posted on March 20, 2004 06:20:03 PM new
I am currently looking at starting a new web site. I currently have a site that is hosted by ONE2HOST. I’ve had it for about a year now along with my domain name, but I’m to stupid to understand how to utilize it. All I’ve gotten up is a welcome page.
What I’m looking for is a host that includes a shopping cart, credit card acceptance, and is affordable. ONE2HOST requires me to down load programs from outside sources for the shopping cart and credit cards. Then I’m supposed to incorporate each program into my Website, I haven’t been able to figure it out. Their explanation is too technical for me. I need something simple, fast and easy.
I have looked at Vendios web hosting, but after my current experience with ebay I’m not sure if I want to put all of my eggs in one basket.
posted on March 20, 2004 06:23:38 PM new
Take a look at Fatcow. Cost is $100 a year, and you get all the bells and whistles you want. Comes with a shopping cart, etc. Customer service is outstanding.
posted on March 20, 2004 07:32:14 PM new
I'm using Vendio's webhosting and so far I love it! The different plans are here: http://www.vendio.com/webhosting/hosting_matrix.html I have the business plan which is loaded. I used GoDaddy for almost 2 years and didn't get near the benefits. The customer service is good as well. I drove them crazy the first couple of days. One of the reps and I are now on a first name basis!
We have 2 other sites hosted by FATCOW, but we don't use their cart system, since it is highly restrictive as to the use of Meta Tags, we use the “Just Add Commerce System,” on our FATCOW sites too.
If you use "FrontPage," or "DreamWeaver," anyone can put up a web site easy, and via almost any WEBSITE host. We have both "FrontPage 1998," and "FrontPage 2000," but we prefer "FrontPage 1998," it is a much larger program, with more options for variety. Actually my husband prefers the “DreamWeaver,” program, although we haven’t changed to it as yet.
If you are going to seriously stay in the Internet business on a growing level, you almost HAVE to learn to do your own sites, hosting, updating, etc. No one can or will keep a site updated, etc., like the one who knows it best which is you.
Putting a web site up is minor, and accomplishes little to nothing unless you learn and study how Search Engines work. Having “Search Engine,” ready, pages, with proper meta tags, fast loading times, proper spelling, no broken links, etc. etc., then you can get good rankings on the Search Engines, and without that, a web site is relatively worthless. How your site is done is as important or more so than what you are selling.
Stay away from “FLASH” programs for sales, they load too slow, and discourage customers.
Fortunately, there are two of us full time working our web sites, so we each have our specialties – my husband is the Search Engine expert, thank heavens, he stays up DAILY, on which search engine is doing what, and any changes they have made as to how they are doing rankings.
I’m not trying to discourage you, just telling you that “build it and they will come,” isn’t the truth – build it properly, keep it updated, learn how to promote it (and I don’t mean through rip-off search engine promotion programs), but personally promoting, and it is worth it, but it does take time, and it does take learning.
And I am VERY THANKFUL that I didn’t have to do such alone – I have the moment by moment help of my partner/husband.
Best of wishes with your site.
My Boss Is A Jewish Carpenter!
[ edited by jwpc on Mar 21, 2004 09:56 AM ]
[ edited by jwpc on Mar 21, 2004 09:59 AM ]
posted on March 20, 2004 09:32:29 PM new
Is your husband available for hire I got bored last night and started working on a new site. I'm probably going to do two versions of it though, one in GBP and one in USD. I'm just not sure if I have the energy to play the search engine game to play on both levels.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 20, 2004 11:01:48 PM new
This is a very interesting thread as I too have been contemplating putting up a site. any complaints on web hostings? and thoughts are greatly appreciated.
posted on March 21, 2004 05:47:42 AM new
I use ecommercetemplates.com for my cart system. I love it. They have a nice administration page and adding products, discounts, coupons, etc. is a snap. My template cost me $145 and that included everything I needed including great support. I tried using oscommerce since it comes with Vendio, but it was a nightmare for me.
posted on March 21, 2004 08:21:58 AM new
Great website. You have added a few more pages but I think you need to put the url to your discussion board here. Everything looks great. Good Luck with it.
posted on March 21, 2004 10:16:54 AM newFenix03 Sorry, Fenix, husband is not available for hire - well he has done sites for others, but usually close friends. Occasionally, he will do a "barter" WWW site, that is, he did a site for a cosmetologist, who works out of a plastic surgeon's office, and does permanent make up, in exchange for her services being made available to me endlessly, FREE!
I have had her do eyebrows, and upper and lower eye liner. But, because such, by a specialist, operating out of a plastic surgeon's office is pricey, I like having her services available endlessly, should I need touch ups, or want other such services.
Otherwise, he is way too busy with our own businesses to take on other folks sites, plus he would tell others just what I did, that to build a good site, and keep it updated and stocked (if you site/sites) become busy, is a full time job that you simply can’t turn over to a 2nd party.
For example, my husband designed and keeps up our “Diva Las Vegas,” web site of clubbing clothes for women.
http://www.diva-las-vegas.com
We normally keep 6 of each style item, etc., in stock. BUT, quite often now, he will get orders from schools for from 10 to 60 of a given style – he has to be immediately available to get to our importer, secure the required number of a given color and style, and get them to the buyer. Then from time to time we sell out of a style, and it isn’t again readily available, and that ad must be marked “SOLD OUT,” until we get more of that specific product. On the boas on the site, he has gotten orders for upwards of 5,000 (used for a promotional item for a major company) which naturally, at that volume, are sold at a discount, but he has to be available to get the product, the correct style/color, negotiate with the buyer AND the exporter, and coordinate the whole transaction.
I have had the same experiences with two of the specialty items I handle which are Magic Genie Lamps and plate chargers, when a volume amount is needed by a buyer to be supplied at a given time – these type of purchases by a buyer, take a good bit of time, and no one can do such via a “host,” it requires owner involvement.
posted on March 21, 2004 11:39:06 AM new
:: Otherwise, he is way too busy with our own businesses to take on other folks sites, plus he would tell others just what I did, that to build a good site, and keep it updated and stocked (if you site/sites) become busy, is a full time job that you simply can’t turn over to a 2nd party. ::
Don't get me wrong - I do site design, I have designed them for resorts, for personalities, and for ecommerce. Keeping the site up to date is not what I was asking about. I was wondering if he was available for search engine submissions
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by Fenix03 on Mar 21, 2004 11:40 AM ]
[ edited by Fenix03 on Mar 21, 2004 11:41 AM ]
posted on March 21, 2004 12:48:20 PM new
I offer webhosting. Has OSCommerce built in to the control panel for easy install. OSCommerce integrates with 2Checkout, PayPal, Authorize.net, etc. Starts at $5.95 for 50mb space with 2gb bandwidth.
Seth
I got bored last night and started working on a new site. I'm probably going to do two versions of it though, one in GBP and one in USD. I'm just not sure if I have the energy to play the search engine game to play on both levels.