21 ... to Ask Before You Buy Any Shopping Cart System byTom ... you've decided which product your going to sell online, thenext most ... decision you'll make is which shopping carts 21 Questions to Ask Before You Buy Any Shopping Cart System byTom AntionOnce you've decided which product your going to sell online, thenext most important decision you'll make is which shopping cartsystem to buy. It is perhaps the most important single decisionyou'll make in your online marketing career. This is because:* You're sort of stuck with the decision for a long time.* If you buy into a system that isn't adequate, it can cost youmoney. BIG money.* There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of off-the-shelfalternative products out there vying for your money, time orboth.* Even if you decide you've made a mistake, switching shoppingcart systems is really difficult.I know. I learned the hard way. When I started in this business Icouldn't find a decent shopping cart program so I rolled my own.What a headache. In the process of living with that monstrosity- - and shopping for a suitable replacement -- over the lastcouple of years, I've come up with something I think you'll finduseful.Here are 21 questions you absolutely, unfailingly MUST ask anyonetrying to sell you a shopping cart, custom or otherwise. If youdon't hear good positive answers to the vast majority of thesequestions, put your wallet back into your pocket and move to thenext choice. Don't get stuck with a crappy shopping cart. (If youwant to know even more about this subject, you can download afree eBook "How to Pick a Shopping Cart System That Makes YouMoney," from my site at http://www.public-speaking.org/ebook.htm You can even redistribute that book to others if you want toshare these insights!)1. Will it calculate shipping & tax?2. Does it handle specialized shipping like FedEx and UPS?3. Will it deliver hard goods and soft goods (digital productslike ebooks & in the same transaction?4. Does it offer customizable "Return to Shopping" pages withoutneeding custom programming?5. Does it allow you to make special offers?6. Does it deliver receipt and confirmation emails?7. Does it allow multiple order and dropship emails?8. Does it have a Web-Based administration page?9. Does it use encryption technology?10. Does it deliver easy output to your accounting software?11. Does it have its own associate program or is it easilycompatible with other major brands of associate software?12. Does it have integrated upsell modules?13. Does it have an integrated sales and prospect database?14. Does it have broadcast email capability?15. Does it have mail merge capability?16. Can it handle coupons and other discounts?17. Can it work for multiple websites with no extra fees?18. Does it have unlimited and fully integrated autoresponders?19. Does it have ad tracking tied into actual sales?20. Does it have a pop-up box builder?21. Does it have a printable off-line order form?============================================Tom Antion is an Internet Marketing expert who really makes moneyon the Internet . . . he's not giving a book report. Tom is thefounder of the infamous "ButtCamp" seminars where you learn tomake money sitting at home on your rear end. Contact him atmailto:[email protected] or visit http://www.antion.com orhttp://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com Article Tags: Shopping Cart System, Shopping Cart, Cart System Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com