Unlimited products and unlimited categories

You want to be able to easily add your own products and menu categories to your website without having to call your Web designer every the time you need something changed. Check there aren't any restrictions on the number of products you can add too, as there may be hidden costs if you go over the maximum number - or worse, the system may not be able to handle it and you may need an expensive upgrade. Content management

Ideally you want to be able to change text on your website -- such as information about shipping charges, terms of business etc -- without having to rely on your Web designer to do it, who will probably charge you each time.

To achieve this you need a built-in content management system which will allow you to edit text based pages without technical knowledge.

Easy-to-use admin area

An easy-to-use administration panel is a must have - you will be using it nearly every day. You need to be able to view orders, see customer details, add new products and all this needs to be easy to do.

Comprehensive reporting

You need to access a variety of reports on visitor statistics such as what items have been viewed etc so that you can make educated decisions on which new products to stock, what products you should get rid of etc. Accurate reporting gives you vital market intelligence which you can then use to really expand and grow your business.

Newsletter and e-mail functions

It is absolutely essential that your ecommerce site has the ability to stay in touch with your customers, through email. You need to encourage repeat purchases, which you can do by sending email newsletters, special offer, details of new products etc. When choosing your ecommerce system or web designer, make sure you get all these features.

Link manager

You need to be able to add links to other sites without relying on your web designer every time you need a link added. Establishing link partnerships is vital ingredientl in obtaining good search engine rankings so ensure this feature is provided.

Search engine optimisation

On the subject of search engines, another important feature involves the ability to add and change search engine Meta tags. These are the behind the scenes code that tells the search engines what your pages are about, and by putting relevant keywords in the right places, you can help your site in the search results.

Other features

There are lost of other features that you can get in your website, such as specials section, bestsellers section, recommended items etc, so do think about what you may want in the future and ask for it to be included it now as it will be a lot cheaper than to get it put in later.