support from
the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) and
University of Maine (UMaine). Administered by
USM's School of Business, Maine SBDC operates a
network of service centers and outreach offices
located conveniently throughout the State.
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Workshop Goals

• To understand how a web site enhances your
  overall business model
• To learn a few basics about search engines
• How they work
• How to use them more effectively
• Do-it yourself web site tips
• Understand time commitment

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What should a web site accomplish?

• E-commerce
• Do I need to offer on-line transactions?
• Can I utilize on-line auctions?
• Will my site inspire customers to visit my
  storefront (car dealers)?
• Information / Education
• Encourage prospects to contact my business?
• Facilitate or enhance customer experience
• Make appointment or check status

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Examples

• www.benandjerrys.com
• www.chipotle.com
• www.sumerset.com
• www.snapfish.com
• www.dogtoys.com
• www.blacksocks.com
• www.casketfurniture.com
• www.realtor.com

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How do search engines work?

• Title tags
• First 25 lines of text (graphics are not
  recognized)
• META tags (click view / source from any web page)
• Most search engines no longer look at META tags
• Links from other sites (links from your site to
  others do not count)
• Trying to trick search engines will likely result
  in being blacklisted.

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How do search engines work?(continued)
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How do search engines work?(continued)
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How do search engines work?(continued)
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Key Word Relevancy

• https//adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExter
  nal
• http//inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/su
  ggestion/

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Using search engines more effectively

• Gregory Gould
• Gregory Gould
• door handle
• door handle green
• toy truck
• toy truck-tonka

• 1,320,000 results
• 1,420 results
• 1,330,000 results
• 379,000 results
• 361,000 results
• 327,000 results

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The wonderful world of

• www.google.com

• Blogs
• Catalog
• Book Search
• Video
• MORE
• EVEN MORE

• Google
• Froogle
• Maps
• Earth
• Images
• Finance
• Books
• Directory

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Choose/Research a domain name

• .com .net .biz .info .org
• A domain name is the web site address
• www.betterwhois.com

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Do-it yourself templates

• GoDaddy
• www.godaddy.com
• Network Solutions
• www.netsol.com
• Yahoo Site Builder
• http//webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb

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Add maps to your web site

• www.mapquest.com
• http//maps.yahoo.com
• Google Maps

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Check your site for errors

• Page errors
• www.netmechanic.com/toolbox/html-code.htm
• Load speed
• www.optiview.com (click on Cool Tools lower
  left)
• www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze

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Paypal

• PayPal lets you accept credit cards, bank
  transfers, and debit cards from customers on your
  web site or auction.
• No monthly, start-up, or cancellation fees.
• PayPals commission is 2.9 0.30.
• www.paypal.com

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On-line Storefront

• Yahoo! Stores is probably the most popular
  on-line storefront.
• Even large companies (like Ben and Jerrys Ice
  Cream) use YAHOO! for their e-commerce
  transactions they do not have to have their own
  secure server (SSL), which saves time, money, and
  headaches
• YAHOO! Plans start at 39.95 1.5 transaction
  fee 50 set-up fee.
• They seem to have a lot of sales.
• Set up fee waived and first 2 months are 25.97.
  

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Shopping Cart Software

• Allows you to sell merchandise through your own
  web site
• Prices start at 115. More complex versions are
  considerably more.
• http//www.ecommercetemplates.com/
• http//www.storefront.net/
• You will need to pay for secure hosting.

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Do you have the time for this?

• Is it a better idea to hire this out and
  concentrate on the things that I am good at?
• Do I have the time to continue to learn as
  technology changes?
• Do I have the time to frequently update my site?
• Do I have time to respond to e-mails, process and
  ship on-line orders, etc.?

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If you decide to hire it out

• Have your own ideas about
• What your web site should look like
• What purpose your web site should serve
• How will your web site enhance your customers
  experience
• How your web site will mirror the image of your
  company
• Have a list of questions for the web developer
• Preview other site that have been designed
• A consultant should REFINE, not DEFINE your
  concept

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Where to go for more assistance

• www.hplearningcenter.com
• Lots of free on-line courses
• www.mainebusinessworks.org
• Listing of most workshops offered in Maine
• Maine Small Business Development Center
• Women, Work, and Community
• Womens Business Center
• SCORE

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Thank You!