Design an E-Commerce Web Hosting Page
by Christopher J. Pendergraf, Demand MediaE-commerce is the business of buying and selling items and services online. Purchasing items from e-commerce websites such as Amazon, which reported a $645 million net income in 2008, are becoming more popular. Potential business owners are now turning to the web to market and sell their products, but the process to starting an e-commerce based website can often be confusing. Learning where to start may be the best way to design an e-commerce website.
Choosing an E-commerce Platform
Finding the right e-commerce platform that meets your needs may be the most crucial decision you'll make in your endeavor. If you choose a platform that meets your needs now, but not in the long run, switching over to another may be costly. Available platforms are paid and free. Some of the more popular free e-commerce platforms are Magento Commerce, osCommerce and ZenCart. Elements E-Commerce, ATG Commerce and Oracle E-Business, for large corporations, are all popular paid e-commerce platforms. Conduct as much research as possible on the e-commerce suite you are considering. Be sure to examine the platform's extendability. Also consider the level of support you will receive from the developer. Some of the free e-commerce suites are supported completely by the community. Community support may not fit your needs. Many paid e-commerce suites provide you with a dedicated support staff.
Choosing a Web Hosting Company
Thousands of web hosting companies are available to choose from. Many e-commerce platform developers will recommend a web hosting company and guarantee that the platform works seamlessly with the host. The recommended host may cost a bit extra, but the price may be worth the peace of mind you'll receive from knowing your website is fully supported by the platform developer and web host. If you don't go with a recommended web host, or the e-commerce platform developer does not recommend one, read various forums to get input from other customers to get an idea of which web hosts to use and which to avoid.
Designing the Site
If you have no experience building websites, hiring a designer may be your best bet in getting your site up and running. Many web design firms will install, configure and customize your e-commerce website for you and provide support. If you are bold, you can attempt to do this yourself. Web design software such as Adobe Dreamweaver may be an invaluable tool in customizing your website. Many websites offer free tutorials on HTML and web design, and you may be able to read the e-commerce platform's documentation for more information on specific information on customizing the platform to fit your needs.
