eCommerce stands for electronic commerce. Many businesses view e-Commerce as simply buying or selling products over the Internet. In fact, e-Commerce includes all aspects of e-Business - marketing, using all types of technology, and communicating with buyers and sellers.

Electronic commerce brings changes to business practices. Successful small business owners must understand and adapt to these changes. For example, credit card transactions conducted over the Internet differ from other credit card transactions.

There is no doubt about it - the way we do business has changed! However, according to a Technology Business survey conducted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educators and completed by over 600 businesses in 2003-- 59% of small businesses do not have a web presence.

Nebraska's small businesses have not yet saturated the Internet with Web sites. Less than 40% of small business owners have discovered the advantage of having a web presence. There are national, state and local efforts to provide small businesses with educational opportunities to enhance their competitive edge in the global market by using e-Commerce practices.

Currently, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educators are providing e-Commerce training in two different formats. Electronic Retailing -- Selling on the Internet -- is offered either as a hands-on, 4 week course in a computer lab or as a one-day workshop that can be tailored to the needs of your community.