1. A Website/Hosting Plan
Simply select a hosting plan from our web site, we have a wide variety of service to match
the size and budget of your organization. [view plans]
2. Online Store/Shopping Cart
During the web hosting checkout process you will have the option to add the
Miva Merchant shopping cart software to your hosting account. This
software is normally a $995 Value however we offer
a special discount to hosting clients. This option is just $25 setup and $9.95/month
when you order it with any hosting plan!
Miva also runs a demo of this shopping cart software they created with a fully functional produce site
they call Miva Fresh, check it out!
3. Secure Pages (SSL)
Secure pages are included with the Miva Merchant shopping card option.
SSL, or "Secure Sockets Layer", is used to transmit private information such as
credit card number securely through the Internet. This is important
to an ecommerce site because it enables customers to submit
their confidential information in a safe way. SSL provides data encryption,
server authentication and message integrity. Bluehill's includes 128-bit SSL
encryption for your security, which is much stronger than many 40-bit certificates
offered at many "discount" hosting services.
If you plan to purchase a certificate of your own for an
VPS,
Virtual Dedicated,
or Dedicated
plan, the first step will be to create a CSR.
4. Merchant Account
The merchant account is necessary for processing credit card transactions.
After receiving the credit card information from the client,
a merchant account is necessary to charge the clients credit card.
If you plan to take credit card order you will also need to register with
a merchant account provider in order to be able to accept credit card payments
online. Bluehill recommends Cardservice International
which offeres competative rates and it compatible with the Mive Merchant
shopping cart software.
5. Payment Gateway (optional)
When a customer submits credit card information online,
it has to be approved by the customer's bank, just like it does
at a store or a restaurant. The first step in this process is
to deliver the information to a merchant account via their gateway.
For example, a customer first inputs his/her credit card information
into the secure area on your site, provided by SSL.
Next, the gateway company captures the information and transmits
it to the Merchant Account. Some of the more popular gateways on
the Internet today include Authorize Net, and Payflow.
Contact your merchant account provider for details on what gateways they
support and how to purchase this software.