The Elements of Ecommerce
A Home Business Article Contributed by Fiona Mclaren
The Elements of Ecommerce
When you look at the elements of commercial transactions, and ecommerce itself, things can become slightly muddied, and a little technical. If you really want to find out about ecommerce, you need to get down the the nitty gritty. In other words, you need to focus on the details.
Luckily though, as many details that there are, they do boil down to a series of actions that you can take (also known as steps).
If you are a home based business owner who wants to find out more about ecommerce, then you should read the following list. This list highlights all the elements of normal ecommerce activity (by activity, we mean the sale of a product to a customer by a retailer).
Learn More about Ecommerce
If you would like to sell a product or service to a customer, then the product or service becomes the very core of the matter. You must have something to sell that they want to buy. Also, you must have something that you can sell via ecommerce.
Your home based business might make the products themselves, or you may hire another company to make your product for you. Whatever your business product, you should prepare it properly so that it can enter the ecommerce market.
You also need a place from which to sell your products and services. The word 'place' can be quite diverse in its meaning. 'Place' can be a telephone number, a store, your home, an email address, or a catalogue. Basically, a place is where people can BUY what your home based business is offering.
What Else Should You Know about Ecommerce?
One of the most important things you need to learn is the methods by which you can accept orders. Do customers need to email you? Visit a website? It is up to you to use the channel of ecommerce that it best suited to your purpose.
Another vital aspect of ecommerce is learning how to accept payments. Your customers must know which electronic methods of payment that you accept. In order to successfully run a business utilizing ecommerce, you must keep your customers informed.
You will also need a way to deliver your product. Depending on your product or service, ecommerce will allow for your customers to download what they have paid for. If you have a traditional product, then you must organize for it to reach the consumer in the most suitable manner.
You also need a method by which a customer can return a good if it is not suitable for them. Ecommerce options are usually very straightforward, so you should always look around for something suitable for your home based business. Make sure that you have a way to honor warranty claims to.
Summary of Ecommerce Elements
Ecommerce is mainly made up of the same elements as traditional commerce. The only difference being that it is conducted via electronic means. If you run a home based business, be sure to look into all the elements of ecommerce - you should always be prepared.
