verisign http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for verisign Copyright 2008 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:57:22 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/verisign Securing Online Payments http://www.artwoo.com/article/securing-online-payments http://www.artwoo.com/article/securing-online-payments#comments Sun, 07 Jan 2007 00:27:08 +0000 online shopperse commerce businessmailverisign securedcredit card fraudcredit card dataweb browsers http://www.artwoo.com/article/securing-online-payments online shoppers are concerned with and 85% of online shoppers are concerned about identity theft when providing their credit information online. As an online retailer, you must work to gain trust of your customers in order to enable success of your e-commerce business. It certainly won't do if 65% of your site shoppers discontinue their orders before paying because of the check-out process!

How do you gain the trust of your online shoppers? Most online customers have learned to check for the andquot;httpsandquot; in the URL address as well as the little closed padlock graphic of the Seal. There are other security companies providing secure transactions online, but other studies have shown that 79% of United States online shoppers recognize the VeriSign Secured Seal, which is much higher than any other secure mark. In addition to the andquot;httpsandquot; and closed lock image, the newest are also able to support the green address bar whenever an authenticated certificate is detected- to give shoppers yet another method of verifying a secure website for online shopping.

If you have an online store or other retail site that accepts online orders and credit cards, you definitely want to provide a secure shopping environment for your shoppers. Using SSL technology protects your web site while helping customers trust you. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and what it does is encrypt the customer's information and as it is sent over the Internet, while at the same time the SSL certificate contains unique information that is authenticated by an authority to verify the identity of the owner of the certificate.

When a website accepts payments without the SSL encryption, information submitted by the customer is sent in a way that people might be able to access it. It would be like sending cash through the inside a translucent envelope! You might have a few honest people who just send it on its way, but all it would take is one person to see the cash inside the clear envelope and take it out before it reaches it's destination. The other part of SSL technology- the verification of the owner's certificate is how online shoppers can be assured that the business they are shopping from is real, and therefore can be trusted. Without third-party verification, asking customers to shop your site is like asking for someone to send their banking details without knowing who they're giving the information to- it isn't going to happen because there is no reason to trust them!

Some online retailers have reported that their sales have risen about 10% after placing the VeriSign Secured Seal on the payment pages of their website in comparison to the sales achieved prior to the placement of the seal. This is proof that customers recognize and trust the seal as indication they are shopping on a secure, trustworthy site.

As stated previously, there are numerous providers of SSL technology, however, VeriSign is by far the most popular with over 93% of the Fortune 500 companies using VeriSign for SSL protection on their websites, and 40 of the world's largest banks using VeriSign for internet security issues. Not only is VeriSign trusted by the largest corporations and banks, but it is recognized by online shoppers which is the first step to providing customers with a trusting shopping environment. Additionally, VeriSign will work with many Internet browsers- including some that are older- to the extent of 99.9% of web site visitors receiving either 128 bit or 256 bit encryption. This article has been provided courtesy of Creditor Web, http://www.creditorweb.com . ]]> Domain Name Sales -- How To Do It... http://www.artwoo.com/article/domain-name-sales-how-to-do-it http://www.artwoo.com/article/domain-name-sales-how-to-do-it#comments Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:32:05 +0000 domain name salesdomain name registrationsdomain name companytop level domain nameslevel domain namesverisigntruth about http://www.artwoo.com/article/domain-name-sales-how-to-do-it
Today, numerous studies have been conducted to show the situation of the domain name industry. And recently, there came a report about the and usage that shows the domain name continues to rise.

Speaking of this report about the domain name sales and usage, it has actually been reported by the Network World ISP News Report Newsletter coming from the that the domain name sales and usage continues to rise nowadays. It is considered that as a signal of the recovery of the internet industry, both of the domain name sales and usage gave certain idea about the solid growth of the domain name sales and usage during the first quarter of the year 2004.

In relation to such recent report about the domain name sales and usage, there comes a truth as the VeriSign's Domain Name Industry Brief stated that the average number of reached an all time high of 64.5 million just during the second quarter of the year 2004. And according to numerous studies, such the overall percentage domain name sales and usage is up to 2.4 percent over the first quarter of 2004 and is also up for 7 percent during the year-end for 2003.

Speaking of the domain name sales, there are still even more significant several statistics that shows how the domain name sales and usage soar. One of those statistics shows that the domain name sales and usage is much elevated today than it was at the zenith of the advent of the internet. In line with that, the report shows that on average, the VeriSign alone processes more than 14 billion for two top notch , the .com and the .net queries each day. For these two top level domain names, the company processes for up to 8 billion last year and 2 billion in 2000.

Here came another support for that statistics which shows that 64 percent of all top level domain names such as .com and .net domain names are link to live web sites, which are up from 61 percent a year ago. Also considerable is the report showing the situation of the domain sales and usage which states that the percentage of parked web sites, which are said so because they are not actively being used but then are associated with a domain name, has in fact dwindled from 12 percent last year to 8 percent this year.

Finally, it is also explained in the report for the domain name sales and usage sake that the rates of renewal for top level domain names such as .com and .net have recoiled from a low of 45.7 percent in the first quarter of the year 2003 and then reach a new height of 72 percent in the second quarter of 2004.

>From such reports alone, the domain name sales and usage really grow and will continue to grow for the next coming years. Discover What It Really Takes To Succeed And Profit From Your Online Business And Find Out The Little Discussed Facts That People Ignore - Or Choose To Ignore - That Makes You Either An Internet Entrepreneur Or Simply, Plain Broke! http://www.internetentrepreneurship.com You May Reproduce this article as long as an active hyperlink is accompanied. ]]> Encryption And SSL For Your Website http://www.artwoo.com/article/encryption-and-ssl-for-your-website http://www.artwoo.com/article/encryption-and-ssl-for-your-website#comments Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:20:00 +0000 accept credit cardsencryption technologydata encryptionssl certificatesdigital certificatessecure socket layerverisign http://www.artwoo.com/article/encryption-and-ssl-for-your-website
All data exchange between your website and your website visitors must be encrypted. Encryption is the technology that scrambles data before transmission. It ensures that only authorized parties can read the data. Encryption is what keeps credit card numbers, addresses, social security numbers, and other sensitive information secure during online transactions. Be sure that you explain your customers about encryption. The checkout page is a great place to include brief information about what your site uses. The key here is not to scare your customers with too much information, but to explain the security measures your company takes to provide a same shopping experience.

California passed a law in 2003 requiring businesses to notify consumers in the state if their unencrypted data have been compromised. Several other states have passed similar laws. Several major credit card companies such as Visa and MasterCard require businesses operating online to verify that they have taken a number of steps, including encryption, to protect customers who use credit cards.

SSL ()

You need SSL is you have an online store and . Anytime sensitive data is transmitted between your website and your customer's computer, you are using SSL. Without SSL, all data transferred would be an open book, leaving consumers vulnerable. Data sent without SSL is the equivalent of sending a letter in a see through envelop.



are the lifeblood of SSL technology. SSL certificates are issued by CAs (Certificates of Authority) such as Corporation. VeriSign digitally signs each certificate it issues. Each browser contains a list of CAs to be trusted. During the SSL handshake, the browser confirms that a trusted Certificate of Authority has issued the certificate. If the CA is not trusted, a warning will show. As browsers recognize an SSL Certificate, they display the name of the CA next to the browser bar.

Practical Example: If you are using a shared hosting account for your site. The host will provide you with a shared SSL certificate. The shared certificate should be included in your hosting fee. It is an inexpensive solution to keep your website secure. George Meszaros http://www.webene.com ]]> Processing Payments: Securing Customers' Data Online http://www.artwoo.com/article/processing-payments-securing-customers-data-online http://www.artwoo.com/article/processing-payments-securing-customers-data-online#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:36:23 +0000 address verification systemcredit card fraudsecure socket layerdark spectercredit card paymentscredit card transactionssmall business owners http://www.artwoo.com/article/processing-payments-securing-customers-data-online credit card payments each year. And as consumers grow increasingly comfortable with using their credit cards online, annual sales volume is expected to continue growing. But, there is a potential looming over the industry: . It can manifest in different ways and be financially devastating for its victims. The problem has prompted the credit card industry to aggressively pursue and adopt stringent security protocols.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at credit card fraud. Then, I'll explain a few ways in which you can help secure your customers' data. In doing so, you can boost their confidence and your sales in the process.

The Rise Of Credit Card Fraud

Fraudulent activity associated with processing isn't new. It was a growing problem before the internet was widely accessible. The mail order industry was already battling fraud. Today, processing payments online has simultaneously increased consumers' exposure to fraud while allowing for the implementation of more robust security measures. Because most online credit card fraud is due to lackluster security on the part of businesses and consumers, there's plenty you can do to help.

Many fail to protect their customers' data properly. It can happen in a number of ways. For example, when they process online credit card payments, they may do so without the use of an SSL () certificate. Or, they may process payments without using an AVS (). On the other hand, consumers can become the victims of identity theft if they fail to review their credit card accounts periodically. That said, business owners can reduce the chances of this happening.

Making Online Transactions Secure

If you're processing payments online, the first step is to use an SSL certificate. Besides encrypting your customers' credit card information, the certificate will also provide your customer with third party verification that their sensitive data is being sent to the right place. This gives your customers the confidence they need to allow you to process their credit cards without worrying that their information will be compromised.

The second step is openly communicating the security measures you've implemented. That includes using the "https" that is associated with secure online transactions. It also includes placing the widely recognizable Verisign padlock on your website. These things may seem like a small matter, but they help increase your customers' confidence in your ability to secure their data.

Boosting Consumer Confidence

Don't underestimate the power of boosting your customers' confidence. As more people become aware of the potential dangers of credit card fraud, some have begun to limit use of their cards. As a business owner, this can have an impact on your sales. Having the ability to process payments online is only as valuable as your customers' willingness to allow you to do so. The more confident they are that purchasing from your website won't compromise their credit card information, the more likely they are to buy.

There are a number of companies that can provide an SSL certificate for online payment processing. Verisign is the largest and has the most recognizable brand. Many of the most reputable companies in the world use them, as do several major banks. As a result, millions of people are familiar with the security associated with the Verisign padlock symbol. It increases their confidence. And that can make the difference between a floundering online business and a formidable success.This article is brought to you by PaySimple, a leading provider of merchant account services.]]> Online Shopping Statistics in Australia http://www.artwoo.com/article/online-shopping-statistics-in-australia http://www.artwoo.com/article/online-shopping-statistics-in-australia#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:57:23 +0000 australian retailers associationretail profitsaustralian bureau of statisticsshopping australiadefinite increaseproduct researchoffline retailers http://www.artwoo.com/article/online-shopping-statistics-in-australia
Although the releases regular findings on population growth and employment rates, the most recent online shopping information seems to be dated June 06. The archive figures show a in online internet usage between 2004 and 2006, with 70% of Australians over 14 using the internet in the last month, although the primary online activities were email, general surfing and . Shopping and selling online did increase from 41% to 64% over that period, with the income from online businesses increasing by 19% from 2004 to 2005.

The provides more recent information, although the latest figures were not positive. The media release for 17 June 2008 was headed " plummet as shoppers stop spending". 10% of retailers reported a decrease in profitability over the last quarter, despite 35% indicating that they increased prices over the period, although that covers online and .

The Norton Online Living Report (in their first bi-annual report at norton.com/onlineliving) states that 76% of online adults had purchased something online at some time. Mind you this was from a survey of 4687 adults from eight countries, and extrapolated. Around 55% of Australians have a high degree of confidence online, with around a third feeling confident sharing personal information when shopping online. The majority have security software on their computers, with basic precautions such as changing passwords, using multiple email addresses and staying on trusted sites.

Hitwise has recent data about Australian internet usage, grouped by category. Their May 08 report says that top searches driving traffic to shopping sites online were ebay, trading post, ticketek, harvey norman, everyday rewards (Woolworths), amazon and target.

Google.com/trends searches for "online " show that volumes have been relatively consistant over the past few years, apart from seasonal peaks leading up to Christmas.

Verisign is a global provider of infrastructure to communicate and conduct commerce with confidence, with digital certificates protecting over a million servers worldwide. From the Verisign site (courtesy of data from Ipsos-Insight), 69% of online shoppers are concerned about online credit card fraud, 85% concerned about identity theft, and 37% believe that online shopping is a risk factor for identity theft. Displaying a trust logo on a site is felt to be important by 94% of Australian online shoppers. The majority of shoppers prefer to use sites that display the Verisign Secured Seal.

Newspapers frequently have generic articles about the increase in online shopping. With the increase in petrol prices, and the ability to compare prices online to find the best bargain, avoiding crowds and queues, and the ability to find unusual gifts, it is easy to understand why people are interested in shopping online. New online shops are starting up all the time. The increased competition does lead to more benefits to shoppers, such as free gift wrapping and delivery.

If you are just starting out at shopping online, here are some useful tips:

1. Look for a trust logo, such as Verisign, to verify site authenticity

2. Check refund, privacy, returns, guarantees and delivery costs

3. Check reputation at shopping review sites that allow ratings and comments, such as www.myonlineshops.com.au

4. Pay by credit card, possibly having a separate credit card with a low limit, specifically for online use

5. Ensure capture of personal and credit details are secure. The address of the page should start with https, and there should be an icon of a padlock on the bottom of the screen

6. Print a copy of the receipt and also save a screen print of the receipt

7. If you have problems getting a refund, visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/shopping/shoppingfromhome/internetshopping.htmlPenny Naim is an avid online shopper, and online researcher. Discover a huge range of quality Australian shops, rate and write reviews about Online Shopping Australia at www.myonlineshops.com.au.]]> Home Based Business In India http://www.artwoo.com/article/home-based-business-in-india http://www.artwoo.com/article/home-based-business-in-india#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:34:59 +0000 local news paperslegitimate work from home companieslegitimate work from homecasual surfershome based jobsmaking money on the internettrue internet http://www.artwoo.com/article/home-based-business-in-india local news papers and even on internet also like (work from home for 20 minutes and earn 5 digit income, I would like to tell you that you beware when you choose any of these scheme, because there are only few companies who are providing genuine , I have some bad experience in past with some companies, so just beware before selecting any home based business in India.

Just remember that whatever site you choose, should have VeriSign certification, you can check this on VeriSign site.

The Internet is a great source of information. Unfortunately, a lot of this information is very deliberately inaccurate. This is especially true as far as making money online is concerned. The Internet is full of information about how easy it is to make money online.

Interestingly, all the 'gurus' are eager to reveal their 'closely guarded secrets.'

Any home based business person will confirm that although there is a great chance of , it does not come easily as you are thinking.

Whatever business one has, it is absolutely essential to have a significant traffic to the desired website. There is no way of generating any sale without people visiting the website and finding out about the goods and services available. The traffic must be very significant for a good number of people are merely .

Hence another significant factor is to make a greater percentage of the visitors as targeted as possible. They should be people with interest on the things on offer, which means turning them to customers should be relatively easy.

Every visitor to a website is a potential customer. It is therefore important to have ways whereby they do not just visit a page, probably just once, and disappear. It takes several views of a website - many people say it needs an average of 7 views - to turn a visitor into a customer. But how can one keep track of the visitors?

This is where it is necessary to have an attractive sign-up page (where interested visitors leave their names and email addresses).

People do not just leave their names and addresses without getting something in return. They will may be sign up for a newsletter giving them regular updates on something they are interested in, for example, tips on how to increase their own traffic. These people are then contacted at set intervals via their emails with these updates.

Doing this manually can be overwhelming and monotonous and it is better to employ the use of auto responders that will send the relevant information automatically.

One of the ways of getting the all-important traffic is to have a website that can be readily picked up by search engines. Most Internet users depend on search engines to get what they are looking for. A website will reach the searchers easily when it has well written content that user specific keywords appropriately. Hey Guys, I want formally announce that opportunities of home based business in India is growing, so I want you all guys to take advantage of it and earn some good income through it. http://www.india-work-from-home.com/home-based-business-in-india.html ]]> SSL Certificates - Secure Server Certificates http://www.artwoo.com/article/ssl-certificates-secure-server-certificates http://www.artwoo.com/article/ssl-certificates-secure-server-certificates#comments Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:27:03 +0000 secure server certificatessl certificatecertificate authorityverisignemailthawtecertificate request http://www.artwoo.com/article/ssl-certificates-secure-server-certificates
s are generally used with ecommerce shopping carts, or anywhere you want to collect information from a user securely on your website. If you use a with a form; and that form s the results to you; keep in mind that the email is not secure.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): Creates an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. CA (): The vendor you will get the secure server certificate from CSR (Certificate Signing Request): A text file generated by a web server. A CSR looks like this:

-----BEGIN NEW ----- MIIDGgBNAGkAYwByAG8AcwBvAGYAdAAgAFIAUwBBACAAUwB AG4AZQBsACAAQwByAHkAcAB0AG8AZwByAGEAcABoAGkAYwl L0ygNwwNIvKLMPq4/LcUkZ9Oo4AssXW5mvvhHWGz2RWYRhrw8o -----END NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

First, you need to decide whether to use your hosting shared SSL certificate if they offer it. The URL to your store will look something like:

https://theirserver.com/youruserid/your/path/to/store.html

Or do you want to get your own SSL certificate? The URL will look like:

https://yourdomainname.com

If you decide to use your hosts' shared secure server certificate, then all you need to do is find out the path you need to use to call your files securely, and you will be on your way.

If you decide to get your own SSL certificate, this is generally what happens.

You first need to decide who you are going to get your SSL certificate from. It is a good idea to make sure your host supports your particular vendor. Some certificate authority vendors are:

* * * Comodo * You can also review several vendors at a glance at WhichSSL

Before getting your own SSL certificate, you will need to do some reading on what your chosen Certificate Authority requires for a secure certificate, and you'll also need to come up with some documentation. There are several steps to buying a secure server certificate, once you have decided on a vendor.

This is an overview, not written in stone. Each CA is different, so make sure you read their documentation and what they require. Here is an idea of what they want:

All documentation that is requested must match *exactly*. Secure certificate authorities will verify that your organization actually exists, so they know they are issuing to the correct company. You will need to prove that the Organization Name and the Domain name are in fact yours to use. Steps you'll be taking:

* Gather required documentation * Have your host generate a CSR * Complete certificate authority online application * Certificate authority will process your request * Pickup and install your SSL certificate (usually an URL is emailed to you to download the secure server certificate) * Depending on the vendor, it can take a few hours to a few days. * Send secure certificate to host for installation. (Send in plain text)

Once your web hosting provider receives this information; they will generate the CSR and send it back to you in plain text. You then send it on to Verisign or Thawte, or whoever you have chosen as your secure certificate authority. They will then generate a SSL certificate for you which you will send back to your host for installation. Your web host may charge a fee for installation in addition to what your SSL certificate vendor charges.

Something to think about:

If you've decided to purchase your own SSL certificate, you will need to decide how you want your URL to be called. If you, as a rule, call your domain name in your coding as www.yourdomainname.com, then make sure you indicate this to your host when you request a CSR from them. If you don't, and you get the certificate for yourdomainname.com (without the www), this will cause browser errors, making the certificate seem insecure, and you will need to change your coding.

Always use yourself or your company as technical contact.

How to tell if a site is secure?

After you've browsed to a site securely; using https:// in the URL, look on the lower right hand side of your browser. You should see a closed lock. This will tell you the site is secure. Elizabeth Ramer has been working in the web hosting industry since 1997, and enjoys building computers in her spare time. Visit http://flawebworks.com for web hosting or http://build-computer-systems.com/ for computer components. ]]> The Real Outlook For Ping http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-real-outlook-for-ping http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-real-outlook-for-ping#comments Fri, 15 Sep 2006 06:27:27 +0000 target computerping responsesping utilityip addressecho requestreturn packetindicative http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-real-outlook-for-ping IP address. This is used to ensure that the host computer intended to be reached is actually operating. Recent developments have caused people to abandon their existing Ping community and standards which threaten to alter the positive outlook for Ping.

What is Ping All About?

In December 1983, Mike Muuss wrote a program used as a tool to troubleshoot peculiar behavior on an IP network. He named it "ping" after the pulses of sound made by a sonar. Its operation is considered analogous to active sonar in submarines wherein an operator issues a pulse of energy at the target which would then bounce back and be received by the operator. An acronym was provided by David Mills to mean "Packet Internet Grouper" and by other people as "Packed Internet Gopher".

Its usefulness in terms of assisting the diagnosis of connectivity issue in the Internet was undermined when several Internet service providers filtered out messages at their network boundaries. The use of Ping for target reconnaissance by Internet worms in locating new hosts to infect is partly to be blamed. Another factor that might have contributed to the situation is the resulting over all load on networks due to the wide availability of .

The has its unique use being essentially a system administrator's tool to determine if a computer is working or if network connections are intact. Ping uses the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo function to send a small packet through the network to a particular IP address. The computer that sent the packet waits for a . A good return packet will be received if the connections are good and the is up. However, it is of a problem with the matching of the name and the IP address when a packet bounces back. An extended period of time used up for the round trip is likewise indicative of a problem. Ping can also determine the number of hops that lie between two computers and the amount of time it takes for a packet to make a complete trip.

There are some things that Ping cannot tell. Ping may not be able to always provide the reasons why packets go unanswered. Neither can it tell why or where a packet was damaged, delayed or duplicated. A detailed description of every host that handled the packet and the details that happened along the way cannot be provided by Ping.

Dropped packets are usually detected through a skip in the sequence numbers and such number does not appear again. The probable causes for this are a queue that grew too large and link-level failures. Fluctuating round trip times are caused by the same things responsible for packet loss. Connectivity that comes and goes may be caused by problems in the router.

The negative creation of the Ping is the so-called Ping of Death that essentially crashes a system by sending a Ping packet larger than 65,536 bytes. An IP datagram of this size usually cannot be sent but perpetrators apparently chop the packet into small pieces when it is sent down the line and have it rebuilt at its destination. The sheer size of the packet causes the buffer to overflow and results to a reboot or a hang among others.

The Ping Outlook

Ping-O-Matic is the only remaining large-scale and independent Ping relay service left with the purchase of http://Weblogs.com by Verisign. The purchase has been received by some quarters with skepticism due to Verisign's supposedly checkered history in the blogosphere. All major content producers and companies relying on this specific Ping stream are considerably wary of this move.

Weblogs.com was widely perceived to be a service that has stagnated and a business that has declined. It is believed to have attempted to monetize what should otherwise be a public service. Users who got frustrated with the situation have chosen to abandon their existing Ping community and opted to produce their own feeds. There is a need to get competing services to work together so that no one gets to successfully exploit the situation.

There are those that believe that http://Weblogs.com under Verisign may not be the solution to the existing problem in the Ping community but views it as a start of better things to come. However, there should be an entity having the resources and the ability to command respect among the tech companies being served that would run it. The cooperation of those that have extensive experience with it can only work to benefit the community as a whole.

The bleak outlook of Ping persisting at this time can be attributed to the fact that it is impossible to leave doors open on the web and not have it abused. The traffic gained by blog searches can all expect the same spam problems being experienced by other areas of the web. The problem will only worsen unless some barriers are put into place. It is also very difficult to come up with an algorithmic way to stop Ping spam. Clearly, the problem is not only about one entity purchasing a particular service.

Major search players such as Google and Yahoo! are expected to move to a combination of rapid crawling, trusted Pings and open Pings as a back up. Since they are able to get news content very fast, they can concentrate on spidering and hammering their trusted sites. They know the major blogs that really matter and be able to discover links from blogs as quickly as possible.

Another way is to have people enroll to come up with trusted Pings. Proper identification through signing up can be used to determine whose Pings are to be taken in and penalize those who abuse it. A redistribution of trusted Ping feeds by major players would be ideal but is almost next to impossible since they don't share web crawling data. Major blog services will most probably continue to be trusted while others might take Pings for third party servers.

Some aver that the real surprise is seeing how open pinging has managed to survive this long. There are ways to be done to tackle spam such as through the machine learning algorithm and the like. It would probably be best to open the Pings up to the community and let them fix it.

Technorati, Bloglines and Feedster are all closed systems and Pings sent to them are only available to their service. Some are hoping to see an open system of notification and proposes Feedmaster to achieve it. It hopes to allow a wide variety of new services to be able to focus on getting into the stream of updates. At present, the various players are still actively participating but whether or not there is indeed a future for Ping would depend on how they act individually as competitors and as common participants in one community. http://www.theinternetone.net ]]> What Makes A Successful E-Commerce Website http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-makes-a-successful-e-commerce-website http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-makes-a-successful-e-commerce-website#comments Fri, 07 Jul 2006 06:27:10 +0000 online shopping cartaccept credit cardsshopping mallverisignmerchant accountcrucialsurfer http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-makes-a-successful-e-commerce-website crucial points that you should keep in mind while launching your website.

1. Website

Your website is like your showroom, airy and attractive. When online, the equivalent of a showroom is an uncluttered website where the eyes can move freely up and down finding the details they need without much effort. It is extremely important that the website be easy to navigate since the should not have to search for the product or details he or she is looking for. The website should project its products in a provocative way so the surfer wants to see more.

Place testimonials or photos of your product so people can create a positive image of its usage. If your products are guaranteed, post this information conspicuously.

2. Your

This feature is a must for any commercial website because without it you will not be able to receive payment by credit cards. Reports show that as high as 99 percent of the trade online is done through credit cards. Hence, if you do not have a merchant account you lose business. You will need to be able to accept all major credit cards and without this feature that is not possible.

3. Shopping cart and secure server

This is interconnected with the above. When you have a merchant account to , you will need an . This feature allows your customers to choose and place their chosen products in the cart just as one would do in . This cart will, at the end of the shopping, total the products and give the total cost of the products chosen.

In order to have your shopping cart work well you need to have its software installed on your website or on the server that hosts your website. If you choose to have your own server you will need to have a certificate from and Thawrte, which encrypts the financial information given by your customers so they can feel safe while giving you this sensitive information.

4. Payment gateway

This is another crucial aspect in setting up a successful e-commerce website. The payment gateway is the link from your website to the credit card processor. This gateway helps information to pass from your site to the authorization centre where the credit card is verified and then charged; after that the reply will come back to your website that the processing has been successful. A payment gateway will always check for details in credit card information and reject any discrepancy in the information. In this way it reduces the use of fraudulent cards by almost 80 percent. http://www.touchmediadesign.com - TOUCH MEDIA DESIGN is a full-service creative company specializing in assisting both online and offline businesses in web design, e-commerce, catalog design, graphic design, product photography, printing, and marketing. ]]> Rss As A Sign Of Trust http://www.artwoo.com/article/rss-as-a-sign-of-trust http://www.artwoo.com/article/rss-as-a-sign-of-trust#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:25:04 +0000 real simple syndicationperfect companiontraffic jamtext contenttrustworthinessbusiness ownerverisign http://www.artwoo.com/article/rss-as-a-sign-of-trust Real Simple Syndication (RSS) is something that has become a means of improving trust. It's not so much that the use of an RSS feed improves a consumer's confidence in the product so much as it improves their confidence in your site.

Just like is a standard of trust so too is an RSS feed. It is one of several components that can be included in your website that allows consumers to feel more confident that you are a who is looking out for their best interests.

Why is RSS an indicator of trust?

One of the simplest reasons I know of is that RSS presents your content as authoritative and worth reviewing. If you didn't believe in the value of the content you wouldn't consider using RSS.

The residual benefit of using an RSS feed is that consumers can be alerted when new content is released. This can result in a positive on your site.

When you have an RSS feed it also tells consumers that you are serious about providing new and useful content. It tells them you shake up the site regularly and they won't have to worry about static information on your site. There are already too many of those never changing sites available. RSS indicates a promise that you will not to be one of them.

RSS can be applied to such as blog posts; knowledge based content or even new product pages. RSS can also be applied to any podcasting or video streaming you might make available.

Effectively this mechanism provides a means of encouraging interaction with those who were motivated enough to sign up for your RSS feed.

This function is a to strategies you may be using as you work to develop consumer-centric strategies. RSS isn't just for you to syndicate material it is designed to meet the needs of customers and bring them to your site.

Face it, the more impressions they have of your business the greater trust they can place in your business =96 unless you give them some reason to doubt your .

An RSS feed allows consumers to manage their interests and online activities. In some ways an RSS feed can be used in place of a typical bookmark. Content consumers will be alerted through their RSS reader every time you place something new online.

This concept mirrors major news syndication groups, but you bypass the printing press, the need for advertisers and the typical costs associated with syndication.

More and more power is being given to both consumers and business owners to do more in an online environment than a brick and mortar counterpart could ever hope to achieve.

For instance can you imagine the cost of a new direct mail message from a store in your downtown area being delivered the same day to everyone who has expressed an interest in being on that company's standard mailing list?

It's just not going to happen.

Use RSS to develop trust and a better sense of brand loyalty in your online store. Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. Make your own website in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites at: http://www.highpowersites.com or Build A Website at: http://www.buildagreatsite.com. Start your own ebook business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com ]]> Use Christmas Merchandise Catalogs For Online Shopping http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-christmas-merchandise-catalogs-for-online-shopping http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-christmas-merchandise-catalogs-for-online-shopping#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:20:00 +0000 christmas catalogsmerchandise catalogsclass maildaily mailchristmas merchandiseonline catalogschristmas ornament http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-christmas-merchandise-catalogs-for-online-shopping Christmas catalogs start to show up in the . Rather than toss them into the trash with the other second , they almost always are opened. Going online to shop is a convenient option to the annual shopping mania that seems to be a ritual this time of the year. There is no stress involved to page through a directory or browse the logically organized categories.

Using the internet to shop offers several advantages and additional perks from the traditional method of shopping besides the obvious one of not having to drive from store to store or mall to mall. You can even go to a rating website first to see if there are any reviews from customers that used certain Christmas . These sites usually have some type of rating system so they may help you on your search.

When looking on the internet at home through any catalogs looking for some ideas for your tree, always be sure that they have a privacy policy, terms and conditions links, and logo icons such as VeriSign that signify you are at a valid website and they encrypt all sales data for your protection.

If this is your first time using catalogs, take a minute and read over their policies concerning cancellations and refunds. It is wise to read over the fine print before pressing the order button so you know for sure what to expect.

have a folder and file arrangement so you can first start at a generalized category and click through to the next level to narrow it down to just what you are looking for. When you find the item you are interested in, you can then usually click on the photo to see a larger picture, or it will list all the details including it's size, weight and of course, it's price.

When you are confused on what present to buy, it is so much easier to browse on the internet instead of searching through a shopping mall to get ideas. Just click through page after page or category after category to see hundreds of items. Before you know it, you will have loads of great ideas. Then you can start to narrow down your list.

Another advantage to internet catalogs is they most often carry unusual or rare items that are hard to find at the local store. These would make wonderful gifts to your special close friends or relatives. It is very possible that you will find some bargains too.

As far as bargain hunting goes, be sure to checkout several on the net just to make sure you are getting the best price possible, instead of driving all over town, if not through several towns. You can do it all right at your computer.

So save all your gas money for running to the grocery store for your holiday food, and use a catalog for most of your gift selections this year and you will finally enjoy your holiday. Save gasoline by using online Christmas catalogs this year. Discover Internet Christmas shopping. http://shop-with-online-christmas-catalogs.blogspot.com ]]> Love Shopping With Hassle Free Online Christmas Catalogs http://www.artwoo.com/article/love-shopping-with-hassle-free-online-christmas-catalogs http://www.artwoo.com/article/love-shopping-with-hassle-free-online-christmas-catalogs#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:39:56 +0000 christmas catalogsmerchandise catalogskitchen waresunique gift ideaschristmas spiritchristmas merchandisestress and strain http://www.artwoo.com/article/love-shopping-with-hassle-free-online-christmas-catalogs stress and strain of shopping starts earlier too. But you don't have to have a stroke pushing throught the crowds, you have another option that more and more people are taking advantage of every year, and that's using online . They don't take away your while shopping, they might even make you fell jolly!

Think about it, online Christmas catalogs let you relax a little instead of stressing out when you are shopping. Everything is presented in an organized manner so you can see everything in different categories, like decorations, toys, or apparel. You can even dig down further to narrow down your search and to find the specific thing you are looking for.

First of all, make a list of ideas of gifts for each person. Think about the type of personalities they have and what hobbies they enjoy. Then open those Christmas catalogs online to start your search. Doing a little forward planning makes it allot faster when searching through your online Christmas catalogs.

One neat thing about internet shopping is it is easy to find a huge selection of unusual items for niche enthusiasts or collectors right at your fingertips. I am sure you have a friend or two that would love to have one of those you find.

If you have many children or young nieces or nephews to buy for, wrapping all the toys can be very time consuming, so why not just use the gift wrapping service the catalog provides? And some of them have a great selection of papers, ribbons and colors too.

Have you been thinking about changing your home decorations theme this year? You can use Christmas to look at the new styles out this year right on your computer screen. That's so much easier than running from store to store to get ideas. And think of all the gasoline money that will be saved! With the price of a gallon over $3.00 now and headed higher everyday, that adds up fast!

When looking through your catalogs for different themes, you can chose between varieties of garland, different lighting sets, nativities, wreaths of all sizes, Christmas trees, Ornaments and more, so you won't miss a single detail of your plans to make your house look perfect.

So you really should look into online Christmas catalogs this year. Beside all the varity you can find some low value pricing too. One important check to make, is if you can see the VeriSign and Better Business logos on the pages. Read their policies to see if your credit card information is encrypted. When you are satisfied that you are at a safe website, relax and start you hassle-free shopping experience. Discover Christmas catalogs online at http://shop-with-online-christmas-catalogs.blogspot.com ]]> Processing Credit Cards For Your Online Business http://www.artwoo.com/article/processing-credit-cards-for-your-online-business http://www.artwoo.com/article/processing-credit-cards-for-your-online-business#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:35:01 +0000 credit card processingreal time credit card processingtime credit cardcredit card transactionsaccepting credit cardsauthorizenetpaypal http://www.artwoo.com/article/processing-credit-cards-for-your-online-business
If you are new to online business, you best bet might be to outsource . is the best example of outsourced credit card processing. Online vendors using this service don't have to worry about buying or renting credit card processing machines. In addition, they don't need to create a merchant account because PayPal is the gateway.

More established businesses usually opt for an in-house credit card processing solution. There are two basic methods of online, real time processing and deferred processing.

Real Time Processing

The biggest advantage of processing is that there is no delay in the buying process. The customer immediately knows if the order went through. This method is especially effective with companies selling downloadable products such as audio, video, or e-book. As soon as the credit card is authorized, the customer can download the product. The real time processing fulfills the need for instant gratification. If you are looking for automation, real time processing is for you. It requires more complex set up than deferred processing, but once it has been set up, credit cards are processed quickly, efficiently, and most importantly automatically.

Real time processing simplifies selling online because customers receive instant feedback. For example, if they enter an incorrect credit card number, the transaction will fail and the customer is notified instantly. Declined are immediately reported back to the buyer.

Secure payment gateways are the most important components of real time processing because they provide a secure connection between your website and your merchant account. Some of the largest secure payment gateway providers are and VeriSign.

How does payment through a secure gateway work?

=B7Your customer adds the product to the shopping cart.

=B7The connection enters secure mode, as the customer is required to complete payment information. The customer's browser encrypts the data between the web server and the customer computer.

=B7The website forwards the encrypted payment information to the secure payment gateway.

=B7The payment gateway forwards the encrypted payment information to the vendor's acquiring bank account.

=B7The acquiring bank forwards payment information to the customer's bank account.

=B7The customer's bank responds to the payment request. It either approves or declines the charge.

=B7The payment gateway received the response and forwards it to the vendor's website.

=B7Order completed or failed message is communicated to customer.

Please keep in mind that the above process is highly simplified version of the actual process. The entire transaction described above should take less that ten seconds. George Meszaros http://www.webene.com ]]> Increase Conversion By Testing 5 Areas Of Your Sales Page http://www.artwoo.com/article/increase-conversion-by-testing-5-areas-of-your-sales-page http://www.artwoo.com/article/increase-conversion-by-testing-5-areas-of-your-sales-page#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:15:31 +0000 speedgraphicswinning smiledescending scaleprospective customerbullet pointssalesmanshipfirst impression http://www.artwoo.com/article/increase-conversion-by-testing-5-areas-of-your-sales-page salesmanship. You cannot look your customer in the eye or give them a and firm handshake. The only way that you have to persuade a customer that they want to purchase your product or service is through your sales page.

Your sales page is one of the most important pieces of your internet business and it should be continually tested and improved. If you sales page is not getting results then you can increase conversion by testing the following items listed in order of importance.

1.) The Headline

In the real world you only get one chance to make a and it is the same in the world of internet marketing. In the internet marketing world the headline on your sales page is all that you have to make that valuable first impression, so you have to make the most of it. A well constructed headline will clearly inform the of the largest benefit(s) that is offered by your product or service. It should tell your viewer exactly what they are going to get.

2.) Call to Action

Call to action (your offer) is the section of your sales page that asks for the sale. You may have a killer sales page but if your call to action is not just as powerful you are losing sales.

3.) Lead in

The lead in is the first paragraph beneath your headline and is the third most important part of your sales page. This paragraph rivals the headline for power. It should be written to basically grab the visitor by the collar and scream "look at this."

4.) Benefit and Bullets

Use to describe how your product or service benefits the prospective customer. List these benefits in a . Use the most powerful benefit first and then work your way down to the least powerful.

5.) Graphics and Load Speed

Graphics can both help and hinder your sales page. While some graphics may instill the desire for your product or service they must be delicately balanced. Too many graphics will slow down the load time of your site. To increase conversion you want you page to load with blazing speed so keep the graphic elements to a minimum.

6.) Professional Look

There was a study conducted by Stamford University that found that 46% of all web sales are lost because sales pages lack a professional look and elements that build value and trust with potential customers. Trust building logos might be just the ticket to increase conversion. These logos include BBBOnline and VeriSign as well as others.

Constant testing is a must in the ever changing world of internet business. To become more successful you must increase conversion on your sales page. Use the 6 elements discussed in this article to guide your testing efforts and maximize your profit.Don't Miss Out On My FREE Report - Top Secret Copywriting Techniques To Increase Your Sales By Over 214% In Under 24 Hours! For An Amazingly Powerful Split Tester That Can Do Thousands Of Tests At Once, Track Every Single Customer And Automatically Improves Your Sales page For You, Check Out The Evolutionary Splittester]]> Tips In Shopping Shower Curtains Online http://www.artwoo.com/article/tips-in-shopping-shower-curtains-online http://www.artwoo.com/article/tips-in-shopping-shower-curtains-online#comments Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:27:12 +0000 shower curtainshower curtainsstaplesdefinitelypenguinsfurthermorebold colors http://www.artwoo.com/article/tips-in-shopping-shower-curtains-online staples of the bathroom, and they serve as the main focus (both in function and aesthetics). However, the is one accessory that can change the whole look and feel of a bathroom, depending on several factors. , the internet has changed the whole experience when looking for a shower curtain by adding limitless options. In this article, we'll give you some easy tips in shopping online that may help to makeover the mundane look of your bathroom.

The first consideration when shopping for a shower curtain should be color and design. The days of solid or clear shower curtains that lack personality are a thing of the past. Today, there are hundreds of shower curtain options available online. These range from basic colors to fun, dressed up with characters and images. While many of the images featured on shower curtains tend to be water-themed (, fish, boats, rubber ducks, etc.) there are others that know no boundaries. Shower curtains can feature sports teams, animals, or cartoon characters -- basically, if you can imagine it, there is a shower curtain for you. However, it is important to choose a shower curtain with the colors of your bathroom in mind. It might be fun to buy a hot pink shower curtain, but it is sure to stick out like a sore thumb if your bathroom is designed in blue and white.

Another factor when shopping for a shower curtain online is choosing the right material for you. You may be thinking that all shower curtains are alike, but that is not the case. Shower curtains come in a variety of materials including vinyl, plastic, cloth, and earth-friendly hemp. It is important to decide which look and feel is right for your family before making a purchase.

It is also important to buy a shower curtain online from only the most reputable web sites. How can you ensure that you are making a safe purchase? For starters, you should only buy from sites that have security measures in place to protect your personal financial information. Encryption services such as VeriSign make it impossible for your information to be hacked into by an outside source. This peace of mind is invaluable when shopping online. It is also best to buy from reputable online merchants that you have either dealt with before, or have knowledge of. Many retail and discount stores offer online shopping that is safe and trusted.

By following these tips in shopping shower curtains online, you are sure to find the perfect shower curtain for the bathroom(s) in your home. A shower curtain can be the first step towards renovating a bathroom look that may be stale, or it can help to enhance an already wonderful environment. Either way, shopping for shower curtains online can be a fun experience that will help bring out the best in your bathroom. Jo Williams has an interest Home and Garden related topics. To access more information on http://www.hints-tips.com/category/home/ or on http://www.hints-tips.com/2006/06/21/curtains1/, please click on the links. ]]> Domain Name: How Not To Loose One Before Buying It http://www.artwoo.com/article/domain-name-how-not-to-loose-one-before-buying-it http://www.artwoo.com/article/domain-name-how-not-to-loose-one-before-buying-it#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:49:59 +0000 cheap domain namedomain name registrarasseenontvebayspeculative purposesgooglehave heard that http://www.artwoo.com/article/domain-name-how-not-to-loose-one-before-buying-it google or yahoo. Now that is where the excitement starts.

Numerous articles have been devoted to this topic and every other day more and more individuals are rushing in with the hope and fantasy of registering and securing a name that will make it up to the front headlines of the news.

Domain name in the news.

You may already business.com was sold several years ago for a whopping $8 millions while .com sold for $5.1 Millions. More recently Year2000.com received a bid for $10 on which later turned out to be a hoax, but don't be surprise if it ends up selling for a couple of millions.

Although the chance of pulling a sale like those mentioned above is slim, that simple fact has not been able to restrain and put a check to the number of people trying to buy and park a given name for .

Domain parking by online speculators:

Remember how you kept typing one name after another and all you kept getting is the sorry message that "the name was not available for registration." Did you ever wonder why most of those weird names you thought of, were already registered by other individuals or companies?

Even worse still, for those of us who were naive enough, do you remember doing an online search for a registrar and then typing into their form one name after another trying to see if it was available?

Do you remember closing out of that browser window once you came up with a narrowed list of names that for some reasons you just wanted to give another thought about before finally settling on one?

Then a few hours or a day or two passed by and finally you made up that decision on your choice name. unfortunately to your horror, when you went back to the web site and typed in that chosen name, you got that rude shock that the name was now not available for registration.

To make matters worse you kept getting the same message when you tried the rest of the names in your narrowed list. You then sat there starring at your monitor and wondering what happened so fast within so little time.

The right way to check if your desired name is available.

There are a lot of s out there who maintain a good and ethical business standard. Unfortunately a few of them, their resellers or an intrusion by a third party abuse and take advantage of the system for their own advantage.

In order to avoid loosing your name and be forced with the alternative of having to buy it back at a price! Here is a simple process of what you need to do.

Instead of doing a direct search into a domain registrar form, this is what you need to do:

Read and understand about the traits of a good domain name.

Research and brainstorm about your targeted market.

Come up with a list of names that are keyword rich or rhyme with your targeted market.

Visit either www.Verisign.com or www.betterwhois.com and do a search to find out what name or names are available.

From your list above, check out and find out which name is still available. Make a quick decision and settle on one.

Then run to one of the cheap domain name registrars and buy it right away.

If there is need, register other alternatives of your chosen name. They may be worthy down the line.

Joseph Nyamache is an Author and Webmaster specializing on web hosting and site builders http://www.your-inforcom.com That work. Visit http://www.your-inforcom.com/registeradomainname.html For more information ]]> How To Buy A Desktop Computer Online http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-buy-a-desktop-computer-online http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-buy-a-desktop-computer-online#comments Sat, 08 Jul 2006 14:27:20 +0000 desktop computerdesktop computersquality desktopcomputer onlinebuy a computerbuying a computerram memory http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-buy-a-desktop-computer-online desktop computer, how can you be sure that you are making the right decision? In this article, we'll simplify the process so that you know how to buy a desktop .

The good news in buying today is that you are able to get a lot of capabilities at a very affordable price. It wasn't too long ago that desktop computers would cost thousands of dollars, but that is no longer the case. Now, you are able to receive a high computer for as low as $500, sometimes even lower. Now that you know price won't play too much of a factor, the first determination you have to make when buying a desktop computer online is what you intend to use the system for.

If you are planning on for basic tasks such as word processing and surfing the internet, there is really no need to buy an expensive model. Most basic desktop computers offer 512MB RAM (memory), and this should be more than enough to serve your needs. With that being said, it is best to buy a desktop computer with atleast 1GB of RAM, because you may need it later on down the road. While you might pay a few extra dollars for the memory, it is well worth it.

However, if you plan on using the computer for optimized gaming and video, you will definitely need to boost the quality of your system. Most of these higher-end desktop computers still cost less than $1000, and these babies can fly. If you are the type of person who doesn't like to wait, then it is all about the processor. If you are ultra-serious about your gaming and video, you would be best served to with a dual --core processor. Dual core processors allow for insanely fast multi-tasking, and are perfect for those people who have the need for speed. Intel makes several of these processors (4, D, and Extreme Edition being a few) as does Athlon (64 X2).

Frankly, the rest of the details regarding the desktop computer are of lesser importance, and they should be more than adequate depending upon your individual needs. One final note regarding your computer choice -- it is recommended you buy an extra warranty. This could save you big money if something should go wrong with the computer down the line.

Now, let's turn our attention towards the actual purchasing of the computer. It is vital that you choose the company wisely, and the best way is by doing an adequate amount of research. Most high-end companies (Dell, Gateway, HP) have products that can be trusted, but that's not to say you should limit your thinking to only the major players. There are many quality computer companies out there that may be flying under the radar.

When placing an order online, it is important to protect your personal information at all times. It is best to only do business with companies that offer a secure server at the online checkout. There are several encryption services (VeriSign being one) that will make sure your personal information stays safe. Make sure the web site you order from has such a measure in place.

Hopefully, these tips on how to buy a desktop computer online will help you make the right choice based on your individual needs. Remember to get a desktop computer that has all the features you need, and do your homework before actually turning over your payment information. Good luck! Jo Williams has an interest in Home and Garden related topics. To access more information on http://www.dotips.com/category/computers/ or on http://www.dotips.com/2006/06/22/desktop_computer5/, please click on the links. ]]> Safe And Stress-free Shopping! Building Customer Trust http://www.artwoo.com/article/safe-and-stress-free-shopping-building-customer-trust http://www.artwoo.com/article/safe-and-stress-free-shopping-building-customer-trust#comments Thu, 15 Feb 2007 08:27:13 +0000 shoppersauction listingsinternet scamscourteous communicationsemailworryfeedback ratings http://www.artwoo.com/article/safe-and-stress-free-shopping-building-customer-trust worry they're throwing their money away.

That's why, as an online retailer, creating a safe and stress-free environment for your should be a top priority. With and identity fraud to worry about, most online buyers turn to merchants they recognize and trust. If customers don't feel secure spending their money with you, they'll move on to another auction or website where they do feel comfortable.

Suspicious Minds

According to Steve Woda, of http://BuySafe.com, "About fifty percent of people who surf online don't buy online, and the number one reason is because they don't trust something about the transaction--the merchant, the process, the payment method. Whatever it is, it's always about trust." There are numerous steps you can take to convey credibility to buyers and build their confidence in you:

• Professional Image. Your website or auction listing's appearance creates a strong impression before customers read a single word. Make sure the message you're sending is the one you want to be sending. Sloppy errors and misspelled words signal customers they aren't dealing with a serious businessperson.

• Build Your Ratings. Your merchant ratings and go a long way towards assuring shoppers that, should they purchase from you, their products will arrive and be in good condition.

• Good Customer Service. Promptly returned phone calls and inquiries, and thorough, demonstrate to buyers that you're a genuine, reliable merchant who will provide them good service.

• Third-party Solutions. This is one of the strongest signals you can send that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.

o Seals from companies like the Better Business Bureau, SquareTrade, and BuySafe tell customers your business has passed inspection and been approved by trusted third parties. BuySafe will even guarantee your transactions, so your buyers can shop risk-free.

o Verisign and GeoTrust SSL certificates let your buyers know their personal information is encrypted. Other third-party solutions are available, like HackerSafe which scans your site for vulnerabilities, and TRUSTe which examines your privacy policies. Making PayPal available as a payment option also tells buyers you've been through a very thorough verification process.

There's more than enough data to prove that employing any of these solutions can significantly increase your conversion rate. When buyers trust you, they're much quicker to spend money with you. Says Woda, "I do recommend merchants... deal with buyer uncertainties by leveraging as many of these things as they possibly can. It's all about distinguishing [yourself] as professional, legitimate, and credible." Chris Malta and Robin Cowie of WorldwideBrands.com are the Writers and Hosts of The Entrepreneur Magazine EBiz and Product Sourcing Radio Shows. http://www.productsourcingshow.com for more FREE eBiz info from Entrepreneur Magazine Radio! ]]> Security Issues For Online Businesses http://www.artwoo.com/article/security-issues-for-online-businesses http://www.artwoo.com/article/security-issues-for-online-businesses#comments Tue, 14 Aug 2007 05:15:02 +0000 credit card numberssocial engineeringmailcheckout pagetax authoritiestargetpretexting http://www.artwoo.com/article/security-issues-for-online-businesses
Shared SSL If you use your hosting company's shared SSL, your 's URL will appear as follows: _https://secure.yourhostingcompanysdomaindotcom/andsomemorerandompathhere

Standard SSL If you purchase your own SSL Certificate from a CA such as VeriSign, your checkout page's URL will appear as follows: _https://www.yoursitedotcom/yourcheckoutpath



Social engineering is a deceptive practice to manipulate people into revealing confidential information. Criminals have been known to trick people into disclosing personal information, passwords, and other sensitive information. Social engineering is one of the most dangerous crimes web surfers and online businesses face today. It is a low-tech crime, but it can hurt some of the most sophisticated companies.



This technique is commonly used to trick a consumer or business into divulging sensitive information. Individuals use this method to obtain phone and utility records, banking records, addresses, credit card numbers, user names and passwords, e- addresses, and other confidential information. Bases on the information collected, the criminal can establish an even greater authority.

Many U.S. companies ask for a social security number, mailing address, phone number, mother's maiden name, or date of birth to authenticate customers. All of which can be easily obtained.

Pretexting is frequently used to impersonate colleagues, authorities, bank, or anyone who could have a right-to-know in the mind of the . The pretexter is armed with prearranged answers to possible questions that the target may ask.

Voices over IP programs are popular among pretexters because they provide an easy platform for untraceable phone calls. The lack of a traceable phone number makes the pretexter less vulnerable to being caught.

Phishing

Phishing is a subcategory of social engineering where attackers deceptively obtain sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, usernames, and password, by camouflaged as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. It is likely that you have received phishing e-mails in the recent past. Some of the most common phishing attacks involve recognized names such as PayPal, eBay, Amazon, and various banks.

Phishing is normally carried out through e-mail. Instant messaging is another common vehicle for attacks. The key to deceiving people through phishing is to make a link in an email appear to belong to a legitimate company while the link really points to the site controlled by the criminal. A common trick is to make the anchor text for a link appear to be a valid URL when the link actually goes to the phishers' site.

Phone phishing is the same principal with a low-tech twist. Instead of e-mail, attackers use the phone to contact their victims. They might leave a message pretending to be calling from a legitimate business such as a bank or long distance provider, leaving a phone number that terminates at the phisher location. Author of Triumph On The Web George Meszaros http://www.triumphontheweb.com ]]> Use Online Christmas Catalogs For Hassle Free Shopping http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-online-christmas-catalogs-for-hassle-free-shopping http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-online-christmas-catalogs-for-hassle-free-shopping#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:15:05 +0000 christmas catalogschristmas shoppingchristmas spiritchristmas merchandisemerchandise catalogsmaddening crowdsshopping mall http://www.artwoo.com/article/use-online-christmas-catalogs-for-hassle-free-shopping maddening crowds and waiting in long lines at the s are no doubt starting to come back to you. Each year the stores unleash their Christmas stock earlier. This only makes those horrible thoughts come back to you sooner! The shopping surge has already started with people looking for bargains or that special gift that is still on the shelves.

The strain and anxiety of these circumstances doesn't do anything to put you into the , that's for sure. So what are other alternatives to fighting the throngs of people all trying to grab the latest and greatest hot gift at the same time, let alone trying to find a parking place at the mall? The answer is shopping on the internet through a variety of online . After all, this is certainly not supposed to be the time of year to have a mini stroke over shopping.

The stress of becomes a thing of the past when you use your online Christmas catalogs that offer an organized no-stress method to browse through a huge variety of items such as winter apparel, kitchen utensils, toys, the latest electronic gadgets, and of course decorations of all types. You just cannot compare online shopping to trudging through the mall walking from store to store.

It is highly recommended to already have a list of what you plan to look for before starting to browse through your Christmas catalogs online. It is a good idea to think of the character and personality traits your friends and family have so you can make your searching easier as you will have a good idea right away what type of online Christmas catalogs to look through.

One pleasant benefit of catalogs are the unusual or collector items that are almost impossible to find at your local shopping mall. This will be sure to please many gift recipients.

If you have several young children or many young relatives, catalogs have a huge selection of that special toy or maybe you are thinking they would like jewelry or charms. What about gift wrapping? Not to worry, almost all online catalogs offer gift wrapping now, and don't forget free shipping!

Are you thinking about decorating the house in a new fresh theme this year? Not a problem; just open your Christmas to find an almost never ending supply of Christmas decorations for the home, and at a discount price too!

Just by pointing your mouse and clicking, you can cover every detail of your Christmas shopping. There is just no comparison to fighting traffic and trying to find a parking spot that is a 10 minute walk away from the entrance doors. So I say that Christmas merchandise catalogs are the only way to shop this year --- in fact any year.

Lets see, did I leave anything out? O yes, I forgot to mention the money back satisfaction guarantee! You never have to worry about getting stuck for the price if the item happens to be defective. Depending on the item, or catalog, you may be able to return any item for any reason at all. So you just cannot lose when shopping online with Christmas merchandise catalogs.

One last note, be sure that the websites you are on are secure by looking for the VeriSign logo or other logos that indicate that all credit card information is encrypted. Best wishes and have a happy shopping season!

Save $50 or more in gasoline by using online Christmas catalogs this year. Go here to discover Christmas catalogs online. Born and raised in Ohio. Lived in California, Kentucky, Washington, Hawaii, Germany, Sicily and Japan. Traveled throughout the USA, much of Europe and Asia. See my full Bio at my Blog - http://shop-with-online-christmas-catalogs.blogspot.com/ ]]>