It’s era of technology, an era where most of our needs are fulfilled with just a few clicks. The Internet has made our life way more comfortable than we could imagine a few decades back. With the increase in technology, our lifestyle also changed dramatically and changed the way we do basic tasks. it includes sending emails, banking, purchasing things, contacting people etc. The Internet has brought almost everything at our fingertips. As the use of the internet is increasing, it has provided an opportunity for business owners to grow their business worldwide, to reach customers they could not a few decades back.

For setting up an online business, all you have to do is follow few simple steps and instructions which we will discuss one by one in details and your business will be ready to enter the online world. These days it has become easier than ever to develop & design your own website and have it uploaded either for free or cost that suits your pocket. It is not important to have the complete technical knowledge to develop a website. Let’s move with few basic steps to get you started your online business.

Steps to be followed to open your online business are:

Choosing Domain name

Choosing the correct domain name is extremely necessary. It is ideal if your domain name is similar to that of your business name or your brand so it is simple for your sponsors and potential customers to find out your website. Once website name is finalized and it is up and running, you have to invest plenty of resources into promoting it and conveyance in traffic. Keep in mind to check the name’s accessibility to check whether the domain name of your choice is free to use or available. If the name is not accessible, don’t get demoralized. Often the owner of the domain name is willing to sell it and it’s simple to work out who owns the name by merely wanting it up in “whois” section on the domain registration portals.

Pick a Web hosting Service

Web hosting services offer space for storing and access to websites. Don’t get attracted by free internet hosts as they put advertising on your website to cover their prices. As a business owner, you must be searching for an internet host that’s esteemed and reliable. Before going for hosting services, it is important to have a rough idea about how much space your website would take and how much traffic you are expecting through your website (web hosts can help you with an estimation). Read the reviews of different clients to perceive how frequently they encounter downtime or technical issues and how rapidly those issues are resolved.

Design Your Website

Website designing was work professional as it was complicated and technology used to design these websites was not that advance as compared to the technology used these days and people had less knowledge about it. Today designing your website is less complicated than ever and can be done by an individual who has little knowledge about it. There are two methods via which you can design your own website:

1. First is to start from scratch and design your website which will include coding, complete technical knowledge and is very time consuming and can cost you the good amount of money as well.
2. The second method is way easier. There are plenty of professionally designed templates available, which are either free of cost or cost very less. All you have to do is choose any of the themes to design your website. Few of them also offer the live preview, so that you can check the chosen theme on demo website and ones you finalize the theme for your website add it to your cart and download the file. If you do not want anyone else to use the same theme as yours, you can become the sole owner of it by checking the option.

Shopping Cart

A Shopping cart is a software that provides facility to purchase products online and allows accepting payments. Distribution of payment information to the merchant, payment processor, and other parties is also organized by shopping cart software. So it becomes extremely important to choose best shopping cart software. There are mainly three features of shopping cart:

1. Product information is stored in it
2. Gateway for order and customer management.
3. Provides product data and site information for user display

There are two types of carts:

• Hosting Shopping cart (which is hosted and maintained by the third party and it is free of cost but the customer will be directed to the different domain for payment)
• Licensed shopping cart (This is hosted by the business owner and is much more flexible but is costlier)

Payment Processor Solution for your online Business

More payment options you give to your customer, more payment processing you will do. In simple words, if a customer wants to buy a product or service. And, can choose the mode of payment of his/her choice, there are more likely chances that your product will be sold rapidly. Reason being, compared to the scenario where a customer is not comfortable with the method of payment and might search the same product elsewhere.

Payment options you can offer on your website are:

• Credit card

• Debit Card

• eChecks

Once you have got the website going, we’ll be happy to assist you. Let’s set up an online payment solution that’s best for you and your business. Contact us to Merchant Stronghold & find out more.