Let’s discuss the key factors that you need to look for when choosing your shopping cart software:

Third party shopping cart? You can accept online orders using a third party shopping cart service for a monthly fee. Although installing your own shopping cart on your website may cost more, you can save money in the long run because there will be no monthly fees to pay.

Secured Socket Layers. Make sure that your shopping cart system is equipped with at least 128-bit SSL certificate to protect your business as well as your customers from fraud and ID theft.

Payment Gateway Types. There are many payment gateways used to process different credit cards. It is very important to make sure that your cart software supports the payment gateway systems that are most commonly used by credit cardholders.

User-friendly. There are shopping carts that allow customers to simply place items in the cart while browsing the site and review the items before check-out. If they change their mind and want to add more, they can switch to a page without losing the items that are already added in their cart. If they want to remove an item, they can just click on the remove button and proceed.

Database Compatibility. See to it that your shopping cart system will work well with the database you use for your products listing. If not, you may have to manually add up each item or product which is very inconvenient.

Technical Support. Make sure that your shopping cart provider gives 24/7 support particularly in addressing technical issues. If this is your first time to try out online retailing or internet marketing, you will need all the help you can get whether you are using an installed shopping cart system or a third party service.

The Design. A well-designed shopping cart can truly enhance your business website. Not only will it lend a professional look to your online shop, customers will feel more confident in placing an order.

Additional Features. There are shopping cart software that includes features that can enhance your marketing performance. Having an autoresponder to send out thank-you emails is an effective way to show your appreciation to your customers.

Payment Process Compatibility. Check from your Merchant Account provider if your preferred shopping cart is compatible with their payment processing system. If you are using a Third Party processing service, ask if they can integrate the shopping cart software with their system.

1)    Create a strong headline. In any marketing ad, an effective headline is one that captures the audience’s interest right away. Expect tough competition.  If your headline isn’t strong enough, you may not get attention.

2)    Use Clear Product Images. People are often influenced in their decision whether to buy or not from what they see on the screen. Even if you have great products, if they are not clearly depicted in the photos, you will not attract buyers.

In fact, sellers who do not post images of their products often do not get as much attention from buyers as those who post pictures. Include several shots and close up views of the product.

3)    Put your product’s photo beside your headline. If you want your ad to stand out from the list, you need to include a clear image of your product right by your headline.

4)    Use your own sales copy. If you want to convince customers to buy, create your own original sales copy. Don’t be tempted to use sales copies that other sellers use. Be creative. Take the time to create your own and it will be worth it.

5)    Update your profile. Trying to be an anonymous seller rarely invites people. It makes you seem suspicious. Leave a personal message. Tell your customers why you’re selling those products, how long you’ve been selling, what makes your products different from others, etc. Including your personal photo and providing some details about you enables customers to see you as a real person

6)    Why do you sell at a lower price? If you’re selling products at a much lower price than everyone else on eBay, it would be best to let everyone know why you can afford to cut down your price or else buyers will get the impression that there’s something fishy about it.

7)    Be honest. Don’t try to hide flaws if your products have them. People know that most products sold on eBay are not new so it’s okay if they are not perfect as long as they are priced appropriately.

Admitting flaws and being open about it helps build trust in people. If you keep misleading your customers about the real quality of your products, they will surely give you a bad review and will never buy again from you.

8)    Use PayPal. Many buyers are hesitant to buy online unless using PayPal. Accepting payments through PayPal will make your customers confident about making a purchase.

9)    Set a fair price. Know how your competitors price their products. Don’t be afraid to give a low starting bid price to attract more customers. If you can offer free shipment, you’ll surely get more buyers.

10)    Take care of your image. eBay customers largely depend on the star rating of the seller. If you have a low star rating, people may think that you are not a worthy seller.