Know the web skill level of your target market - this knowledge serves as input when designing site features such as searching and helps guide technology choices such as whether to use newer technologies such as Flash.

If you currently produce a print catalog that your customers are quite familiar with, plan to provide a similar experience on the web. Provide at least as much detailed product information and include product photos. The web site look and feel should parallel the print catalog in order to provide an easy transition for current customers.

Consider enhancing the content provided in print by providing links to related items and product comparisons. Make it easy for your customers to make a buying decision.

If you offer customer-specific pricing, devise a plan for handling this on the web site. Your offline customers will not convert to online customers if they cannot access their negotiated prices online. Customer-specific pricing is typically implemented through integration with internal legacy systems. This integration may also include inventory levels if this information is vital to your customers.

Consider preloading registration data such as bill-to addresses and ship-to addresses for your existing customers. This will save them time when they make their first online purchases.

Plan for incentives (discounts, free shipping) when you initially specify the web site requirements. Also include definition of online and offline marketing programs in your project planning.

Clearly define your business rules for taxation and shipping. Complexities such as county-level taxation and hazardous materials shipping must be identified in order to accurately define the scope of the e-commerce project. Also specify your needs for real-time credit card transactions and purchase order credit limit checks.

Determine the frequency with which web orders are transferred into internal legacy systems. Real-time order transfers and order status may have implications on web site hosting alternatives for your e-business. Consider time-saving features for your customers based on their buying patterns, such as the ability to place a new order based on a previous order.