Ecommerce and the WAHM

E-commerce, or doing business online, has become its own virtual world full of possibility for the mother of today. The business of online sales is a continuously growing trend that will simply keep growing. E-commerce continues to grow as many people who are confined to their place of work or to their household while home with children know that it saves a lot of time. Shoppers buy items online because they have a large selection of items to choose from, they don’t have the hassle of driving and waiting in line, and, most importantly, it’s convenient. I can now order my groceries online and have them delivered to my door by 6:30 am the next morning. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that!

Shoppers showed hesitation in the beginning of e-commerce as they were unsure of the safety and security of buying online. However, people now see the popularity as well as the secure payment processing choices available and realize that this may just be the smart way to buy. Paypal has become a common household term, and the company has made both buying and accepting money online a no-brainer procedure.

The beauty of the Internet is that it has excluded geographical factors. It doesn’t matter whether you are located in Vancouver, Toronto, or a small town. An online store can be run from anywhere that the Internet is available.

Through my own e-commerce experience (selling websites online), I have met many moms who have been sewing blankets for friends’ babies, or who have developed a new style of baby carrier, or wanted to offer their fitness knowledge to others. They knew they had a great idea, and knew that taking it the e-commerce level would bring them more exposure than simple ads in a paper or participating in local craft shows

Today turnkey e-commerce storefronts are now readily available for the computer-savvy mom. There is no longer the need for expensive software packages or pricey consultants. CMS, or Content Management Systems, allow you to build an entire website using an easy to use online store control panel where you can create, edit and modify all of your products, categories and pages. Many services are now geared towards the WAHM (Work At Home Mom) with a budget in mind. and offer an e-commerce shopping cart that is easy to use. Services such as this allow the mom who knows quite a bit about the computer, but hasn’t ventured into the world of html, the opportunity to do it all herself. Many of these services offer resources for e-commerce beginners to be able to jump right in and sell products online.

With the increase in popularity of e-commerce though, e-store owners will have to find a way to set themselves apart. To attract more customers, they will not only have to increase the number of available products and services, but will have to pay attention to such elements as attractive website design and user-friendliness.

So what does all this mean for mom? It simply offers a mom the opportunity to have her children at home with her, and still be able to run a successful business whether living in a major metropolitan area, or in Small Town Canada. It means mom doesn’t have to break the bank starting it up. It allows mom to bring her ideas to the online world. Most importantly, it allows MOM to become MOMPRENEUR.

The 5 “Must-Haves” When Starting Your Business
1. A clean, attractive website that is easy to navigate. Whether you are designing the website yourself, or having a professional develop it for you, ensure that your site is laid out as easily as possible for the online consumer. You can have the prettiest website around, but if the customer isn't able to navigate around to find what they are looking for, they will leave the store and be on to the next.
2. A shopping cart that is integrated into a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS allows you to easily update content without any HTML knowledge. It is similar to using a word processor. Whether you want to add products, photos or even a new page, you can then maintain your site without the added maintenance fees through your web designer.
3. A privacy policy. This will protect your company as well as providing your customers with trust in your site. Online buying is highly based on trust, and your customers will want to know what you plan to do with the information you take from them
4. A payment processing system that is secure. Increases in fraud and identity theft have created a negative effect on the e-commerce world. Customers want to know that they are paying securely. SSL (secure socket layer) encryption protects your customers' sensitive information, including credit card and personal information, during online transactions. Using a company such as Paypal is an excellent idea for online merchants as all of the transactions are done directly through paypal. You will never see any of the customer's financial information.
5. Great customer service. Just because you are selling online, don't neglect the personal touch. Many features can be added to an online store to assist with this. There are many services now that offer "Live Chat" features so that you can talk to your customer online in real time. As well, some customers just want to hear a voice, and adding a toll-free number to your site can give you a definate advantage.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Cher Fitchett, mother of two little girls, is the owner of Kayzoe Designs, www.kayzoe.com , a website design company specializing in sites for WAHM.

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