Since the explosion of services such as Amazon and eBay in the late 90s, ecommerce has changed the way we buy and sell products — and the way we interact with businesses. The term “ecommerce” is quite loaded and highly variable.
There are many different ways to buy and sell online. The four most common categories of ecommerce are business to business (B2B), business to consumer (B2C), consumer to business (C2B), and consumer to consumer (C2C). Your business likely fits into one of these categories.
Buying online has become the norm as customers prefer to shop from the comfort of their homes. In addition, ecommerce grows more convenient each year, and consumers are becoming increasingly accustomed to it. This represents a great opportunity for your business.
While the ecommerce environment is saturated with information, products and options, in the grand scheme of things, its potential for growth and, in turn, your business’s potential for expansion into untapped markets, is exponential. In fact, global retail ecommerce sales are projected to reach $4.5 trillion by 2021.
The cost of starting a business today is more affordable than ever — many businesses can exist entirely online (sans brick and mortar) and thrive. Ecommerce has reduced the barrier to entry to the extent that a business can now get off the ground and thrive with only a landing page and connected payment system.
Selling online presents a unique set of challenges for any entrepreneur. It’s up to you to bridge the gap between your website and the customer’s wallet and to do so in a way that’s secure and limits friction. Offering flexible payment options when selling physical or digital goods and services can help tip the balance in your favor. Many web-based shopping carts offer one or more solutions, but very few offer all you need. When it comes to selling online, Ontraport is your one-stop solution offering all of the following ecommerce features to manage an online storefront at maximum efficiency, facilitating a remarkable experience for both you and your customers:
- Payment processing
- Payment gateway integration
- Secure order forms
- One-click upsell forms
- Coupon codes
- Payment plans
- Recurring payments
- Sales automation
- Cart abandonment automation
Overall the web is pretty sloppy, but an online store can’t afford to be.
- Paul Graham, Co-Founder of Y Combinator
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