Website - Cheap way of getting it up and running (with basket)

Kayalana99

Hiya Guys,

I've been running a small business on eBay and things were going great - but sales have started to drop now, I get lots of enquiries through my e-mail but I think I am making myself look a bit dogie as I have no website. (Paid and hosted but it is just a banner and a picture of what I sell) and I ask either payment via bank transfer or paypal invoice via email - I really think I could do with a website running now to make myself look more like a business then anything else!

Thing is - I have big plans for my website (god I'm rambling) but right now I can't afford it - as it stands I have about £200-250 spare.

I find it hard to promote myself offline as all I can give them is a phone number (I havn't got business cards yet but even if I did it would still be a list of what I sell with a phone number!!)

Is their an easy self build way (that doesn't involve using them as hosting) to get a website built up with a cart? I'm not to fussed on design etc for the min as even if its just something simple...at least its something!!!

I'm already set up with 123 and I noticed you could do it with them for £9.99 a month but it seems to want me to sign up for it without actually knowing what I'm signing up for...and I've read really bad reviews about them but I am tempted to give it a shot?

InsideInsurance

Which package do you have with 123-reg? I use them a lot for domain purchases but their hosting used to be terrible but havent looked at it for a long time.

Looking at their site they do list their free apps https://www.123-reg.co.uk/web-hosting/free-123-apps.shtml which include a number of the most common ecommerce solutions like Zen Cart, osCommerce.

Assuming you package supports these then most of them would do fine. Should have one click installation and then its a case of going through the setup process. You can down load a free template to use or use your budget to buy one you prefer.

They arent too difficult to set up and get running as long as you are happy with the templates you find.

I would consider switching to another host though, their prices look high for what you get and you can certainly get professional standard hosting for a single site cheaper.

DKLS

With that budget I would go with either one of the self build template driven website tools or find a kid locally who has the skills but needs to build a online portfolio.

monochrome1

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Hiya Guys,

I've been running a small business on eBay and things were going great - but sales have started to drop now, I get lots of enquiries through my e-mail but I think I am making myself look a bit dogie as I have no website. (Paid and hosted but it is just a banner and a picture of what I sell) and I ask either payment via bank transfer or paypal invoice via email - I really think I could do with a website running now to make myself look more like a business then anything else!

Thing is - I have big plans for my website (god I'm rambling) but right now I can't afford it - as it stands I have about £200-250 spare.

I find it hard to promote myself offline as all I can give them is a phone number (I havn't got business cards yet but even if I did it would still be a list of what I sell with a phone number!!)

Is their an easy self build way (that doesn't involve using them as hosting) to get a website built up with a cart? I'm not to fussed on design etc for the min as even if its just something simple...at least its something!!!

I'm already set up with 123 and I noticed you could do it with them for £9.99 a month but it seems to want me to sign up for it without actually knowing what I'm signing up for...and I've read really bad reviews about them but I am tempted to give it a shot?

I had a similar problem to you and I used Wix.com, it's really really easy to use and cheap! £12.44 per month for the full ecommerce set up. They have 1000s of ready to go templates you can use and just pop in your logo and text, upload some products and away you go! What sort of things does the business sell if you don't mind me asking?

Kayalana99

I've already paid for two years hosting with 123, I guess it probablly wasn't the smartest move without looking round. I'm not sure what you mean by package...I think I went for the cheapest option at the time I suppose I will have to upgrade on that... -_-

I wouldn't mind paying £20 - but I am not looking to pay transaction fees on what I sell - I have enough of that with eBay! Bare in mind this is a temporary solution until I have the funds to get the website I want in my head and its more just about getting that cart up to allow me to say 'yes you can purchase though my website' and so I can advertise my products.

I will look into 123 and check out wigs :-)

ETA: I've got 1GB with my current package I guess that won't be enough

Kayalana99

I shall go though all sites suggested and get back to you guys - to upgrade to a 50gb website with 123 it will cost me £32 + 10 a month for their shop, got my hands full with the kids atm. *sighs*

InsideInsurance

Kayalana99 wrote: »

I shall go though all sites suggested and get back to you guys - to upgrade to a 50gb website with 123 it will cost me £32 + 10 a month for their shop, got my hands full with the kids atm. *sighs*

You dont need "their" shop, you can use the Free Apps ecommerce solutions like ZenCart as long as your hosting package with them isnt the "Startup".

Their "Business" hosting is £143.72 for 2 years so with the £90.92 you have already spent should only be ~£52 more

Really 2 years hosting should have cost you around £80 for something similar but you've already locked into them and no point wasting it.

This will be suitable for using PayPal as your payment processor with all payments actually being made on PayPals site. When you get more successful you may want to start using PayPal Pro or another payment gateway and actually take the payments directly on your site which will require a static IP and an SSL certificate but that is overkill for a startup in my opinion

There is no need for any "monthly fees" given you've already bought 2 years hosting up front.

Kayalana99

I was wrong about 2 years hosting I've only purchased 1.... (I have a terrible memory not sure now why I thought it was 2 forgive me)

But I've just checked and I've paid £55 for 12 months start up, and it would cost me £32 to upgrade to business so £87 for the year, the £10 a month is only if I sign up for shop (I've just googled zen cart they want 35$ a month after the trial? )

It's done now I guess I won't be renewing!

InsideInsurance

Kayalana99 wrote: »

I was wrong about 2 years hosting I've only purchased 1.... (I have a terrible memory not sure now why I thought it was 2 forgive me)

But I've just checked and I've paid £55 for 12 months start up, and it would cost me £32 to upgrade to business so £87 for the year, the £10 a month is only if I sign up for shop (I've just googled zen cart they want 35$ a month after the trial? )

It's done now I guess I won't be renewing!

ZenCart is free and opensource. Not sure where you've got the $35 a month from, you can buy additional plugins and probably support or hosting etc but they are all optional.