By having a global online presence, businesses can access a global audience and potentially more customers compared to a local store. Websites allow trading 24/7 from any location, have relatively low startup and running costs, and offer search facilities to easily find products. Prices can also be adjusted quickly online depending on demand and availability. However, some customers prefer human contact and may be wary of product descriptions or security online.

2. Global Marketplace
By having a global presence a business can target a
global audience, compared to the local audience
attracted by a traditional store which can bring in
more customers and more business.
P2

3. 24/7 Trading
As there is no store to be staffed trading can
be carried out at any time, day or night, in all
different time zones around the world, then
the business can be worldwide.
P2

4. Low Start -up & Running Costs
Compared to setting up a traditional store the start up costs and
running costs of a website are relatively low. This is a great incentive
to company owners
P2

5. Search Facilities
most e-commerce sites now have a search facility where it
takes just seconds to find the product you want. There are
often different criteria you can easily add to find exact
product you looking for.
P2

6. Fluid Pricing
This is when prices are increased or decreased quickly
depending on circumstances. An example is when selling airline
flight tickets, as more are sold and fewer are available, the
tickets could become more expensive as the demand rises.
Alternatively when selling products like holidays as the time
draws closer, the prices could go down to ensure all the places
are sold and people can get what they want for they’re money.
P2

7. Consumer Trust
consumers can worry about several different
issues when using e-commerce sites, amongst
those are worries over whether the company is a
legitimate, worries over their personal information
and security worries.
P2

8. Lack of Human Contact
Some customers are deterred from
purchasing online because they cannot speak
to anyone from the business directly. Some
find this impersonal and prefer to have face to
face contact.
Too address this websites simply add a free
online helpline or a contact number for you
too seek help when needed.
P2

9. Product Description Problems
Some consumers may worry that what is
described on the e-commerce site might
not accurately reflect the real product.
This is especially difficult with colour
options as some computers display
colours slightly differently. The quality of
the image used is also another factor.
P2

10. Security issues
perhaps the main worry for consumers is
that their financial details will not be safe,
that the business will use them in some
unauthorised way or security of this
information may not be sufficient.
P2

11. Browsers
Browsers allow you to view web pages on the PC. Majority of the time the
user has to tell the computer where they would like to go on the internet. One
way this is done by using the address bar, the web address or URL bar. This
allows the user to Obtain a web address to go a webpage.
Web Authoring Software
Create web pages with the help of web authoring software. This software
enables the user to develop a website in a desktop publishing format. The
software will generate the required HTML coding for the layout of the
web pages based on what the user designs.
P1

12. Database systems
E- commerce website usually have a database attached to
them, so they can store data about their customers and
their information. Users that have to sign into webpages;
the website they have to log into must have a database.
IP addresses
To make sure the right information goes to the right
computer, the computer has a unique number called a IP
address (internet Protocol address). It’s a set of 4 numbers
between 1-225.
P1

13. Domain Names
It is important for the computer to have a remember-able
domain name, so when customers want to go on to that
site they can easily type the domain name into a search
engine. The domain name should be relevant to the
website.
Multiple Domain Registration
P1

14. Ports & Protocols
A protocol is agreed way of working or known as a
handshake. If two computers use different protocols it is
impossible for people on two different computers too
understand information they are transferring.
Ports connect Protocols and IP addresses together so they can
share information.
Browser & Platform Compatibility
To reach the largest target audience possible websites need to be
accessible on as many browsers and platforms as possible. Many
people will compare websites and webpages. So you have to have
a good platform to please your customer.
P1

15. Paying to be prominent in search engine results
When a consumer types in their search, sometimes not so relevant sites come
up. The results reflect the search engines determination of how relevant the
site’s content is to your search. But some search engines will rank sites higher
in your results if the sites pays a fee.. For example webpages that appear at
the top of good may have payed a fee to come up at the top of your search.
As you can see when I typed in
“ Game websites” the top
search would of payed a fee to
be the first result on Google to
get the most users.
M1

16. Newsgroups & Forums
News groups and forums are basically places where people can ask
questions or discuss things. These can be good for an E-Commerce
website as they may want people to discuss their website and spread the
word about it.
Here is simply a forum
discussing whether
Facebook is a good idea
or not.
M1

17. Banners & Pop-ups
Banners and pop-ups can be a good thing and good
advertising for webpages or websites. A Simple advert in the
corner of another website can bring websites customers; all a
website has to do is simply pay a fee to show their website on
another website and there you go.
But some pop-ups can be viruses so people may not click
them, also banners and pop-ups can get blocked by certain
internet browsers, and also users may not like advertisements
pop-ups or banners on their website as they could block
certain things on the webpage and annoy users and they will
not visit that pop-up.
M1

18. Spam
Span is email that is not targeted at particular customers or customers needs, it
just mailed in bulks to as many people as possible to reach a bigger audience,
As web users become more concerned about internet privacy and viruses, they
become less likely to open e-mails from companies they do not know.
In my Hotmail I have 10 Junk
emails, which is basically spam
email which I do not want to
read, I will simply delete these
as I do not personally know the
sender.
M1

19. Ensuring An Effective User Interface
An effective interface for your website is essential to make sure when web
users get to your site, they stay there for as long as possible, so your users
genuinely take a interest in your website, there are things that your website
should avoid like broken links and difficult navigation, also unclear fonts and
too much text would instantly stop certain users going on your website.
This website is unclear and uses
difficult fonts, it also does not
look professional.
M1

20. Establishing Customer loyalty in a virtual environment
There are many different methods used to help create
customer loyalty. Including direct messaging. ( lets the user
know they are getting emailed personally and not just a in a
pile of people) This will help keep the customers happy and
they will keep visiting you website
For example Facebook email
me personally as I am a user
of their website and I don’t
feel like I'm in a pile of people
getting the same email.
M1

21. Site Names
The name of the website is really important to anybody who would visit your
website. It would need to be suitable name and it can be memorable and relevant to
your site.
A good example of a easy name is “Facebook” its relevant to the site and is a easy
link to access .
M1

22. Direct Marketing
Direct marketing is targeted at certain audiences, often
customers that have signed up for a newsletter or emails with
information. This means if the customers have chosen to be
a part of this they have genuine interests in the product or
service you are giving so they are more likely top purchase
from the site.
M1

23. Hacking
Hacking is when someone or something finds a weakness in a established
system and exploiting them. Hacking is not good for your computer and
can cause lots of problems.
Hacking Prevention
To prevent hacking I recommended Anti-Spyware and the use of very
strong password and Anti-Virus protection. This can help solve problems
in websites trying to hack you and can make sure you have strong
enough passwords.
P3, M2

24. Viruses
Viruses are files which don’t belong on the computer and destroy all
important files that your computer needs to work. Viruses cause serious
problems in computers and can cause your computer to not work at all,
some viruses take their time to work, but always cause a problem
somewhere.
Virus Prevention
Virus prevention- viruses can be stopped by using a strong anti-virus, and
only using trusted website and to scan everything you plan on downloading,
this could save you a lot of hassle and using anti-virus will automaticly scan
websites and tell you if they are trusted.
P3, M2

25. ID Theft
Identity theft is when someone online uses your information and your
details to buy something or do something without you knowing
(pretending to be you)
ID Theft Protection
You can stop ID theft by using strong password and anti- malware.
People can buy things and put you in debt if your identity is taken.
P3, M2

26. Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are important when protecting your information online.
Using a simple password opens a window to hackers and viruses.
Never use your date of birth or something your friends know about you. As
hackers can guess a simple password. Try having Upper case and
lowercase letters along with numbers.
P3

27. Business Summary
Discuss: What business sells, Why they would have moved into e-commerce, Structure of website, Layout of
products, Website security, Ease of use, Delivery options
D1

28. Strengths
Weaknesses
Strengths- think about the benefits for this company when moving into e-commerce. Strengths of current site.
Weaknesses- think about problems that may have had to overcome. Weaknesses of current site.
D1

30. Ebay’s homepage
EBay has areas in
which you can search
for what you want
and you can purchase
items off eBay.

31. • You can pay via Paypal
on ebay. Its safe and
easy to use.

32.  The
director
y is
which
you
can
choose
what
you
would
like to

33.  Creating
an ebay
account is
easy and
uses step-
by-step
instructions
to create
your
account.

35.  This is the
Google
shopping
homepag
e and you
can buy
certain
objects
online.

36.  Things you
buy then go
into the cart
then you
can confirm
your buy.

37.  You can put
things in you
wish list if
you cannot
buy them,
so your
friends can
buy them
for you.