Product Roundup: Upgrading Your Web Presence
Getting Online
A basic site is easier to publish than a brochure, and gives you access to literally millions of potential customers. No special graphics or computer skills are required, as many Web-hosting providers offer step-by-step "wizards" that make Web site creation easier than putting together a PowerPoint presentation. At Register.com, for example, a basic promotional Web site with five pages of graphics and text, costs less than $5 per month and a 20-page, 50MB site costs less than $15 per month. Add domain registration (e.g., www.yourcompany.com) and e-mail, and you've created a powerful, instant, low-cost marketing conduit to your sales force, for a total of about $15 to $25 per month.
If you already accept credit card payments, you can add basic shopping-cart functionality to your site for only $5 more per month. For a site with powerful, direct online billing capabilities, Secure Service Level (SSL) Manager, XML, and Cold Fusion support will cost about $35 per month. An online credit card merchant account (and gateway fees) from goEmerchant.com or a similar service provider will add about $25 to $50 per month, and transaction fees should total approximately 3% of each sale.
Beyond Shopping Carts
For the present, powerful business tools for such functions as supply chain management, streaming video, and live-chat support are not typically included in packages offered by service providers such as Register.com. But since these services often support XML, Perl, Cold Fusion, and other programming tools, advanced capabilities can easily be added when your business is ready for them.
Real-time, online sales and customer support is one of the most popular e-commerce add-ons. LivePerson Sales Edition, for example, analyzes Web site traffic, and invites likely prospects to a one-on-one "chat" with a sales rep. The company's Service Edition enables delivery of secure, easy-to-manage, in-context, real-time customer support for product, sales service, or account questions. Customers can access live-chat-based support from any page on your site, and automated management tools let you optimize both productivity and customer satisfaction.
With so many Web sites offering similar user experiences, standing out from the crowd can sometimes offer a real competitive advantage. Add-ons, such as [V]Host from Oddcast Technologies and Vox Proxy from Right Seat Software, deliver animated virtual hosts that fit into just about any Web context from e-commerce to online training. Oddcast's realistic [V]Hosts can even speak in 15 different languages.
Sidebar: Register.com: Launch Your Business on the Web
Register.com (Nasdaq: RCOM) has recently expanded their Web hosting solutions specifically for business users. Register.com offers scalable solutions to fit any business need, from Do-It-Yourself template-driven Web sites to E-Commerce-enabled hosting. Register.com allows businesses to build, manage and promote their Web presence with one trusted brand. All Register.com services include toll-free, 24/7 customer support.
At Register.com you can find and register your unique Web addresses (domain names), build and manage your Web site, set up business e-mail services (info@yourcompany.com) and find new customers through popular search engines. Register.com offers clear, step-by-step instructions to make it easy to launch your Web business, and their expert support technicians are always a toll-free call (or click) away.
Visit www.register.com today to find out how easy it can be to launch your Web business.
