E-Commerce News: How To

How to Travel the World With Your iPhone
October 27, 2009

An inventory for a trip to a tropical beach could read like this: Swimsuit, check. Sunscreen, check. Passport, check. And iPhone, check. Well, make that a possibly giant check, drawn from your bank account. Unaware travelers can blithely rack up eye-popping bills on their iPhones while traveling abroad. The international roaming calling rates are bad enough, but data usage is what really delivers the sting.

Choosing a Desktop Linux Distro, Part 2: Installation and Support
October 23, 2009

With more than 200 Linux distributions currently listed at Linux Online, it's perhaps an understatement to say that newcomers to the field face a broad array of choices. In addition to considering their own goals for Linux, however, potential users may also need to take other factors into account. Hardware considerations are often foremost among them.

Leveraging Social Media to Boost E-Commerce Holiday Sales
October 21, 2009

Word of mouth has long been a priceless asset to any business, and technology has expanded the playing field in a whole new way with mobile messaging and social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more. Every day, it seems hard to avoid the buzz about social media -- who's on it, what they're doing and what the latest trend is.

Choosing a Desktop Linux Distro, Part 1: Getting What You Want
October 16, 2009

That there are many compelling reasons to switch to Linux is no longer a matter of much debate. Excellent security and low -- or nonexistent -- costs, to name just two, have already persuaded countless organizations and individuals around the globe to eschew the world of end-user license agreements and opt for the freedom and openness of Linux instead.

Working Your Way to a Greener SMB
September 28, 2009

Big businesses often use big bucks to go green. Small businesses, on the other hand, haven't a dollar to spare even for a good cause like saving the environment. Shouldn't they just pass on the whole green scheme -- at least until the economy improves? Not necessarily.

How to Build a Web Site Without Borders
September 24, 2009

The world is yours, or at least that's the promise e-commerce offers. Get your products, services or information online, and you can gain customers anywhere. It can be challenging, though, to build an active worldwide customer base that buys and comes back for more.

Speaking the Right Language Online
September 08, 2009

A rose by any other name can raise quite the stink, making the act of localizing Web sites to fit foreign cultures all the more thorny. "Ben and Jerry launched their 'black and tan' flavor of ice cream without realizing that this phrase referred to British soldiers that were best known for their cruelty in the fight for Ireland's independence," said Nataly Kelly pf Common Sense Advisory.

How to Keep XP Running in a Windows 7 World
July 17, 2009

Many organizations are facing a major decision about what to do with their PC operating system: upgrade it for all users, phase in an upgrade, or stay with their current OS. Migrating poses challenges from equipment upgrades, to installing and configuring the new OS, to moving user data and settings. Many organizations will instead choose to stay with XP.

The Top 5 To-Dos Before Kicking Off Your E-Commerce Project
June 26, 2009

So you are ready to embark on an e-commerce project. You are not alone. The Economist found that of 15 major industries studied in late 2008, only one -- e-commerce -- had a sunny outlook for 2009. My analyst tells me that 20 percent to 30 percent of firms that do business online will start a major e-commerce project in the next twelve months.

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 11: Roping In That Rascally ROI
April 30, 2009

Ask Jennifer Derrig if she can tell you her return on investment for her Web site, and she has the numbers at the ready. "I look at it the way I would a physical storefront. If I went out to get a retail space in a prime location, it would cost me $5,000 a month," she told TechNewsWorld. "I pay less than $600 for Homestead, including the URLs." From that point on the math is simple."

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 10: Minding Your Privacy Ps and Qs
April 16, 2009

At a time when identity theft is a common concern, protecting the personal information of anyone visiting your Web site is something that every business should be thinking about. While legislation may vary from state to state in terms of how much you're required to do to protect your customers' personal information, putting measures in place is good for business, pure and simple.

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 9: Security and Transaction Processing
April 02, 2009

It's all well and good to have a business site that encourages online purchasing and open dialog. However, with every interaction comes the associated risks and requirements in terms of payment processing and security. So, it's important to do your homework when it comes to securing your Web site.

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 8: Content Management Simplified
March 19, 2009

You might think of content management as a tuning-up process for your Web site so it's always running in top form. For small-business owners, however, keeping up with the job of content management can be a trying exercise they would just as soon leave at the bottom of the to-do pile. Without change, though, a Web site can languish and simply not do the job it's supposed to.

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 7: Analyze to Optimize
March 05, 2009

With budgets getting tighter than ever, small-business owners have to make the best use of every penny they can to stay ahead of the game. While you might think you have a first-class Web site that seems to be attracting lots of visitors, how do you really know if it's working? Is it delivering the results you want -- or is it just window dressing?

Rising to the Challenge of Capturing Customers in 2009
March 03, 2009

This year promises to be one of the most challenging in recent memory for online retail. The strategies and tactics that online retailers have relied upon in the past will not work in this harsher, new consumer climate. This year will clearly separate winners from losers.

Telltale Signs of E-Commerce Fraud
February 25, 2009

In a time of economic crisis, there tends to be an increase in the number of people that turn to criminal activity. Although petty crime is usually one area that shows a significant upswing, an additional form of criminal activity on the rise is fraud. Before you can stop fraud, you need to know how to define it in order to properly identify it.