To get the most from your business blog, add a few bells and whistles which'll instantly turn it into an eCommerce platform. For example, you see that 'sign up box' for my Blog Digest mailing list there on the right? Well, that's generated by an 'autoresponder' which also delivers it (when I actually get round to writing it). The 'autoresponder' functionality is just one element of a 'shopping cart' system I use called TotalBusinessCart, a UK version of 1ShoppingCart.
If you are starting a new venture and recognise that using the Internet as your main marketing vehicle is the smart way to go, then you want a shopping cart system. I've seen a few similar products over the years, but this is by far and away the most comprehensive - along with the only other eCommerce solution I can recommend - ValuedClientSystem. And guess what? They are essentially the very same product rebadged!
Both brands provide a complete ecommerce solution which means clients can place orders and make payments online. You can track orders and manage your customer database more efficiently. You now have a way to deliver digital products eg. eBooks, MP3s and special reports. You can track and measure the effectiveness of your ad campaigns and you even get 'the perfect sales force' in the form of a sophisticated affiliate management scheme - how cool is that?!
I know the folks behind both products personally - and they are all genuinely lovely people, so it's impossible for me to favour one over the other. So I'm going to leave it to you to decide which of the two you go with... check them both out and then flick a coin or something :o)
or 
...TotalBusinessCart.com or ...ValuedClientSystem.com
Now, which system will you choose for your business?
