Progenda Media Services is ready to set up you e-commerce site. Below is a break down of how e-commerce works to get you familiar with the process. Call us with questions or to discuss your project.


How E-Commerce Works
When you first begin the process of providing products or services online, it can be quite overwhelming. However, with a basic understanding of the way things work and a managed solutions provider like Progenda Media Services, your online transition will be quick and easy.


The Basics

  1. A customer is surfing the Internet for products and/or services.
  2. They come across your web site. To make this web site visible on the Internet you need to host it with a hosting company.
  3. As the customer adds services and/or products that they wish to purchase, they are placed into a shopping cart. ( Miva Merchant for example ). Once they have finished shopping on your web site they will "Check Out". They now fill out the credit card information on a secure page (SSL) on your web site to pay for their purchases.
  4. Once the credit card information fields are completely filled out, the customer will hit "Submit". This information is then transmitted to a Credit Card Transaction Provider for authorization (Verisyn and Link Point for example). The order is then either declined or accepted. This process takes about three seconds.
  5. If the transaction is approved, the information is then transmitted to a merchant account (Card Service International, for example). There it will stay for about 24 to 72 hours.
  6. The money that is in your merchant account will then be placed into your business account.


Online Store Operation Methods

  1. Simple Check Receipt Method - This is the cheapest and easiest way to run your online store. When an order is placed, an e-mail will be sent to you telling you what the order was for. Your customer will then need to send you a check in the mail for payment of products or services before they receive them. This method is not recommended, as the reason for shopping online is convenience. However, in certain instances this might be the way you will need to run your online store.

    Pros:
    (1) Simple.
    (2) Cost effective.
    (3) No chance for credit card charge backs.

    Cons:
    (1) Not convenient for your shoppers.
    (2) Takes too long to receive payment.
    (3) Higher rate of canceled orders.
  2. Simple Credit Card Validation - This is the most popular method for those needing an affordable way to operate an online store. This is also the best choice if you just want to test the E-Commerce waters. Once an order is placed on your store, you will be sent an e-mail telling you what the order was for and your customer will be sent an e-mail telling them the order was received and is being processed. You will then need to log on to your store, view the order, and take the credit card information from the order. At your physical store or home, you will then use a credit card swipe/punch machine to run the credit card transaction manually. Once the credit card is approved, you can then send your customer the product or service they ordered.

    Pros:
    (1) Simple.
    (2) Cost effective - you do not need an online merchant bank and payment portal.
    (3) Quick and easy to set up.

    Cons:
    (1) Transaction is not instant. Your customers must wait on you.
    (2) You must be available to manually charge credit to complete the order.
    (3) If you receive a large number of orders, it becomes time-consuming.
  3. Real-time Credit Card Transaction - This is the way all the larger online stores do it. With this method, the credit card transaction becomes part of the ordering process. An online shopper decides to purchase from your store. They will use your shopping cart to purchase items and, when ready, "Check Out". During the "Check Out" phase they will enter their credit card information securely and submit it. Within three seconds, they will be told if their credit card was declined or accepted. Once accepted, they will receive order confirmation and a receipt. When the order has been placed and after the credit card is approved, you will be sent an e-mail with all the details. The money is automatically deducted from your customer's credit card and deposited into your business account.

    Pros:
    (1) Convenient for you and your shoppers.
    (2) Instant credit card transactions.
    (3) Professional - all large E-Commerce sites operate their stores this way.

    Cons:
    (1) Cost - Requires an online merchant account and payment portal.

The Steps To Get Started

  1. The first step is to get approval on a merchant account. We refer people to Card Service International. They accept about 99% of all applications and have no contracts. All merchant accounts are month to month. If you already have an online merchant account, you will not need another one. Make sure not to confuse a business merchant account with an online merchant account. Most banks provide merchant accounts, but only a few support online transactions.
  2. The next step is to find a web hosting provider that offers E-Commerce hosting. An E-Commerce hosting package should have some sort of shopping cart support for you to organize your products and make buying easy for your customer.
  3. Once you receive your merchant number and you have decided on a hosting provider and shopping cart, you then need to decide on a transaction provider. A transaction provider (or payment gateway) will tell your customers if their credit card was declined or accepted within a few seconds. If you do not want to take real-time credit card transactions, you will not need this. You can always use a credit card swipe machine at your home or business to avoid the fees associated with payment gateways.
  4. The final step is to integrate the merchant account, shopping cart and the transaction provider together.
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