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www.ecommerce-guide.com/resources/product_reviews/article.php/442831
By Nelson King August 22, 2000 Although Go Daddy Software primarily highlights the site development features of WebSite Complete, the Deluxe Edition provides a special eCommerce module to produce the elements necessary for an online store. As an environment for creating a web site and basic store, WebSite Complete is elegant and easy to use. You can creatively customize a number of features for the store very quickly and simply. Unfortunately, like many other programs with very strong store development and design capability, WebSite Complete provides less depth of features for the daily operations of an online business - the financial reporting, inventory management, site analysis, promotion and other "back office" activities. Limitations in this area make WebSite Complete less suitable for online stores with larger inventories or higher sales volume. WebSite Complete should be singled-out as an example of how much can be done to make the user''s experience in developing a web site and store enjoyable. It''s loaded with excellent help features, has innovative tools for presenting the options and designs, and is as smoothly integrated as any store creation program you''ll see. In an unusual combination, WebSite Complete is run on a PC for most of the basic creation of a storefront, but certain elements such as Flash Graphics are available only through connecting to the Go Daddy website. At a time when most similar packages are online only, this mixed approach is interesting and has the advantages of a PC''s snappier response and the web''s ability to provide automatic updates to the program. The competition to produce the most complete, yet easy to use, storefront creation tool is fierce - and wonderful for the consumer to have so many choices available. In the case of WebSite Complete, very few packages can match the support elements (printed, online help, technical support and online forum). The attention to detail coupled with the flashy design of the program indicates that a lot of time went into its creation. The end result is a site and store development system that is terrific at guiding the novice through the process, as well as filling in the details for the more experienced. Starting with 480 design templates and 4000 images (if you can''t find one for your store, give up!) WebSite Complete provides a great deal of design flexibility without dragging you into HTML or other complex design techniques. Still, you can add your own graphics, change text and make other creative decisions that give your store a unique look and feel. This also extends to the product catalog, where you have some options on the layout of the products and supporting information. WebSite Complete is notable for its special effects and add-ins such as a site map, event calendar, location maps, virtual tours, hit counters, date/time stamp, and scrolling marquees. It also has a nifty Flash Animation graphics wizard that can add motion to a website (in moderation, please). The online store portion of WebSite Complete is developed in the eCommerce wizard. Of similar easy to use design as the web site wizard, this provides access to the various options for a store - tax tables, shipping tables, catalog development, department (category) lists. WebSite Complete covers most of the standard bases for a shopping cart but doesn''t provide any sophisticated options such as sub-items and almost no promotional capability (sales, discounts, memberships). In general, this is a bare bones approach to a store with little emphasis on personalization or store management. WebSite Complete is quite vague in its description of the transaction handling process, especially for merchant accounts, however it does provide five email accounts for communication to the storeowner and to customers. There is an online Store Manager module where you go to track orders and perform other routine store maintenance. It does provide some sales reporting and site statistics although not in as great depth as other packages. Features that are usually important for larger store operations, such as inventory control and connection to financial systems are not provided. Still, the monthly hosting fee of $9.95 is reasonable for the features available in WebSite Complete, although it must compete with products such as Bigstep and FreeMerchant, which offer similar services without charge. It''s not quite accurate to say that the online store features of WebSite Complete are an afterthought, but it''s clear they are not the primary focus. Consequently, it''s accurate to say that if you''re looking for an online store program with great scalability or a wealth of features for monitoring and managing the store, then WebSite Complete is not the right choice. It may be the right choice for online stores with fewer products or transactions but where the style of the site is important for attracting or retaining customers. It''s interesting to note that WebSite Complete offers a Real Estate version, just the sort of application that fits the model of fewer items to sell and an emphasis on graphical presentation.
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