Does anyone have a website???
 

I'm trying to find a service or program to create my website. I want to have a shopping cart and also maybe where people can sign up for a newsletter and even blog. I have looked and looked and my head is spinning, so does anyone have any suggestions for something that has a monthly fee where its templates and easy????

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

We used iPower.com for about 5 years with all of what you are looking for. I think we paid $100 a year. We didn't utilize hardly any of what we could have but we were happy with it. We've decided to let it go at the end of the year as we are dwindling with the cattle business it was used for. We haven't maintained the site at all but it's still there. lazy-acres-ranch.com

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Kat,

Shipping is the holy grail of internet sales. The way to solve your quest is to check out which shipper you will most likely be happiest with: USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Further, the standard retail rates are not intended for businesses. Each of these shippers have business rates based on your shipping volume.

After you get some ideas, go to the business resources sections of their website and find the list of "integration partners". Find a company among those whose services and rates fit your needs.

The bottom line is that you need a shopping cart that "knows" how to get real-time quotes AT YOUR RATE from your shipper.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

If you want a REALLY nice website.

Melbourne Florida Web Design - Professional Custom Web Development offering affordable web design. Specializing in Ecommerce, Content Management Systems, Merchant Accounts, Paypal, Google Checkout.

They mostly work in Flash, and can do anything you ask. Hosting can be found all over the net just depends on your needs.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Well my issue with shipping is I don't have a set weight... One plant might not weigh the same as another plant even of the same kind. So, I have to blanket price my shipping by cost and sometimes I have leftover sometimes I'm paying more than I got. Its really difficult without exact weights and zip codes. For instance I have all the gingers now and one type might weigh 1 pound and another might weigh a quarter of a pound. There can be a huge difference. I thought of someone building it but the issue is my stock is always revolving. If I pay someone else to manage I'd be paying crazy amounts to change it probably weekly. Its so complicated ARGH! Thats why I'm starting my quest now to get it perfected by spring. I've been primarily using USPS as their flat rate boxes are very convenient when things fit and they're cheaper than weighing and alot cheaper than UPS. I just did a price comparison on boxes sent yesterday and USPS was about 10.00 cheaper on 2 boxes (combined) than UPS was. I also mainly use paypal and it has the label generator which simplifies the process for me as well. Have you ever tried any programs to generate them? I saw a few website programs that might work they're expensive but if I can edit myself then it might be worth it. I just know NOTHING about website building :(

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Kat, Once your website is up changing inventory is really easy. You will be able to do it yourself. If you go with CustomFX you will have a admin login that gives you back stage access to edit your website very easy. They build a nice system that is very flexible for your needs. Once your site is up and running you no longer need to pay someone to work on it unless you are looking for a code change.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Start measuring and keep a log book. Also start looking a shipping rates per weight. The USPS has two important FLAT RATE size boxes -- for example the large flat rate box can be used to ship a 1/2 cubic foot anywhere in the U.S. or territories for $14.50. On the other hand, if you get negotiated rates from the UPS then it costs $10 to $15 to ship a cubic foot under 70 lbs almost anywhere in the US.

You need a shopping cart that can get real time quotes via customer address. For the USPS, the customer only need supply their zip code. For the UPS, you need a full address to get an accurate quote.

Keep in mind that the discounted UPS and FedEx rates change up or down weekly based on fuel costs and other factors. You need real-time quotes.

Again I would emphasize that you are going about your search backwards. I recommend you go to the UPS website and checkout their integration partners. This will narrow your search significantly. If you want free help choosing one, then email the UPS customer support and find out who the technical liaison is for your area. You'll get someone you can talk to on the phone if not in person. They want your business, and are more willing to help than USPS or FedEx.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Do you have examples of websites they've done? Do you know them personally? Any idea on pricing??

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Yes, but do they provide free shipping supplies boxes etc like USPS does? I will look at those tonight and see what I come up with. Like I said only issue is they vary greatly in weight because of different sized bulbs and also if I'm shipping a plant vs a bulb. I guess I could change weight come spring when they're growing again as most are dormant now. I will call UPS on Monday and see what they say.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Kat, I'm in the same situation that you are. I want to have a web site up and running by spring. I clicked on the link that Mike posted and I know so little that I didn't even know what they were talking about. Kind of like this thread. Your asking about setting up a web site and Richard is going on about shipping rates. What am I missing here?

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

For hosts, you can go with either shared hosting or a VPS. Shared hosting generally costs $5-10 a month but it can slow down and go out due to the other websites on the server. A VPS gives you a set amount of resources on a server which means it can never get slowed down or knocked out by other websites on the server. VPSs generally start out around $40-50 (managed).

Shopping cart software will provide you with a template to use. Most websites will provide you with Fantastico which will provide you with auto-installing open source shopping carts. If the shopping cart program you want isn't available, you'll need to learn how to create a MySQL database and edit PHP files.

I'd also assume you'd need to bridge something like Wordpress to the shopping cart software if you want blogs for your customers as well.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

I have designed a site recently using Joomla 1.7. It's easy to learn, easy to use. Some technical skill is required though. There are many (even free) plugins for shops and virtual markets, social plugins... no rigorous coding skills required, just drag and drop items, modules...
Joomla!

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Hmmm web site stuff…
Here’s what I think! Richard is totally correct.. Richard has a web site with a shopping cart Richard has had all the confusion that goes along with your first web site . So he was just relaying his experience :) And he hit the nail right on the head.
First off I'd like to say in no way did I intend to say any one is rite or wrong . I am just adding some real experience to the thread from some one who has built his own site and was Microsoft certified a few years back around win 95 – 98 ..
Boy there is a lot to know and a lot I can say but one thing is sure if you don’t have any experience in HTML CSS or any other of the modern day computer languages you will have to completely rely on some one who has a service . Or go to some of the sites that assist you in building one . No matter which way you decide to go “NOW” is the perfect time to start to learn. Ya need to put the expense factor out of your mind . set aside 600 dollars and get started. Some will spend all 600 some will end up spending only 100 dollars . It just depends on how well you absorb info and apply it .. Like my Dad used to say . “ I could stand here forever trying to tell you how to swim “ (then he tossed me into a lake)
” Kick you feet son! - Now move you arms and you will move over towards me. ”
As you can see I did not drown :) I later went on to become a certified diver ..
Ya need all the small stuff out of the way . Like a domain name and then a ISP internet service provider . The ISP should be more than happy to install a shopping cart for you . ya need someone to build for you or do it your self. Then ya need some one to assist you in all the photos needed as well as the decrypt ions of items being offered. Id mention banking and freight but really ya need to start on the first things first. You will deal with all of it :)
Now those few words were easy to me because I have done it all in the past .. But in that short explanation is days or weeks of head scratching for a novice.. So just jump in and stop worrying :ha: it all works out

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Well, like I said before, I'm in the same boat as Kat in wanting a web site by spring. Now I know - at least - where to start. Maybe between Kat and me we can figure it out. Thanks for your input, even though this is Kats thread I've learned something: Jump In.

Thanks

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

For web hosting, you might want to have a look at Web Hosting by PowWeb - One Plan, One Price --- They're pretty reasonably priced & downtime is rarely an issue.
Also Yahoo has web hosting: Yahoo! Small Business: Web Hosting, Domain Registration, E-commerce & Email --- and so does Lycos--- Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire
All have site builder templates that make things go easier.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Hey yea! Angelfire is a good place to go and learn ! You get to see a web page develop and it gives you a bunch of information that can be useful in relation to what you want your web pages to look like. However I would never suggest it as a permanent ISP because they use the complete site as a means of selling advertising to your Competitors.. Yes they find people in your business and then sell them popup adds on your page. But its free so lots of people use it.. But like I said its a good learning tool.. when your done just delete you account.. then go to a real or more business like ISP and get busy with it ..
The big boys in the industry are usually pretty good and offer lots of goodies that you will need and also are useful.. As an online start up business support is important . Because you don’t know stuff even exists in the beginning ! A lot of it you will try and then see it don’t make you a dime, or its just another useless tool – BUT-- each time you use some new tool you learn something ..

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

They supply you with free shipping labels which you can run through an ink jet or laser printer. This more than makes up for the price of boxes from a commercial supplier.

To be competitive, you do not want a "one size fits all" shipping rate.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Angelfire does have an "ad-free" option for around 5 bucks a month.
Those dang ads almost make the pages unreadable otherwise.

For shipping, postage printing software comes in handy: https://www.endicia.com/ seems to be one of the more economical, and you get postage discounts from what it would cost if you hauled the stuff into the post office to mail.
They charge about $10/month for the service but they have more expensive "elaborate" plans.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

I think Endicia is interesting for a home owner, but for a business this kind of software is free and built into the websites of all the major shippers. And yet, if you don't focus on website design but instead focus on an all-in-one solution with UPS, FedEx, and USPS real-time quotes automatically integrated into the shopping cart -- then you do not have to type labels at all. They are automatically generated with the order.

In terms of available software, there is way to much emphasis on layout and design. Go for functionality, and then narrow it down to a presentation style you prefer.

Re: Does anyone have a website???
 

Has anyone considered asking the owner of THIS site? I'm thinking he may be a valuable source of info... just sayin'