Internet Industry Association

Ecommerce Fact Sheets

In today’s business environment, having an online presence can be an essential element to the success of small and medium sized enterprises. E-commerce is business done electronically, nowadays mostly via the Internet. It brings with it an unprecedented power to access customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, anywhere in the world.

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), generally businesses with less than 20 employees, have embraced the Internet in Australia with enthusiasm. In some cases, it is because they intuitively understand the power of the ‘always open for business’ possibilities that e-commerce offers. Others are responding to changing customer expectations, or the moves of competitors who are moving online. Whatever the reason, the figures speak for themselves. According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics, some 72% of SMEs now have Internet access. A lesser proportion have a web site and less still have fully enabled them for full e-commerce capabilities.

The aim of this Fact Sheet series is to provide SMEs with information that is necessary to get online and to turn this online presence into a better experience with hopefully, higher profitability.

The information has been prepared by the IIA with the assistance of IIA Members.

Introduction to Ecommerce  http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/introduction to ecommerce fact sheets.pdf

Your website - your online store front  http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/your website.pdf

Hosting your website http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/hosting your website.pdf

Promoting your site online http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/promoting your site online.pdf

Outsourcing to an applications service provider http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/outsourcing to an application service provider.pdf

Laws affecting online businesses http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/laws affecting online businesses.pdf

Brand Protection on the net http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/brand protection on the net.pdf

Domain names http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/domain name.pdf

Online contracts http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/online contracts.pdf

Security for your online business http://iia.net.au/images/resources/pdf/security for your online business.pdf