E-commerce, selling online etc.

E-commerce (electronic commerce) can be defined as the buying and selling of goods and services on the internet, or world wide web. In practice, e-commerce and the term 'e-business' are often used interchangably. For online selling of retail items 'e-tailing' may be used.

The advantage of selling on the web is its 24-hour availability and global audience. Because of this the web is rapidly becoming a multibillion pound source of revenue for businesses all over the world. Nearly all big retailers have an e-commerce presence on the web.

E-commerce transactions between businesses are referred to as business-to-business or B2B. E-commerce that is conducted between businesses and consumers is referred to as business-to-consumer or B2C. The latter is the type of e-commerce conducted by companies such as Amazon.

Some common examples of e-commerce are:-

• Email
• Online shopping/order tracking
• Online banking
• Domestic/international payment systems
• Shopping cart software
• E-tickets
• Online bill payments
• Buying stocks & shares
• Transferring of funds from one account to another

A third of people shopping online use a search engine to find what they are want, and about a quarter find websites via word of mouth.

When an online shopper has a good first experience with a website, 60% of the time they will return to that website to buy again. Online stores are open 24 hours a day and many people have internet access both at work and at home. In contrast, a visit to a conventional retail store requires travel; it must also take place pretty much during business hours.

Books are some of the most popular items to be bought online, as are clothes, shoes and accessories. Cosmetics, nutrition products, and groceries are increasingly being purchased online.

Remember that your website is your virtual shop window on the world!

See an example of an e-commerce website designed by M35 Design.