Transacting through the tenets of e-commerce revolves around using the World Wide Web and other associated techniques like the electronic-mail.

Electronic commerce used between two business firms is known as B2B e-commerce. It can be an open for all variant like Commodities Exchange or a very personal variant like the Private Electronic Market. E-commerce specifically caters to the sale facet of e-business.

E-commerce can find large scale utility in online-shopping. Right from selecting a product on the online site to adding it to the cart and then seeking payment for it to channeling it through the shipping and handling department is all effectively handled by e-commerce wing. Content management systems and Enterprise and client information reporting are both ideally done by e-commerce. It also sees to proper functioning of domestic and international payment systems. For instance, Paypal and Neteller are two online money transfer units. Their functioning lies within the active domain of e-commerce.

E-commerce also lays in front of us a matrix of database, spreadsheets and documents. This again is a crucial segment of e-business. Imagine it this way. Over various computer networks spread across the world, billions and billions of paper files are kept intact constricted over databases minimized to computer chips. This is letting us tarry along with oversaturated world business.

Presently e-commerce primarily involves an enquiry and ordering of digital content for consumption through internet.

Copywriting is simply defined as 'salesmanship in print'. It is the art of putting the entire sales process into writing and inducing the reader to take prompt action, either to buy your product or surrender their contact information. In online marketing, effective copywriting is used in many communication platforms such as emails, websites, blogs, splash pages, thank you letters. But the most vital use of copywriting resides in its potential to create powerpacked sales letters!

A sales letter (also known as 'pitch page') is a complete sales presentation placed on a webpage, PDF, or document. It's main purpose is to sell a product directly through that webpage! You might think that this is too ambitious, and that people seldom buy from webpages. But in the real world, hundreds of thousands worth of dollars and products are sold via the internet every single month! The sales letter has fully automated everything, and coupled with a powerful online shopping cart or payment gateway, online sellers can really take home giant incomes and customers can get their ordered products safely! To see a perfect example of an effective sales letter in the dating niche.

But wait, writing an effective sales letter is not as easy as it sounds! An internet marketer should have superior knowledge about choice of marketing words and phrases. He must understand psychological triggers that cause people to buy. He (or she) must find a way to keep a reader (and consequently a potential customer) interested. And finally, an online seller must be able to smoothly guide a prospect towards the 'close' and induce the reader to buy now.

First tip, any aspiring copywriter must know how to write an effective headline. The main headline should immediately confront the reader and cause him to STOP whatever he is doing. This is a tough challenge, but to be able to do this effectively, the copywriter must write a major product benefit that will satisfy the needs and wants of the reader. It is proven that longer headlines succeed more when it comes to getting the attention of readers. For example, in a hygiene website selling breath products, a certain headline goes like this: "How To Cure Bad Breath In Less Than 3 Days... & Have Strong Healthy Teeth & A Sparkling White Smile For The Rest Of Your Life". You might laugh, but this particular headline was taken from a real life breath product which sold like crazy online!

Next, the online seller must insert his personality, establish his authority and expertise, and gain trust from the reader. All this 'self marketing' is done for a single purpose, and that is, to answer the reader's question, "Why Should I Listen To You"? Statistics show that sales for any website drops by as much as 40% to 90% when the seller has not successfully branded himself. That's why the first few paragraphs of the sales letter should be aimed at the online seller telling more about himself and establishing his authority on the subject he's talking about. For example, a person selling his music courses online should'nt just start off selling and pitching the products immediately. He should first concentrate his first few phrases in telling the reader about his musical background, how many years he 'has been playing music", or possibly the amount of people he has personally mentored to become great musicians.

Third tip, the online seller must increase the perceived value of the product or service he is offering! To do this he must highlight all the features and benefits of the products he is selling, then appeal to the emotions of the buyer. Increasing the perceived value of an online product can be done in many ways. First, the online seller must make the product look "scarce", showing that it has high demand but limited supply. Second, he can make the offer "time sensitive", by stating and making clear to the reader that the product will be available for only a certain period of time. Third, he can add free bonuses and additional goodies for those who order now. Fourth, he can give "early bird discounts" for the first few people who avails of the offer. All these are proven sales techniques which has been used since the beginnings of civilization, during the days of barter and trade. Fortunately, they still apply today!

NOTE: This article contains links that point to sample sales letters. I do not own the links and websites mentioned, neither do I have selfish interests in posting them. They are just included here for illustrative purposes.

Scam websites for secret shopper programs are everywhere on the Internet. Based on my experience, only about 1 in 10 of those sites are legitimate paying companies that will not steal your information, rip you off, or spam your inbox. First check to see if they are asking for any money. Any request for payment in order to access secret shopper information immediately indicates a scam. A legitimate mystery shop program will never ask you for any money. Sign up is completely free, because they are looking for people to work for them. The next indicator of a possible scam is the lack of the BBB or Better Business Bureau logo on the site. In other words, if you find a site you believe is a legitimate program do research before you sign up. Check for any form of company records through the use of a search engine, and any scams will have a number of complaints against them.

Many mystery shop sites will allow you to preview the opportunities before you sign up. Examine the pay rate that is being offered. Mystery shops usually do not pay a lot of money. Payouts usually range from $5 to $20, with a few exceptions. If a preview is not offered, check to see what kind of money is being offered. Becoming a secret shopper will not make you rich, but it will put a few extra dollars in your pocket. Shopping programs do not provide enough work to replace your full or part time job and do not pay by the hour. Sites that offer huge payouts, and state that you can make hundreds of dollars a day or week indicate a scam.

Once you verify that a company is legitimate, or has given all indications that they are legitimate, it is time to sign up. If they ask for bank account or routing information, do not provide it - this is a sure indication of a scam. A sign up page will usually as you for a personal description, payment information (either check or Paypal), a writing sample, and possibly a social security number. The social security number is required for tax reasons. When signing up for a program, if you get the impression that it is a scam, do not enter your information. Listen to your instincts - they are usually right on the money.

Once you are signed up and your writing sample approved it is time to choose a shop. After you accept, complete, and submit the results of the mystery shop to the site it is time to wait. Check the FAQ for the time frame it will take to receive your payment. Next check the review and rating that was given to your shop. I have had difficulty with some programs and the review process. Sometimes this was due to instructions being too general or website glitches. Communicate with the mystery shop site if you feel there is an issue, such as a dispute in the information that is reported. Watch and see how the problem is handled and resolved. I have withdrawn my application from several companies due to website glitches that have been blamed on me, and resulted in a low evaluation for a shop or possible non-payment. Once you have been paid, and everything has gone smoothly continue to sign up for additional shops as long as you are content with the mystery shop site.

By following these guidelines you too can become a successful mystery shopper. But the most important aspect of the whole experience is enjoying what you are doing. If you don't enjoy being a secret shopper it will show on your reports and reflect in your shopper rating affecting future shop offers. Just remember becoming a mystery shopper will not make you rich, but can give you some free items and a small amount of additional income.

These products that are not purchased often enough to justify their space in a store make up the long tail. The hit CDs and the DVDs of blockbuster movies are not part of the long tail because they are better sellers and are actually worth a store's carrying them. For years, the big money makers enjoyed a long shelf life at major retail stores, while the long tail receded into the background, falling out of print or other forms of production. Now, times have changed.

The long tail products are staging a revolt against their more popular counterparts, with much assistance from online stores, especially those unaffiliated with major companies and retailers. Websites such as amazon.com and overstock.com are offering more variety at a lower cost than retail franchises such as Circuit City, Target, or Borders. I recently purchased the 1994 comedy film Little Big League. Grossing just over $12 million (Yahoo! Movies, 2007) during a year in which the top fifty movies ranged from $28,735,315 by Drop Zone to $329,694,499 by Forrest Gump (“Top Movies of 1994,” 2007), Little Big League was rather unpopular even when it first came out into theaters. Needless to say, it is even less popular now, and more than likely not to be carried by any store trying to make money. When a movie makes as little money as Little Big League did when it comes out on DVD, retailers are quite reluctant to keep it on their shelves.

Thus, such a movie becomes hard to find, and almost disappears. When I went to Best Buy at the Pyramid Mall, I could not find even one copy of Little Big League. When I went next door to Borders, not one copy of Little Big League. When I went over to Barnes & Noble, once again, same thing. These stores have made such movies a piece of history.

I decided the only way to get it was to buy it online. Among the websites I searched were the Internet versions of the three stores I traveled to, as well as amazon.com and overstock.com. The lowest price, after shipping and tax, was at overstock.com. Even when these larger companies try to follow the trend by complimenting their brick and mortar establishments with an online supplement, they cannot compete. The online prices must match the in-store prices or else a company could put its own stores out of business. Thus, the online sites for these major franchise retailers do not help much in lowering the prices and making them more competitive.

This shows a very important trend in current and future media distribution. The unknowns, the niche items, the non-mainstream products are now viable assets to businesses that can afford to offer them. This movement has several important consequences. First of all, there will be an incredible increase in the variety of media products available to consumers. Movies like Little Big League are not lucrative enough to make the cut at most stores. Years ago, before this trend took hold, I probably would not have been able to get my hands on a copy of that movie, or others like it. But, now I can. Secondly, the prices of these products, as well as the bestselling books, the blockbuster movies, and the hit CDs are all dropping.

Not only did I purchase Little Big League from overstock.com for a fraction of the price it would have been from Best Buy or Borders, but even last year's favorites such as Pirates of the Caribbean and X-Men (“Top Movies of 2006,” 2007) are less on overstock.com. Lastly, what gets the go ahead for production in the first place will eventually change. Instead of only producing movies because they will be blockbuster hits, or only signing an artist who will record a multiplatinum selling album, companies can produce media that will find a niche audience and maintain a modest, yet consistent flow of profit.

This last change is very relevant to us as consumers. As these internet based, long tail companies make obscurities and non-mass products more and more profitable, it will set the stage for more of these movies, television shows, and music albums to be produced in the first place. It will be harder for big corporations to justify focusing all their resources toward the hit of the year when a movie that will reach a fraction of the number of people, might make the same amount of money, if not more.

This very well may usher in an era of smaller, independent production companies showing a better survival rate. A certain movie studio or record label that produces a very specific genre might find that it now has an more substantial outlet for its product. The survival and development of focused media production companies could definitely benefit the consumer as independently made, specialized productions improve in quality and size of selection. This trend would have a very large impact on the production of media.

While this shift in media distribution power might seem unimportant, it affects how we buy, where we buy, what we buy, and how much we pay. The long tail trend affects how we buy because we will no longer purchase our media based on what the stores tell us is popular or what the stores are pushing with their marketing and promotions. We will only buy what we want. I decided to purchase Little Big League, and I looked around to find it. The long tail phenomenon lets us decide exactly what we want, see which sellers are offering the best price and service, and purchase accordingly.

It affects where we buy because gradually, consumers will be less and less likely to make the trip to an actual store. Why would a consumer travel to a brick-and-mortar establishment to come home empty handed, or pay even more if they are even lucky enough to find what they are looking for? I used to buy DVDs exclusively from Best Buy. Now, however, I am going to look at overstock.com first. It is much easier to breeze through a few web sites, find the exact product you are looking for, and buy it for half the price.

Affecting what we buy is the biggest impact the long tail effect has. It simply gives us a wider selection. Obscure, generally unpopular, and old media products that are taken off the shelves, and probably discontinued, at major retailers are immortal when being sold by Internet companies who need only a digital picture of the product and a couple copies in their huge storage warehouse to offer it to millions of people. As addressed earlier, the long tail era has ushered in an age of much lower prices. With tax and shipping, Little Big League was going to cost me about fifteen dollars on Barnes & Noble's web site. On overstock.com it was a little over seven dollars. The shift in pricing as the long tail takes control will be considerable.

All of this has yet to be seen. But I think that the long tail will have some very significant effects in the future. Companies, especially those on the Internet, who base their survival on those media products that make up the long tail, will bring the decline of larger chain retailers like Best Buy and Borders. This will, in turn, lower the price of such goods and increase the variety of items available.

Lastly, all of these changes in the management, economics, and content of media will bring a shift in who provides our media. The big budget studios and the major record labels will not be able to dominate if smaller companies can make just as much money by selling their products on long tail oriented web sites. Even though the long tail phenomenon is in its earliest stages of development, it is definitely growing in the consumer world and will definitely have significant ramifications in several layers of the media industry.

An alternative to PPC advertising is the use of Shopping Portals. Some of the better known paid options here include Shopzilla, PriceGrabber, Nextag, and Shopping.com. There are also free options like Google Base. Below, I have listed three reasons why online shopping portals work great for the small business owner.

1. They Advertise For You

   These shopping portals actually advertise in PPC listings like Google Adwords. If you do a search for a typical product, it is very likely that you will find sites like Nextag or Shopzilla in the “sponsored” listings. While the small business owner may still want to devote some funds to PPC advertising, the fact that shopping portals handle it for advertisers makes things much easier.

2. Higher Quality Traffic

   Shopping portals still charge per click in most cases (SortPrice being one exception); however, the “clicker” who comes to your site through a shopping portal will in many cases be much more likely to buy than the “clicker” coming from a search engine. Shopping portals typically have specific pages for products with a picture and description. They then list the merchants using their service with the price and shipping cost for each merchant. The merchant is only charged if the potential customer clicks through to their online store. It should be obvious that this “clicker” has much more information and is much more likely to by when he makes that paid click than the “clicker” from the PPC search engine.

3. Buyers Like Them

   Who wants to spend all day sorting through all the search results on Google to compare prices on various products? Shopping portals allow potential buyers to find a product and then quickly see a number of merchants selling this product. The potential buyer is able to see the merchant's rating and reviews in addition to price and shipping cost. Few people will spend hours trying to save one more dollar when they have such information readily available.

Feedback can be entered at the option of each member for either party involved in any transaction. For example, if a buyer purchases an item on eBay and pays promptly, the seller will normally give positive feedback to the buyer. The same circumstances apply when a seller sells an item to a buyer. If the buyer feels positively about the transaction then he or she will reciprocate with positive feedback to the seller.

Positive feedback is a win, win situation for all parties that are aggressively trying to do business on eBay. The more positive feedback that is received, the better your reputation and the more likely you will be able to enter in many successful business transactions on the site.

Negative feedback, on the other hand, may result from many things. For a few examples; a seller may not ship as quickly as the buyer would like, or the actual item received is not like it was advertised online, or the merchandise was damaged in shipping. A buyer may not pay promptly, or their method of payment may not be satisfactory. Another case of negative feedback may stem from the fact that one party will give the other party negative feedback, so then the second party will give negative feedback in return.

Feedback extortion is also known to happen. One party may want more or different merchandise that is not currently offered in the sale and that party may threaten with negative feedback in order to get the merchandise that they want.

Negative feedback is deadly to your reputation on eBay. You may have many positive transactions with a wonderfully high feedback rating, and then one negative feedback can drastically harm your reputation eBay's former policy was that negative feedback would affect your reputation for the term of your membership. In their latest change in policy, eBay states that negative feedback will affect your reputation for one year. In most cases, a high feedback score is a good sign, but eBay warns that members should always check another member's Feedback Profile to read comments and look for negative remarks.

Here is how the positive and negative feedback ratings affect your overall feedback score:

• +1 point to your Feedback Score for each positive comment and rating left for you
• No points for a neutral comment and rating left for you
• -1 point to your Feedback Score for each negative comment and rating left for you

As you accumulate more positive points, you are awarded different colored stars. Following are the different levels of stars that are awarded:

Yellow star: 10 to 49 points
Blue star: 50 to 99 points
Turquoise star: 100 to 499 points
Purple star: 500 to 999 points
Red star: 1,000 to 4,999 points
Green star: 5,000 to 9,999 points
Yellow shooting star: 10,000 to 24,999 points
Turquoise shooting star: 25,000 to 49,999 points
Purple shooting star: 50,000 to 99,999 points
Red shooting star: 100,000 points or more

Some members who are trying to build their reputation on eBay by acquiring the different levels of stars will specifically look for transactions that are easy and cheap to complete. A cheaply priced item, with free shipping, or greatly reduced shipping will be very attractive to them. They can easily score another positive feedback rating without having to spend too much to do so.

Digital items that can be downloaded are another way for them to achieve higher feedback ratings at little or no cost.

“Digital goods are often reproduced at little to no cost to the seller. On eBay, this creates the potential for feedback manipulation. To preserve the integrity of the feedback system, all goods that can be digitally downloaded or transferred electronically (including e-mail delivery) must be listed using the Classified Ad format in the Everything Else>Information Products category only.”

eBay has specific guidelines set in place in an attempt to thwart feedback manipulation:

“Feedback left or received, including detailed seller ratings (DSRs), where the feedback's primary value is to artificially enhance a member's reputation rather than provide commentary and ratings on genuine transactional experience is not permitted.

Consequently, offering to sell, buy or barter feedback is not permitted. In addition, registering multiple accounts (or working with others) in order to exchange feedback to artificially increase your feedback score is not permitted.

EBay will view the recurrence of listings which are uncharacteristic of a reasonable business model to be in violation.”

Violation of eBay's feedback manipulation policy may result in the following actions:

• Listing cancellation
• Limits on account privileges
• Account suspension
• Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
• Loss of PowerSeller status
• Feedback removal

Threatening to leave negative or neutral feedback for another member unless the other member provides goods or services not included in the original listingBottom of Form

Then came the wonderful Internet! With the stroke of a key, you were transported to an array of sites. High fashion, wholesale, Ebay and any Mall storefront that you would find in the most extravagant cities. But, not just any store mind you, an e-commerce store that was as intoxicating as it was unique. A new world has been born. An extremely "Jetson" shopping experience was invented, one easy to maneuver and one that allowed transactions to be even simpler to complete. In a click of a mouse, you could come up with a whole new wardrobe and just as easily apply your discounts or any special requests you may have. How easy? Just take a look at your shopping cart. Online sites are created with you, the trendy shopper, in mind. Big money has gone into putting together the highest quality, the simplest steps and the safest environment in order to make any transaction feel like an ultimate pleasure.

A shopper's dream come true? But, of course, as the statistics rise, it's becoming quite clear, that more consumers are preferring this mode of purchasing. No more long lines, no more rude sales clerks, no more hours wasted and best of all? A parking spot has now become a distant memory. Could it get any better? Yes! Fancy handmade sweaters that are only made in England? Poof, it's yours! How about Swiss Chocolate, made in, get ready... Switzerland!!! Just type in the quantity, please, and it's on it's way. Fantasy and reality intertwined, all wrapped up in a lovely fed-ex package, waiting patiently at your front door for you to arrive.

Groceries can be planned for with care, customized to your family's needs and made ready to deliver in a blink of an eye. Your loved ones are now able to prioritize schedules and events, without the sometimes unnecessary hassle of trudging into the neighborhood grocery store. This is especially invaluable during the often chaotic holiday seasons. A blessing of sorts, and may soon be taken for granted.

The Internet has changed the world. Enormously. Brick and Mortar stores can still hold a nostalgic feel and provide you with endless opportunities to see, feel and hold your selected merchandise. But, the Internet miraculously brings the world to your fingertips. It's an amazing era we're now experiencing. One that conjures up extravagant images. And, just imagine, this is only the beginning.

 

For these shoppers, the store's service and environment often influence the amount of time they spend in the store, which in turn determines the overall performance of the store. The longer a shopper stays in a store, the more likely he is to buy something. One may wonder as to what makes a shopper, who decides to kill a few minutes in a retail store, walk out Rs1,000 lighter but still feeling elated than ever before? Its something that may be explained by various factors but, surely, the look and feel of a store are the major aspects; they are directly related to the aspirations of a customer. It's a desirable look and feel that pampers the shoppers and, thereby, motivating them to buy .So, the big question arises : What do they desire in terms of the look and feel of a store ? What do the shoppers want?

Based on my my recent studies a visual merchandiser, here are a few things that shoppers usually look out for :-

Where's the Feeling

Shoppers love to touch and feel things. At times, the buying decision largely depends on the way a thing feels. This especially applies in case of women . As we come across a product, we tend to feel the product in every way possible, including touching, hearing, smelling and tasting. Shoppers see stores as places where they get a chance to feel what they want to buy ; it acts like an assurance factor that motivates the buying decision.

Look at me

Shoppers love mirrors simply for the reason that we all like to stop and admire our own images. Mirrors tend to slow shoppers down and look at things more closely ,thereby, resulting in a larger selection of goods to buy. Shoppers can be found complimenting their reflections with a "hey, smarty!" or a "look at me !" gesture . Shoppers love to try out things in front of the mirror, twisting from side to side to view different angles. For them, mirrors are like their shopping companions.

Eureka 

Shopping makes people feel young and lively. It brings about a feeling of sheer satisfaction of discovery : exploring and finding something new. And a shopping mall is a place where this urge to discover finds a vent . Finding something new is an exciting part of shopping. All shoppers rejoice when they find what have been searching for; especially if the product has a rare availability. Shoppers, no doubt, love to be guided towards such joyful discoveries.

Look Who's Talking

Shoppers just love to talk. A conducive environment for talking is one of the great motivating factors for shopping, not just window shopping, but actual buying. And if it's further complemented by some "easy listening" music playing in the background ,it's a shopper's bliss . The more they get to talk the more time they want to be in the store. So, stores need to ensure a minimum possible interference in shopper talking.

Here I Am

Shoppers possess an irresistible desire to be recognized and showed that they are of value and it is this innate desire that just can't be ignored. Retailers do themselves good by making the customers feel welcome as soon as they pull into the parking . Recognition gives shoppers a feeling of belonging, thereby, resulting in loyalty ; shoppers return with a “Here I am!”.

Sale! Sale! Sale!

More than anything , what shoppers want is a good deal. It is certainly no wonder that store becomes most happening whenever a sale or discount is announced. Discount and special offers pull shoppers to a store like nothing else. It's a fact that the fastest moving merchandise is from the clearance racks. Some shoppers will postpone purchasing an item until it goes on sale or presented with a smart offer that's simply irresistible .

Thus, we can say that shoppers want certain things that make them feel special and that's what they really are.We need to know, to understand, what shoppers want ,so as to meet up to their expectations.

The customer is always right. Well not always, but usually. I know all about replenishment systems, shrinkage, stock turns, product packs and visual merchandising, so don't patronise me with your ‘this is my first day' speech. I'm certainly not buying that! If you choose to work in the customer service industry, be prepared to smile. Make an appointment with your dentist before you start because somewhere along the line, you lost the ability to smile. Oh, and by the way, clenching your teeth isn't a very nice look. Tuck your shirt in, straighten your clothes and for God's sake, do something with your hair. Don't show me 7 different products that are nothing like what I have asked for, and don't ask if I want fries with that. I'd ask for them if I did.

When did service stop? And where did it go? I don't have the energy to argue with you, but gee, its fun to watch others stand their ground. It's impressive to see grandma get out of her motorised scooter just to hit you around the head with her bag full of change. All we want is a smile, products we want to buy, and information that's truthful. You know, I can Google anything, I know what the computer does when I push that button. Tell me something new, so when I take it home, I sound like an expert.

When companies realise that the biggest investment they should be making is in their people, the whole consumer industry will boom. Instead of focusing on the bottom line, focus on what helps you to achieve it. Your people are your image. Your gateway to the millions of dollars burning holes in peoples pockets every single day. What is so important that the General Manager can't get on the floor every once in a while and sell to someone like me. Never forget that the ring in the till only happens if I choose to make it happen. Have fun with your people, set a good vibe in your store so I'll want to keep coming back. Make me want to work for you!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a shopper from way back. Impulse buys, buying for gifts, buying for myself, buying because I can, buying, buying, and buying. I have the money; I have the ability to put it on the counter without your help. But do I have to do your job as well and sell it to myself? Please, please stop talking about your fabulous weekend at the beach. Oh and Sally, no, I don't think the guy in aisle 4 thinks your hot. In fact, I think he's eyeballing you because he needs some service...you know, the job you were hired to do?