eCommerce website help please

abbecer

Morning Iffy'swifey.

I am in the process of having my own website built and like you needed things to be reasonably priced. I came across the one i'm using because i ordered their business cards, which i have to say are superior quality for the price. The company i am using specialise in helping small businesses so their costs are very low. I have spoke to the man and he is very helpful and has shown me examples of his ecommerce designs that are already on the web. They are really good and easy to follow which i think is really important for customers.

Sorry i don't know the answer to any of your other questions. I will PM you contact info and hopefully it will be helpful to you.

Rebecca x

jelly123_2

i think you can startoff with under £800 smoothly, you just have to research and find best deals

powerbase

There's a lot of good advice on here. I'll put in my two cents. I'll probably repeat some things but I think it's good to have a collection together.

You have a lot of things running around your head all at once.

Firstly a separate current account will be sufficient as you can use it with paypal. No need for business accounts just yet (you can build up).

As for website, my opinion is do not pay anything over £750 (I know of someone who does excellent start-up ecommerce sites fo £350). Many local business start-ups will either have a deptartment that can provide one hopefully at a good price or point you in the right direction.

The more expensive sites are more about design. If you're just starting out I'd suggest cheaper functional site that you can change the design later when you get more cash. If the site is designed well it shouldn't be a problem to add a more designer element later. Personally I prefer something clean that functions.

As for a logo, you may get a webdesigner that can do one for you or get someone else. I'd suggest word of mouth. I'm sure you know someone who has a design flare and does things like logo design on the side. Again this is something your local business agency may help with as I know the one in my area provides a logo and a one page basic website for around £50. The website is rubbish but most people are just after the logo.

For website, again I'd suggest looking at local government business schemes or word of mouth. You'll find a lot of computer geeks do some business on the side in websites if they are good at that. You may know someone who knows someone. If they're good they'll show you examples of their work and give you a detailed list of what they'll provide for your money.

As for stationary, if you get a logo designed and you have a good enough printer you can easily print your own stationary. Though don't print your own business cards, it just doesn't look good.

I am a fan of oscommerce as it's free and a great shopping cart/complete package (mals-e is another good free one). I know many of those freelance web designers are fans of these basically because it's very easy to customise and create sites anbd they are free. I would normally suggest looking into doing it yourself but I think from what you've said your time is probably better spent elsewhere and letting someone else doing.

One other thing to note when getting a website is having content management (this is all provided in oscommerce), so you can update the website yourself without being able to code. This should be provided as standard but I don't want you to be ripped off.

Another thing is ask for training in how to work the site and how to UPDATE the site. Make sure this training is included in the price. Maintaining is one thing but say you want to do something new. Get shown how to do all this, because if you don't and pay for a site and go back to someone for help they will charge you.

Then SEO you mentioned. This is getting ahead. It's good you are thinking about these things. Mention this to potential designers and if they are good your site will be built optimised for search engines but a lot of getting your site up there can be done by you and will be.

I suggest asking around/word of mouth getting some quotes and asking the local free business agency.

If I need anything done that I cannot do (I do most myself), word of mouth always works out best for me. I find the best prices and they have been suggested by a friend so you know it's reliable.

Try to get what you want down on paper and think it through and separate the issues though I know this is hard as they all go together.

Jelly knows what they are taking about too. Their advice is good.

I hope this helps and doesn't overload you.

All the best

powerbase

One question. How many products would you have? I looked a bit more closely at mrsite and give a responce in this forum

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=239108

If you need any advice PM me. It could be a very cheap get yourself a website quickly and guage responce especially if you don't have many products. Then you could go with something more substantial later. Could be a way to test the water. I'm still convinced there has to be a catch but I think it may be the limited scope of a website like that but for something small that's not a problem.

mercman_3

Sorry to butt in on this thread but thought it saved duplicating another for the same issue!

I already have a web presence but would ideally like to bolt on some form of online ordering

having read the thread i like the idea of the oscommerce, unless i have got the wrong end of the stick?

Where is this software (if thats what it is ) downloaded and how does if intergrate into the website?


Cheers


Pete

Iffy'swifey

How many products I have will depend on how much money I have to buy stock with after shelling out for a website! It could be up to 100 products if I bought everything I want.

This is so confusing it's unreal. I want a website that is attractive and professional, but not "flash". But it must also be easy to use and good value as I want it to grow with my business.

Thanks for all your comments, if only it was easy to decide!

Highlander_2

Have a look at:
http://www.windowsshopping.com/
its OsComerce but with a lot added on and starts at less than £50.00.

Kilty_2

£49.95 then £119.40 a year for the cheapest package :eek: