American Express introduces e-commerce tools for small businesses

[November 2nd 2000]

American Express has announced that it will offer merchants who accept American Express a suite of e-commerce tools designed to help small businesses establish and grow their online presence. The suite includes free Internet access exclusively for merchants that accept American Express, as well as access to Web site design, building and hosting services; an online payment processing solution; web-based marketing tools to help merchants promote their businesses; and a Request for Quote service to gather sales leads.

Through a series of industry partnerships, American Express now offers merchants the following comprehensive, e-commerce solutions:

• Free Internet Access will be available to all merchants that accept American Express, providing them with wide access to industry research, news and information. They can also manage their American Express merchant account online, purchase a wide range of products and services and improve communication with employees, customers and suppliers via e-mail. The co-branded Internet access service is provided by Velcero.

• Web site design, building and hosting services help businesses create and maintain their own Web sites using Instant Page Builder , also provided by Velcero. This easy-to-use service does not require programming knowledge or design teams, allowing merchants to focus on business-building opportunities and revenues. Merchant features include: flexible hosting infrastructure to grow the site as the business grows; search engine registration; statistical reports that track and analyse web traffic; secure processing and tracking of warehouse orders through preferred shipping carriers.

• Online Payment is available through VeriSign. Their Payflow service brings merchants a secure, reliable and cost-effective way to authorize, process and manage credit card transactions online in real-time. Payflow accepts all major credit cards, corporate purchasing cards, debit cards and checks. And, because Payflow now offers a direct connection to American Express, merchants can avoid paying third party fees on American Express transactions. Additionally, Payflow has flat-fee monthly pricing that enables merchants to anticipate their processing costs.

• Web site promotion services, available through DigitalWork.com, enable merchants to develop marketing collateral online. Do-it-yourself services enable merchants to learn about a particular subject and then execute what needs to be done. The service includes information about developing Web site postcards, creating print and banner ads, and writing press releases. Merchants can take advantage of these low-cost, easy-to-use tools instead of investing in the high costs of a traditional agency.

• Request for Quote Service (RFQ) allows small-to-medium-sized merchants to register once for three of the top online Request for Quote systems available-BuyerZone.com, Onvia, and Small BusinessDepot. These systems give American Express merchants quick and easy access to highly targeted sales leads via e-mail. Available in December, this service is free to register and merchants only pay for the leads they want. Merchants can set up a complimentary e-mail account from AmExMail and use it to get leads from multiple pre-qualified buyers looking to buy products or services.

Links
American Express Etools		http://www.americanexpress.com/etools