First what is ecommerce?
The online world designates web sites devoted to retail sales as an e-commerce site. E-commerce sites sell either information or hard goods such as cameras or knifes. E-commerce sites also have Shopping Carts and Payment Gateways attached to them that non-sales web sites do not need. Electronic commerce or E-Commerce is about setting your business on the Internet, allowing visitors to access your website, and go through a virtual catalog of your products / services online. When a visitor wants to buy something he/she likes, they merely, "add" it to their virtual shopping basket. Items in the virtual shopping basket can be added or deleted, and when you're all set to checkout'you head to the virtual checkout counter, which has your complete total, and will ask you for your name, address etc. and method of payment (via credit card). Once you have entered all this information you can then just wait for delivery. Ecommerce allows consumers to electronically exchange goods and services with no barriers of time or distance. Electronic commerce has expanded rapidly over the past five years and is predicted to continue at this rate, or even accelerate. In the near future the boundaries between "conventional" and "electronic" commerce will become increasingly blurred as more and more businesses move sections of their operations onto the Internet.

Business to Business or B2B refers to electronic commerce between businesses rather than between a business and a consumer. B2B businesses often deal with hundreds or even thousands of other businesses, either as customers or suppliers. Carrying out these transactions electronically provides vast competitive advantages over traditional methods. When implemented properly, ecommerce is often faster, cheaper and more convenient than the traditional methods of bartering goods and services. Electronic commerce has also led to the development of electronic marketplaces where suppliers and potential customers are brought together to conduct mutually beneficial trade.

For Beginners:-
Although there are many complete Internet marketing courses being sold online (many are very good by the way), these courses are often more beneficial to the business person or entrepreneur who has already started their online business. These people already have a big picture of what they want to sell online and how they want to go about doing it. They just need to fine tune their marketing skills and implement a few advanced marketing techniques to be profitable.
Like most average persons, I wanted some extra money to supplement my regular income. I had considered a part time second job at times, but hated that option because it would take me away from the family, make me more tired and probably just pay minimum wage. I also wanted to be able to work from home.
Beginners Guide to Ecommerce has been written to give you access to free resources and help in choosing:
? Domain name,
? Web site hosting,
? Writing web pages,
? Search engine optimisation and much more.
You know you want to start a web based business and everyone is presenting you with ideas and options. The list of what you must do is expanding and confusing with everyone giving you something new that you simply have to do if you want to succeed.
You have the product you want to promote; it is a product which you can sell over the internet.
Beginner's guide assumes you already have an idea for your ecommerce site and have an product to sell or information to provide. Beginners Guide to eCommerce is an information site, a teaching site. It does not sell a product. The Beginners Guide to eCommerce will point you to other sites which may be useful in your search for a successful ebusiness. The majority of the sites give free or low cost resources which you will find useful as you learn your new trade.