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SSL
Regardless of what shopping cart you choose, a very important part of your site is the SSL certificate. SSL, or Secure Socket Layer is a certificate that encrypts the parts of your website where people enter personal information. This stops prying eyes from being able to steal people’s information. The SSL certificate is accessed using the https: protocol and encrypts information being transmitted over the internet, so that only the owner of the certificate can see the information. Most hosting companies offer SSL certificates with hosting at an additional cost.
SSL certificates are absolutely necessary to protect your business and your customers. Any knowledgable customer will not shop at a website with no security, nor should they.
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Some companies that offer SSL certificates will try to sell you on high priced certificates saying that they are better or more secure, and that will result in more customers or sales. The least expensive certificate will do just as much for you as the most expensive one. As long as you have the “https:” most people will feel comfortable buying from your site.
Privacy Policy
Another way to make people comfortable buying from your site is to publish a privacy policy. Most people fear that information they provide on the internet is going to lead into sales calls, having their information sold to other companies, and loads of spam and junk mail. If you intend on being in business for a long time and hope to have a regular customer base, it’s probably not a good idea to sell your customer’s personal information to other people.
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Your privacy policy is where you advise people how their personal information will and won’t be used. It should be clear, easy to read, and direct. If you’re committed to respecting that most people don’t want their information shared, let them know that. If you plan on making their information available to select “partner sites” that will solicit them, you should also let them know that. However, if you plan on selling your customer’s information and put in your privacy policy that you don’t, you could be liable should someone sue.
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