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PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th Ed-tqw-_darksiderg

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14<br />

Running an E-commerce Site<br />

THIS CHAPTER INTRODUCES SOME OF THE ISSUES involved in specifying, designing,<br />

building, <strong>and</strong> maintaining an e-commerce site effectively.We examine the plan, possible<br />

risks, <strong>and</strong> some ways to make a website pay its own way.<br />

Key topics you learn in this chapter include<br />

n Deciding what you want to achieve with your e-commerce site<br />

n Considering the types of commercial websites<br />

n Underst<strong>and</strong>ing risks <strong>and</strong> threats<br />

n Choosing a strategy<br />

Deciding What You Want to Achieve<br />

Before spending too much time worrying about the implementation details of your<br />

website, you should have firm goals in mind <strong>and</strong> a reasonably detailed plan leading to<br />

those goals.<br />

In this book, we make the assumption that you are building a commercial website.<br />

Presumably, then, making money is one of your goals.<br />

There are many ways to take a commercial approach to the Internet. Perhaps you<br />

want to advertise your offline services or sell a real-world product online. Maybe you<br />

have a product that can be sold <strong>and</strong> provided online. Perhaps your site is not directly<br />

intended to generate revenue but instead supports offline activities or acts as a cheaper<br />

alternative to present activities.<br />

Considering the Types of Commercial <strong>Web</strong>sites<br />

Commercial websites generally perform one or more of the following activities:<br />

n<br />

n<br />

Publish company information through online brochures<br />

Take orders for goods or services

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