Building a Web site can be a complicated venture — especially if the site has "special needs." In this ECTalk discussion, a novice Web developer asks for advice on how to create an e-commerce site for the Hispanic market that can manage over 1,000 images.
JR outlines her requests for information:
"I need information on how I can quickly upgrade my skills to develop a Web site and without a solid foundation in HTML or any Web software. I would like to have the simplest way to handle all or some of the parts of a Web site creation and development. We have a server and this is a sweat equity/investor proposition that looks promising. However I will have to know clearly where my boundaries stop and which skills I can upgrade relatively quickly. Since I have only practiced with Front Page and I did not find it a flexible process. Just so that you know...I am really thinking of this as an opportunity that will enable me to transfer skills and the money comes second, although success does help this venture.
1. Web design
Is Dreamweaver the best choice? Where can I learn it quickly? What about these new alternative choices such as Trellix? Trellix is letting other Web sites use their software and it seems so complicated with the channels. I would like to have a simple process but not be hampered by rigid templates.
2. Web content
What do you suggest? I read that it should be simple and practical. I believe that it has to take into account the user-interface/human factor.
3. Pictures/catalogs/database
This site will require a catalog of maybe a 1,000 or more pictures. Is there a simple software or pay-per-use AAP offering this service? I don't want to reinvent the wheel. I certainly need to track what is happening to this database, who is clicking and where? I need to update pictures often and know and track shopping cart activity. Is there simple software that enables me to add pictures and update database/catalog easily with some wizard type of interface? Am I dreaming here?
4. E-commerce component
I am reading about Hypercom, which has internet-enabled POS but I still don't know how functional it is and how all this works by just reading their product description. Since it is the Hispanic market, I would need more information on what e-payment options are acceptable there. They may pay by checks but I would like to consider PayPal as a mode of payment if they service that country. Any simple and practical suggestions that you can offer here?
Did I miss anything here? There are so many areas of Web site development that can require technical expertise. I wonder if there are areas that I should not touch in the beginning and just outsource?
5. e-Marketing
Can you suggest anything else on marketing for the Internet beside the Guerilla marketing book?
Please I am trying to use the KISS formula — Keep it Simple Stupid — to move forward on this project."
SP responds:
"My suggestion is Dreamweaver UltraDev. You have quite a few learning curves to go though. You can download a 30-day trial from Macromedia.
With 1,000 items you need to have a database. There are many ways to do this but my approach is to have it on a Windows based server and use ASP. Create the databases (Access will work but if you get a lot of hits you will need a more robust database), use all the tools within Dreamweaver including getting all the extensions you can.
Your graphics should be optimized for best results...quicker load times. For layout your pictures should be consistent sizes or at least hold width or height constant.
PayPal is a good place to set up e-commerce at least at first. If you are wildly successful you may want a more expensive service but on a budget...best bang for the buck is PayPal.
You will get many people with what I call 'Techtosterone'...their way is the only way, the best way and so on. In reality there are many ways to go but it is good to pick one and stick with it. I have my formula and I stick to it. Others will tell you that it should be PHP and Linux with MySQL...and that has its benefits and faults also. Others will say you need Cold Fusion...same.
Key point is to design your site completely before you start to code it.
My steps...
- Design page flow
- Design database
- Layout page with text only links (note where data goes or comes from...leave notes for programming on the page, I use red for this)
- Add any changes or modifications to the database as the layout indicated
- Now, finalize the database
- Start coding the database and inserts into the pages
The site should now function but not look too good. Go in using includes to put the navigation in.
I can't stress enough...plan before you implement it. It is much easier to make changes when the site is in the planning stage than when it is in development. Please, please if nothing else plan."
BC suggests:
"Have you heard of Interchange? It's a free shopping cart with features that rival Miva and Websphere. Check it out, distributed by Red Hat.
U offers:
Try the latest version of Interchange because the last version has many, many improvements."
GLW shares personal experience:
"I tried Interchange. On paper, it sounds great. However, unless you are VERY
Web savvy, it is way too complicated. Even my Web host couldn't get active support from them. You can get support from Akopia at $180 an hour. That experience led me to commission my own cart. When it is done, I will let all know."
BC concurs:
"Yes, Interchange is rather complicated. You can do a lot through the GUI though. As far as ISP troubles, I've had no problems installing it and getting full functionality and I'm certainly a novice Linux user. I know all too well about the Red Hat/Akopia support for $180 an hour."
KJ makes a recommendation:
"You guys should take a look at 5click. It's much easier than Miva, and others out there."
MD shares insight:
"I used RedHat Akopia but it is very demanding on server resources, two hosting companies ended up removing it as it continually crashed their servers. I'm now using the free PHP system from The Exchange Project. It has been very stable, it's easy to customize and has good support from the users forum."
TL has a suggestion:
We've gotten a lot of mileage out of using Microsoft's SiteServer Commerce Edition, which we've used for a couple e-commerce sites. It requires a lot of customization, ASP expertise, and ongoing security maintenance of your hosting environment, but you get a lot of functionality (and a lot of room to grow) for the price. I've got an article on its pros and cons here if you're interested in getting more info on using SiteServer."
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