Automation

While there are many specialized applications for automating functions, for the eBiz student there are two primary automation tools you need to know about.

Autoresponder

One of the premiere tools for eBiz is the email autoresponder. Autoresponders enable the business owner to respond instantly to requests for information, acknowledge sales, and notify suppliers. They can also be configured to distribute newsletters, articles and sales letters on a pre programmed interval.

Autoresponders are available in basically two flavors –

1) those you can buy and load on your server

2) an ASP service which you pay a monthly or yearly fee

We recommend the ASP model which relieves the administrative overhead of keeping it running. Plus the providers go to great lengths to keep their domains “clean” and avoid being identified as Spammers. Get Response and Aweber are our recommended service providers.

Shopping Carts

In order to sell something online you need to have a way to take peoples money. The advantage of affiliate programs is they handle all the money and pay you a commission. But if you want to sell durable goods or dropship someone else’s product you will need a merchant’s account and a way to track your inventory. The eStore also called eCommerce, is way to present your products and to present them on your website for sale to your customers

You can set the sites up yourself with your own merchant account, shopping cart software on your server, an inventory management system and sell away with costs based on a percentage of the sale. There is usually a fee to setup your merchants account but you can consider Paypal as a good way to accept credit cards and is free to set up.

Of course just like Autoresponders, you can find a paid provider that charges a set fee a month plus a percentage commission on the sales usually in the 2-3% range. Some of these services even provide Autoresponders. 1shoppingcart is our recommend vendor.

The use of Autoresponders and Shopping Carts are automated technologies that can greatly enhance your online business.