How to build a successful e-commerce website?
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- Guard your privacy with a SSL Certificate! -
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Do you know that there are more than 100 people viewing this page with you now? Scary huh?!! Especially if you're trying to shop online!
When you're typing in your confidential credit card information, how do you know you are the only person who can view that page? It's simple. Check out the URL and the first few letters should be https://...., not http://. This extra 's' tells you that you are in a secured environment and that your credit card details are for your eyes only! To get this kind of security for your online transactions (and you DO need it), you have to get a SSL Certificate for your web site.
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What is SSL certificate?
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A SSL Certificate is also called a Digital certificate. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)/TLS (Transport Layer Security - the easily implemented standard protocol for transaction security) gives an encrypted link between your server and your customer's browser. Once this link is established, all communication between the two will remain confidential - that means only you are viewing the webpage you are viewing.
A Digital Certificate shows that the link has been established and verifies the site information for the customer. For example, when you click on the following link, it tells you all this information about this site: www.onlineimage.biz. You will see that it matches the information provided on various sections of the site. This tells you that you are viewing onlineimage.biz's website and not somebody else's. It's called a Digital Certificate simply because you can view it in a digital format! It's a bit like an internet fingerprint. It goes a long way to making your users feel happy with your site.
A Digital Certificate is an absolute must for all eCommerce websites. Your customers may not know a lot about the internet but the media has taught them enough about security. The first lesson they learn? If it ain't secure, don't touch it! It is important to note that encryption alone does not guarantee that data on the server is impenetrable. To compensate for this there are different levels of SSL encryption, such as 40bit and 128bit. The higher the bit, the higher the security. Websites handling highly confidential information and transactions such as banks will actually need more than 128bit.
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Where to get my digital certificate?
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There are 2 ways to obtain a Digital Certificate. The first is to obtain your own certificate and the second is to use a "shared certificate" offered by a hosting provider. The latter option normally doesn't require too much work and costs are minimal or non-existent. Both options offer the same level of security with regards to how data is transmitted. However, if you opt to use your hosting provider's digital certificate, your customers will leave your site and complete their shopping on your hosting provider's server. As I've already mentioned this will put some of your users into a flat panic! Consequently, having your own Digital Certificate can go a long way towards reassuring your customers that their purchase from your web store is secure.
The first company to provide such certificates was Verisign, followed by Thawte and Geotrust. During the past few years, a new certificate provider Comodo, has shaken up their monopoly on the market and started to grab market share. Comodo provides Instant SSL products and is renowned for its industry leading customer care and technical support. It's now trusted by 99.3% of current internet users which is fairly impressive! What's even more impressive is that it charges a lot less than the others for the same level of product features. Just take a look at the pricing comparison below:
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1 Year Pricing |
2 Year Pricing |
3 Year Pricing |
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40 bit |
128 bit |
40 bit |
128 bit |
40 bit |
128 bit |
| Verisign |
$349.00 |
$895.00 |
$598.00 |
$1,595.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Thawte |
$199.00 |
$449.00 |
$349.00 |
$849.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Geotrust |
$159.00 |
$159.00 |
$278.00 |
$278.00 |
$398.00 |
$398.00 |
| InstantSSL Pro |
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$139.95 |
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$159.95 |
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$199.95 |
| InstantSSL |
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$99.95 |
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$129.95 |
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$169.95 |
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To get a Digital Certificate you'll need to have your company documents available. These include:
- If the order has been applied for in your company's name:
- Articles of Incorporation
- Business License
- DUNS details (e.g. your Dun & Bradstreet company number)
- If the order has been applied for in your trading name (and you do not have access to the above documents):
- Trading License
- Copy of utilities bill/bank statement/check containing your trading name
- If the order has been applied for in your own personal name or it is not for use by a commercial entity:
- Copy of your drivers license or passport
Contact us for a special discount for the above rates. If you need more information, please click on the link:Instant SSL Pro and
Instant SSL.
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"How to build a successful e-commerce website" Course Index:
- Preface
- Course overview
- Find your domain name before it's too late!
- You need a web site that sells itself!
- A secured hosting server gives you confidence!
- Guard your privacy with a SSL Certificate! (You are here!)
- Find a shopping cart that works for you!
- Manage your online funds with an internet merchant account!
- Put the pieces together with a payment gateway!
- Last Few Words
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Online Course written by Maggie Pearce
About the Author: Maggie Pearce is the founder of Online Image, a web development firm specializing in high quality innovative web site production that takes your business further on the internet! At online image, we deliver more than top quality online presence; we develop online infrastructure that makes your website sell itself!
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