Three Things You Need to Get Started in E-Commerce

E-Commerce is a booming segment of the economy, particularly for small businesses. More than 20 million people are shopping online and that number grows larger every year as more people get online and realize that web sites are just as secure as their local Wal-Mart or shopping mall (if not more so). If you want to get in on the e-commerce boom, you're going to need a few basics.

The most important element is a web site obviously. No matter what you are selling your web site must look professional – no one is going to give out their credit card information to a site that looks like it was set up by a teenager in a basement. Good e-commerce sites are easy to navigate with everything just a few clicks from the main page.

Second, you're going to need a method of accepting money. In today's e-commerce world that means being able to accept debit and credit cards. Cash and check payments may have been ok in a time of face-to-face business dealings but not anymore, especially not if you're dealing with buyers from all around the world. Thankfully, there are a number of sites, such as Paypal.com, which you can use to accept debit and credit card payments for you.

Finally, you'll need a way to distribute whatever it is you are selling. If your e-commerce venture revolves around a product, then you need to have an easy way of getting that product from you to your customer. And make sure the costs of that distribution are figured in to your fees. If you provide a service or a product, such as an e-book, that can be delivered over the Internet, you will need to work closely with your web developer to make sure you have the proper infrastructure in place and that you are comfortable using it.