The eCommerce Ladder
Step 3 - Effective Web site

The Internet is being used as an effective marketing and communications tool. There is a Web site for increasing marketing reach and customers and suppliers may interact with the business through the site.  There are no physical links between any Web activity and existing back-office systems.  Efficient use is made of the Web to gather information regarding competitors and potential suppliers.  eMail is used widely with trading partners.

You might find the following articles on the Opportunity Wales Web site, of interest. They are related to this particular level of awareness and contain information on how to move to the next 'step'.

On-line selling
eCatalogues
On-line payment systems
On-line payment - issues for SMEs
Implement an eCatalogue
Implement on-line selling via a Web site

Banking and security
Credit card fraud and prevention

World Wide Web
Weblogs in business
Role of XML