From a major mass retailer to a small e-commerce store just getting started, all retail websites share the same primary building blocks no matter how large or small they are. Before you officially open your retail site for business, here are the tools you need first to be ready for online sales.

1. Similar to choosing a name for a traditional store, you need to select a domain name. Also called a URL, a domain name refers to how customers will identify your website (e.g. www.HancockToys.com). Domain names must be registered with a domain name registrar, such as 1and1.com.

2. In combination with a domain name, you’ll need web hosting for your site. Web hosting effectively provides a home for your website and stores it on a server where any user typing your domain name will find it. If you’re an internet noob or have very little technical expertise, you may want to consider purchasing a web hosting package including more customer service and implementation help. Most web hosting services charge a monthly payment and some may charge fees based on a percentage of your sales or a flat percentage per sale.

3. Find a website designer or a site design company that can create and maintain an attractive, intuitive website that will impress your custoers. This option tends to be more costly than opting for a complete site package, however, your website will be completely unique and you’ll have more flexibility to make changes in the future.

4. In order to accept online payments through credit cards, you will need to obtain a merchant account. Most small business owners (with evidence that they are a registered business, such as a business license) can obtain a merchant account from their local bank. Another possibility would be to obtain a merchant account through a web hosting package.

5. After you have a merchant account lined up, you will also need a payment gateway. This refers to the system that automates transactions between you and the customer. Payment gateways allow you to instantly process, verify and accept or decline a credit card transaction, all through a secure internet connection.

• Choosing An Internet Merchant Account Surf to Google and perform a search on "Internet Merchant Account". The outcomes are astounding (472,000 results!) If you have created a web based business and need to accept credit card payments, your choices are limitless. Prior to you partner with a provider, take time to understand the different......
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• Make The Most Of Your Internet Business Marketing on the web involves a whole range of strategies, techniques, tools and competences that combine in different ways depending on the business model a certain business follows or is committed to. Sales rule on the Internet but the lucrative possibilities are very wide including affiliate marketing, lead-based sales, pay-per-click......
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• Article Marketing Tips For Online Business Last week, we discussed about forum marketing tips and now its time to discuss about article marketing. Article marketing is a wise method of promoting your online business free of cost. Though there are numerous advantages of publishing articles, its a good replacement for the pay-per-click advertisements. Also, it places......
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• How To Open An Internet Merchant Account Internet Merchant Accounts - credit card processing service To open a merchant account online, you just need to find and choose the right merchant account provider, sign up an application for the account and wait for it to get approved. To open a shipping account online, you also need to......
• Top Ten Website Mistakes Businesses Make #10 Welcome to our informational series from yours truly and Transmutation Sciences. This series, “The Top Ten Website Mistakes Businesses Make,” is being created as a checklist to which you can apply to your own website and determine whether you need professional help … erm, the professional help of Transmutation Sciences!......
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