3 Crucial Features for a Successful Online Business

When it comes to creating a website for businesses, there are some very crucial features that you should include. These are things that are important to maintaining your brand, keeping your customers informed and allowing your customers to get to know you or your company on a more personal level.

I’ve outlined 3 of the most crucial features that you or your business should carefully consider when purchasing your next website (or redesigning your current one).
Logo Branding

I believe every business should have a logo. A lot of people that start a small business think that having their own logo is “cool”, but I’m here to challenge that. Having a business logo is a necessity.

If you’re not familiar with branding, let me give you a quick definition:

A brand is a name or trademark connected with a product or producer.

Logos play a key role in branding. Many logos can be made simply out of the name of the company or product (like Coca-Cola or Disney). Others can be an image or symbol (like the Nike Swoosh or Apple’s Apple). Some are simple, some are elaborate. In any case, your logo should be both memorable and complimentary to your identity, tone and service.

Here are a few things to think about when designing a business logo:

* Think Long-Term – Your logo should be with you for a very long time, so make sure that you are happy with your logo. Do not settle for something that you do not absolutely love. You’ll want to pick something you will like, tomorrow, next year and even on the 10th or 25th anniversary of your business.
* Think About First Impressions – Your logo will give new customers a first impression about you and your business. Make sure that whatever you pick, it will accurately portray your identity, tone and service.
* Think About Variations – Your logo may be put on a letterhead or banner. It could be print in color or black and white. Make sure that your logo will look good in any size or color.
* Think Professional – You might have a friend who has created some okay logos. Or maybe you want to go down to the local copy shop. In any case, make sure that whoever you hire to do your logo has a proven track record. Just ask for their portfolio.

Many web design companies (including babsmog.blogspot.Com) offer logo creation as a service. This is an advantage since the logo can simply be integrated straight into your website.
eMailing List

With any business (online or off), it is crucial to communicate with potential or existing customers. In a “brick and mortar” business, address can be collected to send specials and updates. Online, businesses can gather names and email addresses.

Many online businesses offer free gifts (downloadable reports, special offers/discounts, etc.) to customers for giving them their name and email address. Once their name and email is received, they can send out specials, announcements, and offers anytime they want. At OurChurch.Com, we even offer an email template designed to match your site.

The advantage to an email mailing list is that you can send out thousands of emails for free. With t postage prices rising every year, this can definitely save a lot of money!
Online Shopping Cart

Billions of dollars are being made online. The businesses that are making this money range from one-man operations to large corporations. One way to offer your products or services online would be to use an online shopping cart.

An online shopping cart or eCommerce store allows businesses to showcase their offerings online and allows consumers to add several products to a virtual “cart”. Once the customer is ready, he/she clicks a “checkout” button and the entire transaction is made securely online.

With OurChurch.Com’s advance shopping cart, you can even send out Virtual Coupons for customers to use. They can enter in a special coupon code that will give them a special online discount.

Having this type of feature allows you to reach out to a lot more customers that you could if you were simply a “brick and mortar” business. Having online capabilities also cuts down on the amount of time you spend dealing with a customer face to face. Your website does the selling and the only time you have to work would be when a sale is made.

If you’re thinking about creating an online store-front for you business, consider adding these things to your website. Creating your brand, communicating to customers and offering alternative shopping experiences can definitely be a very positive and lucrative decision.

Secure Web forms and transactions

I will like to share with you some technologies used for secure transactions online. I will like to explain this terms with also a life scenario.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) (Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): A proposed open standard that was developed by Netscape Communications for establishing a secure communications channel to prevent the interception of critical information, such as credit card numbers.)

Get information about Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates

When you connect to a commerce website, such as a bank or bookseller, Internet Explorer uses a secure connection that uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt the transaction. The encryption (A way to enhance the security of a message or file by scrambling the contents so that it can be read only by someone who has the appropriate key to unscramble it. ) is based on a certificate that provides Internet Explorer with the information it needs to communicate securely with the website. Certificates (A digital document that verifies the identity of a person or indicates the security of a website. Certificates are issued by trusted companies known as Certification Authorities. ) also identify the website and owner or company.

You can view a certificate to validate the identity of a website before providing personal or financial information to an online business.

Most Webmasters are aware that Netscape Communications Corporation offers secure Web servers, the FastTrack server and the Enterprise server. The security in these products is based on Netscape's low-level encryption scheme, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Recall from the section in this chapter entitled "How Do Users Access Your Server?" that the Web is based on TCP/IP. TCP/IP consists of several software "layers"-you can replace the software implementing a layer with a new software component, with out changing the rest of the protocols. SSL is a Network layer encryption scheme. When a client makes a request for secure communications to a secure server, the server opens an encrypted port. The port is managed by software called the SSL Record Layer, which sits on top of TCP. Higher-level software, the SSL Handshake Protocol, uses the SSL Record Layer and its port to contact the client.

The SSL Handshake Protocol on the server arranges authentication and encryption details with the client using public-key encryption. Public-key encryption schemes are based on mathematical "one-way" functions. In a few seconds, anyone can determine that 7 X 19 equals 133. On the other hand, determining that 133 can be factored by 7 and 19 takes quite a bit more work. A user who already has these factors (the "secret key") can decrypt the message easily. Some commercial public-key encryption schemes are based on keys of 1024 bits or more, which should require years of computation to crack. Using public-key encryption, the client and server exchange information about which cipher methods each understands. They agree on a one-time key to be used for the current transmission. The server might also send a certificate (called an X.509.v3 certificate) to prove its own identity.

 

Mathematically strong encryption schemes are classified by the U.S. Government as "munitions." In general, encryption software and algorithms developed in the U.S. cannot be exported. The U.S. government takes this issue very seriously. Some other nations have policies prohibiting the transmission of encrypted data through their telephone lines. These policies have been the topic of much debate on the Internet and elsewhere.

In many cases, software that is compatible with the strong encryption schemes available in the U.S. has been developed outside the United States, and is available as an "International" version. Be sure to read the license agreement that comes with your software. Users in the U.S. should use the U.S. version, and are restricted from taking (or sending) the product overseas. Users outside the U.S. may be able to use the international version, subject to the laws in their country.

But currently Nigeria has no legal structure for e-commerce activities, I hope our legislators will take note.

In other cases, vendors have weakened the algorithm by reducing the key size from 1024 bits to 128 or even 40 bits, in order to avoid certain government restrictions.

In all cases, check the documentation that came with your browser or server, or get legal advice, to see what you can and cannot do with your software.

In the Netscape browser, a "key" icon in the lower-left corner of the window shows whether a session is encrypted or not. A broken key indicates a non-secure session. A key with one tooth shows that the session is running on a 40-bit key. A key with two teeth shows that a 128-bit key is in use.

End users should not assume that seeing an unbroken key guarantees that their transmission is secure. They also should check the certificate. In Netscape Navigator, you can access this information by choosing View, Document Info. If the certificate is not owned by the organization the users think they're doing business with, they should verify the certificate by calling the vendor.

SSL was developed by Netscape Communications, and is supported by their browsers and servers. Open Market has announced that they will support SSL in their HTTP server. A free implementation of SSL, named SSLeay, serves as the basis for security in Apache and NCSA httpd, as well as in Secure Mosaic.

 

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

A protocol that allows Web browsers to retrieve Web pages and information more securely from servers on the World Wide Web. HTTPS provides for the encryption and transmission of information through a special port.

Web Development Proposals

When competing for web design and development or marketing contracts; a professionally presented development proposal more often than not decides whether you win or lose the business. A web design proposal also decreases the incidences of misunderstandings between yourself and your clients when the project is under way and acts as a basis for a formal contract.

 

 

Save time and secure contracts!

With Proposal Kit you deliver exactly what your clients need - fast, accurate quotes, proposals and contracts that increase business & professionalism. Designed for a variety of web and multimedia developers. Downloadable! New for 2008 - over 500 extra pages of new content, including 20 contracts!

 

Looking for web development/design work?

Review contracts & tenders here!

 

When putting together a basic web site proposal, you should include the following elements:

 

Your Information:

Your background or company history, business qualifications, technical skills, past achievements and contact details.

 

Project Overview:

The business you are submitting the proposal for, your understanding of their products and services, the target market, the goals of the web site and a rough outline of how you will achieve them.

 

Project Theme:

A description of style of site you are proposing. Elements from the client's current branding you will utilize or new elements you will develop.

Special Considerations:

 

such as language, security or other issues pertaining to the business, site or target market that will need to be addressed.

 

Web site flow chart:

A diagram showing the different pages of the site and navigational structure.

 

Flowchart Description:

A detailed description of each web page, how it fits in with the overall web site theme and the project element it addresses.

 

Development Timeline:

This should be a description of each stage of the web projects' development, the estimated completion date and notes regarding client consultation and supply of information/feedback from the client. This may also include milestone payments for involved projects and site promotion activities. Make it clear that traffic takes time to build up after implementation and promotion should only occur after the site has been tested thoroughly. Improper implementation can cost months of traffic and a great deal of lost business.

 

Project Costing:

A descriptive breakdown of costing and total of quote including an end date before the price will need to be re-calculated. This will include items such as domain name registration, hosting fees and outsourcing for sections of the site you will not be able to develop yourself. Ensure you take into account business related items including travel time, electricity, telephone and consumables.

 

Factor in the cost of the development of the business proposal as well; a good proposal will take hours of your time and you should be compensated for that. In your eagerness to gain the contract, you may lose money if you quote too close to the bone. Bear in mind that things rarely go strictly to plan in web design and delays can be expected. Time is money. The going rate for web design services seems to be between US$25-$75 per labor hour at present; dependent upon the complexity of the task and the competency of the designer.

 

Terms and conditions:

Expectations and commitments. It is not unusual for web projects to be delayed due to clients not supplying feedback or content necessary to complete sections. It is just as important to be clear in what you expect from your clients as well as explaining your commitment to them. Conflict resolution issues and feedback mechanisms should be described.

 

Your clients will need to know what will occur if they do not supply information when requested, or request changes mid-stream and the action that you will take if you are running behind in the project yourself. You need to be clear on payment details and consequences of failure to pay for the services that you provide.

 

Mock-ups (samples):

Be careful not to give too much away, just enough to give the client a good idea of what the site will look like. Ensure copyright notices and intellectual property statements are in place.

 

Ongoing web site maintenance:

Summarize an offer of ongoing site maintenance or the implications of the client deciding to update or maintain the site themselves after it has been established.

 

The above points are usually sufficient to put together a professional web design proposal for a small to medium project. If drafting a business proposal based on criteria given to you by the prospective client; be sure to address all the points.

 

If the client suggests the proposal documentation be a certain format, respect that. In the culling process, the first proposals to be binned will be the ones that do not address all the criteria the client has laid down.

 

Bear in mind that not all the web design proposals you submit will be accepted. Be prepared to do some heavy revisions to satisfy your clients and to find a middle ground where all parties feel comfortable. A prospective client asking for revisions is a good sign - they are genuinely interested.

 

Also remember that some companies will ask you for proposals purely to use as a comparison against another designer that they are interested in utilizing; so try and limit the amount of time you spend on the draft until the client gives indication of serious interest.