Ecommerce and Web Applications
Of course websites can be simply words and pictures with maybe an email contact form or two. However, there are many ways in which a site can be made more useful - both for the end user and the site owner. These can vary from add-ons like calculators, chat rooms, online polls and the like right through to fully searchable database, e-commerce systems or even a 3d virtual reality environment if budgets permit. NorthStar New Media can help you decide the appropriate level of functionality and put these in place for you.
The following list shows some of the more popular products, but NorthStar can also create bespoke routines, as you will see from the case studies on the main web design page on this site.
- Database with search facilities - let your users search for the right product in a catalogue, or add their details to your mailing list
- Content Management - great for keeping your site up to date yourself (easy to use - just like a simple word processor), including content syndication using RSS
- Image upload routine - have a page (or pages) where you can add images to your site at any time
- Special offers routine - add a banner which links to a detail page and keep it up to date yourself
- Secure server - take details securely from your customers (great for taking deposits etc.)
- Online e-commerce shop with shopping cart - online mail order shop
- Online Document Management System - a way for several users in different locations to share and edit documents (or any other computer file type) yet keep them synchronised.
- Online Poll - let your web visitors vote for their favourite item on a list and show the results live on your website
- Online Visitor Book - let your web visitors leave a message on your site
- Online Forum - great for community type sites (less useful in business - your competitors can join in the discussion!)
- Online availability calendar - great for accommodation and other tourism related sites - let your visitors see exactly what dates you are full. This can save you a lot of time in email correspondence.
- Online booking system - an extension of the calendar, you can allow visitors to (provisionally) book rooms etc. subject to your confirmation. (combine this with a secure server and you have a complete online service)
- Email address gathering & mail out routines - when your visitors fill in a web form you can store their details (with their permission) and add them to your emailing list. A single mail can reach everyone on the list - great for special offers etc.