eCommerce Web Hosting

If you are setting up an online store, or if you want to make your business Web site better, it is a good idea to consider ecommerce Web hosts. This is because there are certain features, tools and options that an ecommerce business needs that are unique. This means that just a regular static Web site is not good enough. In fact, if you are looking to attract a lot of customers, you need the service and reliability that comes with paying a little extra for an ecommerce Web host.

Features offered by ecommerce Web hosts

There are many different options (that come with different pricing) when it comes to offerings from ecommerce Web hosts. These features can make your business Web site more interactive and attractive. They can also make your ecommerce business Web site easier to for you customers to use. This is vital if you want your customers to be satisfied with their online experience so that they will come back. Some of the features to look for include:

Images. You want images on your ecommerce Web site. Most ecommerce Web hosts support capability for a lot of images. Because images take up disc space, and require more bandwidth, ecommerce Website hosts charge more money than traditional Web hosts. But it is usually well worth it. Customers are more likely to buy something if they see a picture of it.

You can also get image capability with interactive features. Being able to see the item in different available colors and patterns, as well as rotate it, are features that some customers enjoy using.

Audio and video. Make sure that your ecommerce Web hosting offers enough space and bandwidth for audio and video. How-to tutorials are popular, and some businesses sell products that can make use of these. If you sell gadgets, a video displaying the features can be helpful in selling it. Generally, customers want to know as much as possible about items before they buy them.

Shopping cart. Look for a good shopping cart program. Some ecommerce Web hosts include these in their packages. These programs allow customers to choose items. The best shopping carts offer the ability to easily add and remove items, as well as change quantities.

While some ecommerce Web hosts offer merchant account services, many don’t. If you want to make sure everything is in one place, you might look for an integrated merchant account that provides ecommerce Web hosting. If you get your merchant account services from a separate source, you will want to make sure that they are compatible with the shopping cart program you have.

Scalability. Does your ecommerce Web host have the ability to handle it if you see an increase in traffic? Most ecommerce Web hosts are flexible, and have platforms that allow you to easily expand your Web site.

Maintenance. Many ecommerce Web hosts also offer Web maintenance and updating. This can be a valuable thing to have included.

Web design. Check to see if you ecommerce Web host offers design. If you do not have a Web designer in your business, it can be worth it to pay for design services. This is because a professionally designed business Web site is more attractive than one that is amateur. If you want to look professional, you need to have a professional do your Web design.

Customer reviews and forums. Studies are showing that customers are more likely to buy items that have been rated or reviews. They also like business Web sites that allow for interaction with the business and with other customers. Find out if you can set up your ecommerce business Web site to have customer ratings and reviews on products. Also see about setting up a forum for your customers. Many ecommerce Web hosts can make sure these features are included on your site.

Building your online presence

If you want to build your online presence (and you should), ecommerce Web hosts can be very valuable. It is true, though, that they cost more. But they provide features, as well as a level of service and reliability that you simply will not find with less expensive Web hosts. Indeed, you may find that an inferior Web host leads to constant problems: your site crashes, loads slowly or is inconvenient and difficult to navigate. All of these problems can result in lost customers and revenue.

A regular Web host can’t support a catalog and many other ecommerce tools without being strained. Ecommerce Web hosts can provide for most of your needs in one place.