purple_reading_giraffe wrote (View Post): › So, Alana, what cart, site software, and webhost do you use for your Treasures and Books & Magazines? Do you use the same host for your Forum? Would you prefer for an interested seller to check out the info available at your forum? Does anything there cover topics for the very beginner, or only for those who already have a website?

I use Candy Press for both my websites as the shopping cart software on Alanas Cherished Treasures and Alana's Books. Both these carts are ASP run licensed versions scripts and I do not host them with the same host I use on my forum. They are hosted through CP Power Mods hosting. My forum is a SMF forum using a PHP host called Hostgator, I use Hostgator for my blog also since it too is a PHP script with word press. If your interested in websites and want more info your welcome to check out my forum for support on that subject, however, it is a peer to peer support forum run by other website owners and they share a wealth of info on what their experiences have been in connection with running and working and building their website business. If someone is interested in a forum like that, they are welcome to check it out. I am not really promoting my forum here as much as I am all in favor of running a website and taking charge of our business through our own websites. My mission statement on my forum explains more about what we do there. Is it some place for a newbie to get info? I think it might be useful in that sense. We have certainly had a number of members start their websites and work with other members on building their business sites on that forum. There are so many carts to choose from and so many host and I would have to say again that this is a personal business choice and if we can provide support and information with each other on this and what it includes and how to choose a cart then perhaps our forum can help as many others out there do.

Links to my carts:

Candy Press
http://www.candypress.com/store/scripts/default.asp

Thanks everyone for contributing. I still feel like I am reading Greek but maybe it will all come together at some point. One thing I am getting is that the ''cart'' can be very problematic. I always thought the cart pretty much just added up the orders (in other words a pretty simple and not that important part of the site) but it sounds like it is much more complicated than that and may actually run the site? Can some of you elaborate? I know you are all used to computer speak but I have to admit I don't usually know what you mean when you use abbreviations. Took me the longest time to figure out what SEO meant. Sorry.

I think the suggestion about using eCrater or BISI is a good start for newbies.

It will get your feet wet and it's simple to do.
With a tic on a radio button in a form at either site, you can accept
credit cards via Google Check Out.

Also with those sites like eCrater or BISI, you can set yourself up a small
PPC ad word campaign with Google that points potential customers to your eCrater or BISI stores.

Is it an independent website with all the bells and whistles? NO

BUT-- at least you can get your product up and out in front of the masses,
and one page 1-2 on Google's search engine.
Assuming you use a modest PPC ad campaign.
$30- $40 bucks a month maybe less, for an ad campaign,
depending on the bid placement of the keywords you need to use.

Also as stated here.
(If you do plan on taking the website plunge)
STAY AWAY from those el-cheapo web hosts.
It's true. You get what you pay for.

Now in case anyone's scratching their heads and saying huh?
'Xppman you said get a website, that's your main rant'.

I DO suggest you do that, but the holidays are quickly approaching
and I imagine most of you want your stuff up and being indexed HIGH in the search engines NOW.

Those sites like eCrater or BISI (and a small ad budget) can have you up and running
right away so you will be getting sales NOW.

PS:
skydragon or any lurkers, don't feel dumb.
It can be very overwhelming.
I've been teaching myself this stuff since 1999
and I really don't know that much.

I simply know just enough to do what I set out to do in the first place.
Sell my stuff online and make a living doing it
and get myself out there with-out paying some high priced guru to do it for me.

Good luck peeps and by all means, ask about eCrater and BISI.
I as well as many others have experience working with those platforms.

It's easy as pie.

Quote: › Dearest xppman - I suggested in another thread that what we really need on this site is a comprehensive HOW TO for build your own website. Such as recommended hosts, site building programs, shopping carts, SEO, PPC, and all the other things one should think of. Some of this information exists here and there in this forum, and ScienceFare and I were discussing it, and I started off with a collection of links to the info I found here and there. Haven't seen anyone else contribute.

-- I'm reading thru lots of things today. I have spent countless hours starting my own site and at this point, I think it is the only viable option. I used to work as a web developer and designer, although I never integrated shopping carts - so I know lots, but technology has changed and I find myself struggling. But taking the time to understand buyer experience - what draws, what closes a sale, what is an attractive payment solution, etc., etc. I'll look for those threads, Purple. Bottom line, I think creating your own site should be the main focus - with selling on other sites like ecrater, bonanzle, etc. being a secondary plan. And having a good, adaptable marketing plan is key. - That's my "rant".

Yeah - don't feel dumb. I worked for big software and PC chip companies. I'm in the DARK now when it comes to setting up somethings. I get very frustrated because I think I should know all this stuff. I still have a passion to sell online - and that's what keeps me going and one day I know it will all come together.

By the way - I've used godaddy.com for years and never have had one problem with them. I use them for domain registration and basic Linux hosting. I don't know about more expensive packages. I don't use their email feature - I use gmail so I can check my email from anywhere (anybody else's computer) and operamail.com. Although someone got a hold of operamail addresses recently because I am getting tons of spam now. In the past I have used hosting recommendations from Cnet (A+, etc.) - and every recommendation of their's turned out to be horrible. Bad customer service, tons of down times with their servers, big prices, and stuff in fine print that I didn't read carefully enough that negatively affected my hosting accounts.

I hate godaddy's tons of adds on their website - but I still have no reason to change.

And, my last bit - there is something to be said for a clean, clear website. Good choice of organization, graphics, no bothersome flashing ads - focusing on what the site is about. When I went back to college my professer (dept. chair) loved Jakob Nielsen. Take him with a grain of salt, but get some ideas - good articles. useit.com

Hi again everyone. I haven't looked at BISI but I did look at e-crater and have to say I found it complicated and hard to navigate. Is that because it is more like creating your own website?

skydragon
I suggest go sign up and make a
user name that you would
use as a domain >>> at eCrater.

For instance, if you like your
eBay user ID use it at eCrater too.

That's the only real way your
going to be able to get in
and start messing around with the back end functions
that get you up and going.

It's almost like the eBay SYI form but easier IMO.

I think once you see it, (the simple SYI type form)
a light bulb will go off and you will be on your way.
Or at least you'll have specific
questions we can help you with.

You can do it. he he

highdesertdetails
The carts can be tricky,
but most have mods for just about any
merchant account or payment solution, like GCO.

A shopping cart set up like ZEN, for instance.
Is not just a cart.

I guess the easiest way to describe it is.
It's an entire website template set designed around the cart.
It's all the files needed and the instructions (usually lol)
on how to set it up and use it.

These template sets are customizable, but tricky to do.
You have to know what files to make the changes in.
So folks, you don't want to just go in and start messing with file code.
I've done it many times so I know how easy it is to screw something up. lol

Most if not all the decent carts have extensive 'FAQ's and 'how to'
forums and very knowledgeable people to help you out.

xppman wrote (View Post): › So folks, you don't want to just go in and start messing with file code. I've done it many times so I know how easy it is to screw something up. lol

Yep, about a dozen times so far I have messed up one little thing in the code on my osCommerce site and 'broken' the entire thing. Yet I have only mangaged to partially 'break' my Wagglepop store once in 27 months when trying to figure out the html for the header that I have now.

xppman wrote (View Post): › skydragon I suggest go sign up and make a user name that you would use as a domain >>> at eCrater. For instance, if you like your eBay user ID use it at eCrater too.

Xppman, while I agree with most of what you are saying in this thread, I have to disagree with this one particular piece of advice if the end result is to eventually have an independent website.

Sign up if you like, but use a different name.
The only time you should use the same name as your website/domain is on a viable MARKETING channel such as eBay or Amazon.

eCrater is just like the other "alternative auction/selling sites". They are not marketing channels to your website and will in fact work against any marketing or branding you try to do.

Reasoning behind this?

Sites like eBay and Amazon are vast entities with such a large membership base, they are in and of themselves virtually a "search engine" like Google, Yahoo or MSN. That's one of the defining traits which sets them both above the others and makes them good MARKETING channels.

The smaller alternative sites DO NOT have this advantage. When you submit products to Google Product Search via one of these sites, you are branding their name not yours. (I also don't recommend using the Google Base Connector with an eBay store for this very reason.)

When you consistently list the same products under the same name at a variety of sites, you are essentially competing against yourself. Google ends up kicking out the "duplicate content" and gives more weight to the older, more established listings.

Hence, this is why Angelsong's WP listings consistently show up more often than her identical listings on all of the other alternative sites she sells on (including her website). Google is going with the original listings and giving them more weight in the search results.

My partner and I have tested and researched this theory in great depth over the past 3 years with various product lines. Always with the same results. Sites whose domains/names were solely linked to one of the major marketing channels have consistently out produced the sites "marketed" (and I use that term VERY loosely) on any of the alternatives.

So, if you start out using your eventual domain name somewhere like eCrater, you have already shot yourself in the foot before your independent site is even set up.

JMHO

RiverRat wrote (View Post): › The smaller alternative sites DO NOT have this advantage. When you submit products to Google Product Search via one of these sites, you are branding their name not yours. (I also don't recommend using the Google Base Connector with an eBay store for this very reason.)

Actually, the Google Base Store Connector with my eBay store puts my items on Google Products under the name BOUTIQUE of BABY TREASURES. It also helps that people can see the higher cost of those eBay listings right next to the lower cost on my website and a few alt. sites, and they can feel comfortable buying from the same seller on the site of their choice.

maybe there's already a thread on this - but who likes which cart the best? I've seen zen, mals-e, x-cart...emartcart. I have set up a cart a long time ago but am unfamiliar with these new guys.

Never mind - I re-read the top posts. I see some that were mentioned.