Kanoodle also has basic reporting features like Google Adwords and Overture. It does appear to be a good tool and I have found it useful to supplement advertising that I do with Google Adwords and Overture. However, one thing that I have found most helpful from Kanoodle is using $5 credit towards receiving a list of keywords. This is a great start for those who are starting advertising on Internet but are not too sure about where to start and do not know what keywords to use for their site.

Using a separate design and hosting service.

By separating design and hosting, you have more choices. Thus, you can have more control over both your budget and your site. Technical incompatibilities are a risk when taking this approach, however. Be sure your designer is familiar with your hosting service and it's technical capabilities. To help facilitate information flow and minimize technical problems:

(1) Choose a short list of hosts that offer ecommerce capabilities you require and pass "reliability" tests. Read "Don't Make These Hosting Mistakes" at http://www.take-payments-online.com/ECommerceWebHosting.html for questions to ask and other mistakes to avoid. (2) Find a Web designer experienced in ecommerce applications. (3) Together, decide on hosting service and ecommerce systems you will use.

Making Decision

Deciding upon right combination will take some research. One way to gather a list of hosting options is to first find ecommerce sites that you like and/or have ecommerce abilities similar to your needs, then ask about sites' hosting and ecommerce providers.

Asking for referrals from business acquaintances is another. Many times, people are more than happy to share their positive experiences. For example, I use five different hosts and am generally pleased with all of them. When asked about hosting, however, I always recommend Lexiconn.com (my WebSiteMarketingPlan.com site host) because of exceptional help desk service and support documents.

Another way to discover hosting options is to look for online advertisements. You can generally find these designated as "sponsored" listings in search engines and on informational Web sites. While there is no guarantee all of companies you find will be high-quality, willingness to pay for advertisements can be an indication of commitment.

Diligently decide upon ecommerce features and choose a host with those features in mind. By doing so, you are creating a smoother path to ecommerce success.