Visitor traffic dips

PC Data Online found that traffic to leading ecommerce sites declined about 4 percent in February following an 18 percent seasonal drop in January. Goldman Sachs analysts cited port-holiday seasonality, a slowdown in rate on new consumer adopting ecommerce and slower overall consumer spending as factors in slower month-by-month growth of Internet retailing. However, this year's figures are up 63 percent over last year. Hey. Did anybody see that? I'll say it again. We're up 63 percent over last year! Some blues. Features that will keep your sales growing

Consulting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers released a survey that identified site features that are most likely to capture sales. The research found that with exception of search capabilities and close-up product views, most Website features are never used by majority of Internet shoppers. The search function is overwhelmingly top feature used by consumers, with 77 percent saying they have used search functions while shopping.

Other site features such as wish-lists and personalization were found to be less important to shoppers. As a side note, we found a study by International eRetail Association that listed wish-lists as a tool that works well for building loyalty, so go easy on making assumptions based on Internet studies.

The take-away on all of recent information about Internet retailing is that it continues to grow rapidly in spite of gloom that fills business media. To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of death of retail ecommerce have been greatly exagerated.

Features:

Shopping Cart Premium members can set up a shopping cart that links directly from their site to PayPal.

Send an Invoice If your services or product prices vary, you can send customers an invoice from PayPal once purchase price has been established.

Option B - eBay

Consider selling your products or services through eBay. You can accept checks and money orders by postal mail, or you can accept credit cards and checks using PayPal, or eBay’s version of PayPal - BillPoint. You can provide links to your site with each item you list for auction. You can also set up a reserve amount - least dollar amount you will accept for your service or product.

Ebay also offers an affiliate program.

Option C - ClickBank

Sign up as a merchant with ClickBank.net. There are some fees involved, plus you have to determine what percentage of each sale that you will allow referring site to earn. Affiliates with ClickBank can choose merchants they like (higher commission percentages do better) and then place links on their sites. There is a setup fee for merchants, but you'll also be providing your site a great deal of exposure. Plus, ClickBank allows you to accept credit cards and other methods of payment. You'll be setting up your own affiliate program!

ClickBank also offers an affiliate program: http://zzz.clickbank.net/r/?abelle

Option D - Find a Host that provides Shopping Carts

Many hosting packages are set up with shopping carts with a buy feature. Do your homework. Check on setup fees and monthly fees. Make sure it’s a reputable company so you aren’t worried about your money transactions.

These are just some of options that are available for setting up shop without going broke. I'm sure that there are many more options available - it just takes some net research.