e-commerce websites

E-commerce websites have additional needs compared to standard corporate websites. Their metrics and objectives are different.

All e-commerce websites Firestarter build follow the principles deployed when creating a standard website. In addition, Firestarter provide strategic advice to ensure e-commerce website get traffic and have low barriers to entry.

E-commerce websites are a retail store. An in retail, visibility and store traffic is everything.

 

The vision.

Firestarter’s team of client service are highly creative and visionary. They can suggest ways to differentiate a brand, by offering non-transactional functions. These ‘soft engagement’ functions like forums or flash games, can offer alternative reasons for visitors to return.

These ideas get picked up in press, and get talked about by bloggers.

 

SEO

Firestarter conduct extensive keyword research to understand online behaviour. By examining search volumes for different keywords and phrases, Firestarter can suggest a search engine optimisation plan, and offer insights to guide how best to communicate the brand and its products and services. More

 

User journey design

While optimising the e-commerce, Firestarter breaks each user journeys into a number of clicks. The journey of a non-registered user, a registered user and someone who has completed a transaction, are studied and optimised to improve sales and minimise drop-outs.

Eliminating barriers is a big part of improving the user experience. Firestarter research new methods that make payment easier. For example Firestarter may recommend implementing Google Checkout™ so users can sign-on using Gmail.

 

Social media applications

Creating a great user experience is not enough. Successful e-commerce websites leverage the large member base of social media platforms. This includes publishing video of products and services, or offering widgets, gadgets and RSS to loyal customers who want to stay in connected with the brand without returning to the website.

 

e-commerce technology

Firestarter build custom e-commerce solutions to suit your specific needs. Depending on the requirements, Firestarter may recommend an open source or a paid solution. By not offering one platform alone ensures the flexibility and scalability both now and in the future.

Shopping carts, payment methods and purchase databases are integrated to create seamlessly user experience.

Firestarter build using open source frameworks like ZenCart or osCommerce.

 

Security

Firestarter offer SSL or 'Secure Sockets Layer', is a system for securing and transferring private information over the Internet. A secure certificate encrypts sensitive information (like credit card numbers) while they are being processed.

 

Recommended payment gateways

Firestarter can integrate online shopping carts with various payment gateways. We have experience in working with popular merchant account providers such as PayPal and WorldPay, using their built-in payment gateways.

Other payment gateways include Google Checkout, a popular method for SMEs; and Transaction Network Services (formally known as Dialect Payments), used by large banks such as Citibank and ANZ; and eNETS, very popular and reliable service for merchants with operations in Singapore.

 

Monitoring

Apart from monthly updates to content, Firestarter can monitor critical pages for errors or user problems. If customers are not completing e-commerce purchase and dropping out, Firestarter can identify those users and contact them of feedback.

Written 5th Mar 2009