Occupation: Online Merchants

• Online Services Manager

Independence Achievement Working Conditions

• Fill customer orders by packaging sold items and documentation for direct shipping or by transferring orders to manufacturers or third-party distributors.
• Receive and process payments from customers, using electronic transaction services.
• Create, manage, or automate orders or invoices, using order management or invoicing software.
• Deliver e-mail confirmation of completed transactions and shipment.
• Correspond with online customers via electronic mail, telephone, or other electronic messaging to address questions or complaints about products, policies, or shipping methods.
• Purchase new or used items from online or physical sources for resale via retail or auction Web site.
• Determine and set product prices.
• Calculate purchase subtotals, taxes, and shipping costs for submission to customers.
• Compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping Web sites.
• Compose images of products, using video or still cameras, lighting equipment, props, or photo or video editing software.
• Upload digital media, such as photos, video, or scanned images to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping Web sites.
• Calculate revenue, sales, and expenses, using financial accounting or spreadsheet software.
• Cancel orders based on customer requests or inventory or delivery problems.
• Prepare or organize online storefront marketing material, including product descriptions or subject lines, optimizing content to search engine criteria.
• Order or purchase merchandise to maintain optimal inventory levels.
• Determine location for product listings to maximize exposure to online traffic.
• Create or maintain database of customer accounts.
• Promote products in online communities through weblog or discussion-forum postings, e-mail marketing programs, or online advertising.
• Collaborate with search engine shopping specialists to place marketing content in desired online locations.
• Investigate products or markets to determine areas for opportunity or viability for merchandising specific products, using online or offline sources.
• Maintain inventory of shipping supplies, such as boxes, labels, tape, bubble wrap, loose packing materials, or tape guns.
• Measure and analyze Web site usage data to maximize search engine returns or refine customer interfaces.
• Develop or revise business plans for online business, emphasizing factors such as product line, pricing, inventory, or marketing strategy.
• Disclose merchant information and terms and policies of transactions in online or offline materials.

• Design customer interface of online storefront, using web programming or e-commerce software.
• Select and purchase technical web services, such as web hosting services, online merchant accounts, shopping cart software, payment gateway software, or spyware.
• Transfer digital media, such as music, video, or software, to customers via the Internet.
• Devise, select, or purchase domain name and web address.
• Initiate online auctions through auction hosting sites or auction management software.
• Implement security practices to preserve assets, minimize liabilities, or ensure customer privacy, using parallel servers, hardware redundancy, fail-safe technology, information encryption, or firewalls.
• Investigate sources, such as auctions, estate sales, liquidators, wholesalers, or trade shows for new items, used items, or collectibles.
• Participate in online forums or conferences to stay abreast of online retailing trends, techniques, or security threats.
• Integrate online retailing strategy with physical or catalogue retailing operations.
• Create or distribute offline promotional material, such as brochures, pamphlets, business cards, stationary, or signage.