Tip #1: Decide what kind of an ecommerce business you want to run. The product you are trying to sell will often dictate all of your software related decisions. Decide how you are going to set up your business and how extensive you want your site to be.

Tip #2: Take the software out for a test drive. Most ecommerce vendors will allow you to try out their software before you purchase it. If they don't, that is a sign to keep shopping. Sometimes the vendor will have a store model set up in which you can see how transactions are handled - and you can look through the control panel to see how easy it is to manipulate the various features of the store. Do not buy any ecommerce software that you aren't allowed to test out first.

Tip #3: Consider one of the "all in one" options. More and more the "package deals" of hosting, tools for accounting, analytics and other website tools (like email) are becoming a popular option, especially for novices who might not know how to put their ecommerce site together. If you are new to the ecommerce field, consider one of these all in one options. It is a good way to get your feet wet.

Tip #4: Ask Questions. Always ask about their tech support, what other tools are included in the software, whether or not the platforms support cross selling or up selling, searching, etc. How many pages does your customer have to wade through before they are finally able to make their purchase? (Less is better here) How many products can you display? How many templates are there and are they customizable? Can I add custom HTML pages without messing up the interface? Reputable ecommerce platform dealers are patient and will have answers to all of your questions.

Tip #5: Make sure that your software platform offers a real time shopping cart for your customers. Having a real time shopping cart will increase the rate of sales because many people will abandon the sale when they find out how much they have added to their shopping cart. Letting them know how much they have accumulated throughout their shopping experience is a better way to finalize the deal, as customers are more likely to simply check out once they have reached their budgetary limits-whereas, if they keep shopping and put too much in the cart, they will probably just cancel the sale.

Tip #6: Beware of any software that supports outside ads for your site-these outside ads are designed to entice the shopper to leave your site before they make their purchases. You want to be able to control everything the site viewer sees.

Tip #7: Make sure the platform can support a number of payment options. Not everybody uses credit cards - some will want to use PayPal, or some type of cyber cash. The more payment systems you are compatible with, the more sales you are likely to have.

It is easy to be overwhelmed when trying to figure out which ecommerce platform is right for you. Be sure to take your time and really think about what you want from your ecommerce business and then explore each platform thoroughly. With a little bit of time and exploration, you will find the one that fits your needs.