An online shopping cart is a necessity for any successful e-commerce site. Most sites, particularly those of small and mid-size businesses, rely on outside services to host their shopping carts: The software is simply too intricate, and the program’s needs too many, for every business to create their own cart from scratch. Here are a few features to look at when determining whether or not this service is right for your business.
These days, customers expect some sort of members system where they can sign in, store billing information, and track orders. Customers especially appreciate not having to type their address and credit card information every time, and being able to track their orders helps by making customers feel more secure. Your shopping cart should also offer a password recovery system, so that a customer does not have to start a new account if they happen to forget their password.
Not every customer will want to pay the same way, so your service should be sure to offer multiple payment options. For example, you should make sure the system can handle the major credit cards: at least Visa and MasterCard, but you should also consider shopping carts that can process American Express and Discover, as well.
In order to tell your customer the total cost and provide checkout in real-time, your system will need to be able to accurately calculate the appropriate taxes, as well as shipping and handling charges. A good shopping cart program will allow you to enter several different tax options, depending on the customer’s billing address. Also, your service should be able to calculate the shipping charges for the total order, based on either the dollar amount or the actual weight.
Coupons and discounts are great ways to increase sales, so you will want to make sure your ecommerce storefront software can handle these things. Gift certificates and gift cards can also boost business, so be sure yours has a way to allow customers to redeem them.
When customers sign up, they are providing you with their personal information. You will want to put that Information to good use. One way is to allow customers to opt in to newsletters and other mailings. Your site should provide a space for customers to indicate whether they want to receive your emails; the most successful approach is to have the box already checked to opt them in, and allow the customer to uncheck the box if the don’t want to receive your emails.
Depending on the nature of your business, there are a number of other features to consider when shopping for ecommerce software. Gift wrap is another feature that many customers appreciate: In this case, the online shopping cart allows the customer to check a box indicating that the item is a gift and should be wrapped for an additional fee.
Digital products, such as eBooks, music, and other computer files, are being sold online more often. However, when a customer is buying an eBook or a song from you, the last thing they want is to have to wait for you to wake up or get home and send the file to them. Instead, you should look for software that also provides digital delivery, whether via automatically generated emails, or an account page that allows customers to immediately download items they have purchased.
Tags: Business, E-commerce, Online Shopping Cart
The laws in Maryland regarding car accidents can be confusing and many drivers misunderstand key facts and regulations. Before you get behind the wheel in Baltimore, learn which commonly held beliefs about car accidents are fact and which are fiction.
1. Fact or Fiction: Drunk drivers cause most accidents. Since you don’t drink and you’re rarely on the road after “happy hour,” you have nothing to worry about.
Fiction: According to the Maryland State Highway Administration, car accidents caused by inattentive or distracted drivers outnumbered those caused by drunk or impaired drivers — by almost five-to-one. So don’t assume that because you drive responsibly and don’t drink, it can’t happen to you; driver distraction occurs at all hours of the day and in all kinds of driving conditions.
2. Fact or Fiction: If another driver hits my car, their insurance company will pay for my damages and injuries.
Fiction: Auto insurance is mandatory — but the reality is that not everyone on the road is covered. In fact, auto insurance within Baltimore is typically much more expensive than other cities in Maryland. As a result, low income drivers who rely on their cars to get to work may skimp on insurance to save costs. The bottom line — just because you obey the law and have insurance for your vehicle does not mean the other driver does.
3. Fact or Fiction: You don’t need to pay for Maryland Personal Injury Protection because you already have health insurance that will help cover my costs if you are injured.
Fiction: Maryland Personal Injury Protection or PIP is a type of coverage you can purchase with your auto insurance policy that pays medical bills and lost wages caused by car accident injuries. While coverage only extends to the amount your policy covers, it is worth purchasing. The benefits included in PIP are available regardless of what other benefits you may receive from other sources (including the other driver, if he or she is at fault), and your health insurance won’t pay for lost wages. PIP also covers medical costs for your passengers in addition to you.
4. Fact or Fiction: Responsibility in a car accident is pretty cut and dry; anyone can tell who was to blame.
Fiction: Determine responsibility in a car accident can actually be quite complex. Police reports, witnesses and detailed accident scene investigations can all play an important role in evaluating the cause of an accident and who was at fault.
5. Fact or Fiction: If you’re injured in a car accident, you need an attorney.
Fact: An experienced attorney can help protect your rights following a traumatic injury. You can concentrate on your recovery while your legal counsel investigates your claim, determines who was at fault and prepares a case with your best interests in mind.
Come to the lawyers who handle only personal injury cases. Let the Law Offices of Plaxen & Adler put the expertise to work for you!
With 9 convenient offices and over 50 years of combined legal experience, the firm is one of the most recognized personal injury law firms in Maryland. Since 1982, the Law Offices of Plaxen & Adler has been helping victims just like you. Unlike most law firms, the firm only handle personal injury cases.
Big insurance companies have lawyers who are paid to make sure you receive little or no money for your injuries. If you don’t hire the right lawyer, you could lose some or all of your legal rights. The Law Offices of Plaxen & Adler will work hard to protect your interests and get you the best result possible.
Tags: Baltimore Lawyers, Maryland, Personal Injury Attorneys