- What are the necessary steps to start an on-line store?
- What is shopping cart software?
- Can someone help me design and build my web site if I don't already have one?
- Do I need an Internet merchant account?
- Where do I get an Internet merchant account?
- How much does an Internet merchant account cost?
- How can I assure customers their credit information will be kept secure?
- What is a secure certificate?
- Do I need a secure certificate?
- Who hosts my on-line store?
- What does Xonca cost?
- Does Xonca require any contracts?
- Can I customize my store?
- Do I need to know HTML to create my store?
- How do I set up my store?
- Can Xonca be added to an existing web site?
- Can someone help me put in the store products after Xonca is set up?
- Is there a limit to the number of products I can sell with Xonca?
- Does Arquan offer custom programming?
- What kind of customer support does Arquan offer?
- What is search engine optimization (SEO)?
- How do I market and get customers to my web site?
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Q: What are the necessary steps to start an on-line store? | Return to top
Typically, you will need to have a domain name although this is not necessary. You can use any web site to promote your products. Next, you will need to have a shopping cart that customers can put items into and checkout using a credit card, echeck, or other form of payment such as Paypal. |
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Q: What is shopping cart software? | Return to top
Shopping cart software allows customers to keep the items they want to purchase in a virtual shopping cart. Then, they can check out, purchasing all their items at the same time. Arquan offers Xonca shopping cart software, with subscription rates as low as $49 a month. |
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Q: Can someone help me design and build my web site if I don't already have one? | Return to top
Yes. Arquan works closely with several different professional graphic designers and firms to put together the perfect web site for you if you need help. Just ask about professional graphic design help when talking to an Arquan representative. It is helpful to have an idea or some examples of what you like when requesting professional help. This shortens the time required to put together a web site that you will be very happy with. |
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Q: Do I need an Internet merchant account? | Return to top
An Internet merchant account is necessary to process credit cards on-line. An Internet merchant account is NOT the same as a retail merchant account that retailers use for brick and mortar establishments. Arquan works with several Internet merchant account providers. You may also obtain an Internet merchant account from the bank of your choice. |
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Q: How can I assure customers their credit information will be kept secure? | Return to top
Arquan recognizes that security is a vital part of successful on-line businesses. That's why we recommend the Internet Merchant Account CyberSource, which offers payer authentication. In addition, Arquan's shopping cart software Xonca requires that you use a secure certificate. This certificate will be displayed on your web site's secure pages. These are the check out pages, which require customers to submit sensitive information. |
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Q: What is a secure certificate? | Return to top
A secure certificate establishes a secure connection between the users browser and the server. Any information transmitted is encrypted for the users protection. Secure certificates are used in sensitive processes such as transmitting credit card information. A secure certificate applies to one domain only. Secure certificates can be obtained from companies such as Comodo, Verisign, or Thawte. Comodo secure certificates are $99 per year, Verisign secure certificates are $349 per year and Thawte certificates are $199 per year. Arquan can help you obtain a secure certificate. |
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Q: Do I need a secure certificate? | Return to top
If you use Xonca, yes, you will need a secure certificate. Some shopping cart vendors host the shopping cart application on their server under THEIR domain name which does not require you to own a secure certificate. These scenarios are usually less expensive, however, you do not get the seamless integration with your existing web site that you get with Xonca. The user adds something to the cart, then is taken to another server, which displays the cart contents and may look very different from your existing web site. Arquan recommends obtaining your own secure certificate and providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers that makes them feel like they are in the same store where they began shopping. |
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Q: Who hosts my on-line store? | Return to top
Arquan hosts your Xonca shopping application. There are also several custom tags which will need to be installed and some configuration of files and database settings for Xonca to function properly. If you want Arquan to host your on-line store, you can expect to be up and running the same day you sign up for Xonca, providing you have established your Internet merchant account. |
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Q: What does Xonca cost? | Return to top
Monthly lease rates for Xonca including hosting of your domain, disk space, and email accounts, start at $49 per month. |
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Q: Does Xonca require any contracts? | Return to top
No. Arquan does not demand fixed contracts. Each month's payment is charged to your credit card. We feel that the products speak for themselves and you will want to continue using them for a lengthy period of time. There is no need to try and lock you into a product that you may not be happy with. |
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Q: Can my store be customized? | Return to top
Absolutely. The store can be made to look as professional as any on the Internet. We work our magic to wrap your existing web site graphics around the Xonca shopping cart with the necessary HTML programming needed for your site. . |
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Q: How do I set up my store? | Return to top
If you subscribe to Xonca, we will take care of getting the store set up and ready for use. It is then up to you to create the categories and products for sale within your store. |
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Q: Can Xonca be added to an existing web site? | Return to top
Yes. Xonca can be seamlessly integrated to any existing web site. |
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Q: Can someone help me put in the store products after Xonca is set up? | Return to top
Yes. For $35 per hour, Arquan can add the products, including descriptions and images that you provide. Just ask an Arquan representative for more information. |
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Q: Is there a limit to the number of products I can sell with Xonca? | Return to top
No. There is no limit on the amount of products you can sell with an Xonca store. See the pricing page for the different levels of Xonca. |
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Q: Does Arquan offer custom programming? | Return to top
Yes. If you purchase or lease Arquan software products, they can be quickly and cost-efficiently modified to suit your specific needs. If you need your store customized, just ask an Arquan representative for more information and to arrange a time when we can discuss your needs. |
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Q: What kind of customer support does Arquan offer? | Return to top
Arquan is strongly committed to customer service. We offer prompt, friendly, and free customer support for Xonca. In addition, we have provided Flash movie tutorials on our web site that will help you become familiar with our software and show step-by-step how to set up email accounts. |
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Q: What is search engine optimization (SEO)? | Return to top
Search engine optimization involves choosing targeted keywords and phrases to describe your web site in order to get a high ranking status in search engines. SEO is a good marketing strategy, however it takes a lot of time and talent to identify keywords that will insure high ranking results. Arquan's Xonca makes SEO easier by providing areas to enter meta tags, which describe specific information about the contents of your web site and give you control in listing the description of your site used by search engines. |
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Q: How do I market and get customers to my web site? | Return to top
There are many ways to attract customers to your web site. We feel the best way is to combine an existing business and current customers with your marketing efforts. Getting existing customers to your web site is easier than attracting new ones. However, everyone needs new customers and many on-line stores begin with no current customers. Targeted keyword advertising, or pay per click advertising, is the fastest way to begin receiving traffic to your web site right away. Arquan recommends using Yahoo Search Marketing or Google Adwords, which specialize in driving qualified customers to your web site. Click here and scroll down for more information.
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