http://articles.webhostingpackagesonline.com/rss.xml A blog about webhostingpackagesonline.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.webhostingpackagesonline.com/?a=36078 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Nothing turns an online shopper off more than a complicated website where he has to click through a number of pages before finally getting to what he wants. If he can't figure out how to pay the merchant, he'll leave the site and take his business elsewhere. Online businesses that make shopping easy will see the most traffic and ultimately make the most money. And many times a shopping cart and credit card option translate into an easier shopping experience. <br /><br />You are paying good money for a web host, so choose one that fits your needs. Web hosts offer a variety of payment methods, so make sure that the method you want on your site works with your web host. The time that passes between the time that a customer makes a purchase and the web host contacts you is critical to your success as an online merchant. &quot;Real time processing&quot; makes a huge difference in this way. <br /><br />Find a web host with a shopping cart system that meets your needs as a merchant. The host and the cart must be in tune with each other. Ask the web host what they can work with shopping cart wise. Also consider how you want your patrons to pay. If you prefer plastic to anything else, then you have no problems. Many servers support this payment method. But if you prefer to have orders automatically processed with the click of an icon, then you need real time processing as mentioned above. Consider these methods, since many people are shying away from plastic more and more these days. <br /><br />You will have to fork over some cash for a shopping cart. Sure, some places advertise free carts, but it's only a gimmick, and while you might be able to download the cart for free, you'll find yourself oftentimes with a complicated system that ultimately makes you drop your cash on a techie that can program the cart accordingly. Instead, look for the sites that offer inexpensive fees for a cart. <br /><br />When looking at shopping carts, look specifically for supported gateways which ultimately support real time orders and secure credit card processing. The best shopping carts will be able to process payments from Paypal and Verisign. These methods of payment are becoming more and more popular with those who are shying away from the high fees of credit cards; so make them available for your credit conscious customers. <br /><br />As a merchant, you have a responsibility to protect your customers. Guard your customers' information with 128-bit encryption and SSL. This keeps predators from stealing your customer's information and ultimately makes your business much more reliable. <br />You want people to visit your site, but moreover, you'd like to turn a buck while working as an online merchant. Remember that it takes money to make money, so prepare yourself for the expense and time needed to make a great online business.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as web hosting packages at <br /><a href="http://www.webhostingpackagesonline.com/">http://www.webhostingpackagesonline.com</a></p> 2006-10-13T16:05-04:00 http://articles.webhostingpackagesonline.com/?a=36077 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Website masters have a ton of responsibility to maintain their website and the subsequent links to it. Primarily, they have to figure it if they prefer to have access to all of the websites on their company server or if they prefer not to. When a webmaster has root access, he can virtually control anything stored on his server. This means he can access security information, user groups, and any file on the server. One might wonder why a webmaster wouldn't want this access. Read on for the benefits and drawbacks to having root access. <br /><br />When a webmaster opts to use a virtual private server hosting service, he's choosing the less expensive option. He doesn't have the hassle of maintaining a server at his home or having to access a remote server from his computer. Additionally, his site is much more protected from the threat of hackers, and the server owners will make the server more reliable. Additionally, virtual private hosting services come with easy to use browsers. <br /><br />So who really needs this kind of control though? Who should have access to everything on a server? Those who have this access must know how to maintain their website. You should understand basic software apps in addition to browsers. And if you want root access, you should have a successful business that sees plenty of hits on a daily basis or a business site that has several employees working on it. <br /><br />As stated above, the virtual private hosting plans are less expensive, but they still cost a bundle. A webmaster will pay around $100 to $150 a month for such a service. Additionally, he'll pay a given fee to purchase the web hosting plan and root access to the server. Sure, if you shop around at given times you might be able to find a deal, but the webmaster should still prepare himself for the intial start up cost. <br /><br />Root access does have major benefits. It allows the webmaster to do his job when his site receives plenty of hits daily. He can install the necessary software or upgrade the site easily or install necessary patches. He can move mailboxes or change links as well. Basically, the webmaster can personalize the site to meet his client's needs. <br /><br />Virtual private servers also allow the webmaster to use whatever software he needs. The server does not require a specific software, thus allowing the customer to save money in the end. You ultimately have unlimited data transfer, several mailboxes, a ton of storage, and a variety of other services for the minimal cost that you pay compared to purchasing your own server. <br /><br />Ultimately your decision to utilize root access is up to you, the webmaster. Consider all of the benefits and drawbacks before you fully commit to this change, because in the end, it truly is a commitment on your part.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as web hosting packages at <br /><a href="http://www.webhostingpackagesonline.com/">http://www.webhostingpackagesonline.com</a></p> 2006-10-13T16:01-04:00