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It all began with a humble computer ...

The internet is a massive global network of computers connected together. Computers address each other using IP Addresses (like a telephone number), and every computer has one. Instead of IP Addresses, you can also address websites using domain names, eg. www.mywebsite.com.au. These domains are administered by organisations known as Domain Registrars. When you visit a domain name it gets automatically resolved to an IP Address.

There are two types of computers connected to the internet, namely the 1) client and 2) server. The majority of computers, such as the one you are using right now to view this webpage, are clients. The server is a powerful computer, typically housed in a purpose-built facility, that "serves" the website to clients. So whenever you visit a website, the client (your computer) downloads a bunch of information which it then displays within your computer's web browser.

This information is typically powered by a piece of software that runs on your server, called a web application. Typically the web application contains a database to store your business information (eg. prices, products descriptions, orders) and a Front End and Back End that serves your customers and staff, respectively. The web application also provides all the website functionality, including both visible and invisible. A visible function may involve calculating the shopping cart total and processing the customer's payment for the order. An invisible function may involve automatically resampling product images and backing up the entire database.

What's involved

Anybody wishing to establish their own e-Commerce website must organise the following before they can get online. This is applicable whether you use Dragon CMS or not (although you save time and money with our complete, all-in-one approach):

• Domain registration: gives your website an online address, eg www.mywebsite.com.au. It costs approximately $50 (varies) to purchase a domain registration for 2 years in Australia.
• Web hosting server: provides a computer that serves your website to your customers. Not all web hosting servers are equal. Prices vary between $20 to $500 per month (large datacenters can cost hundreds per hour). It depends on how many resources, technologies and technical support is provided by the hosting company.
• Web Application: this is the software that runs on your web server and its job is to serve your website, handle orders, and manage all the information. The application includes a database and various features which are installed onto your web server (as you would install Microsoft Office onto your home PC). Not all applications are equal either, and you must select a web host that supports your application.
• e-Commerce facilities: these are services that you need in order to trade online, such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) access, secure payment facilities, website subscriptions, customer management.
• Other facilities: includes email hosting (so your customers can contact you), website analytics (so you can see who is visiting your website and how certain areas of your website is performing) and search engine optimisation (so you can be known and attract visitors to your website).
• Business information: includes product information, content about your business, graphics such as your logo and store photos, various animations, customer information, search optimisation key words. Some of this business information is developed by a professional web designer, but most of it can be managed by you.

Dragon CMS packages are designed to get you selling online right away. Everything is taken care of, so all you need to prepare your Business Information ... that's it!

A picture speaks a thousand words

Here's how it comes together conceptually.

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