oscommerce site - should it be re-done?

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LianneF

LianneF

Free Member
Jul 18, 2007
798
53
Oxford, UK
  • #1
    Hi Guys
    I have an oscommerce site and have had many changes made to it, and am starting to wish that i didn't go for the cheap option and had the site done properly from the off. At this stage do you think it's worth having the site re-done so that coding is w3c compliant etc have a quicker, easier to use checkout, better gift finder etc or just keep changing the one I have. If it was re-done could the product names, descriptions, stock quantities, shipping weights, seo tags etc be used or would it have to all be entered in again.
    Regards
    Lianne
     
    LianneF

    LianneF

    Free Member
    Jul 18, 2007
    798
    53
    Oxford, UK
  • #3
    people have commented on the little pictures in the categories not being a good idea but i quite like these. I just want a site that's easy to use for the customer and to making ordering as quick and easy as possible and to also make finding a gift item for someone easy. I was thinking about having a more detailed gift finder as at the moment the products can only go under one heading say gifts for him or birthday gifts whereas a lot of the gifts are suitable for more people and occassions. The urls have been commented on and the coding isn't w3c compliant.
    Lianne
     
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    Paul Kelly ICHYB

    Paul Kelly ICHYB

    Moderator
    • Jan 21, 2008
    10,131
    1
    2,339
    London
    icanhelpyourbusiness.co.uk
  • #4
    I think the site looks ok. You do have an error popping up at the top of the landing page:
    Can't open file /var/www/html/bw/bandwidth_db_2008062310.txt

    To change the pictures is not a difficult task.

    As for the giftfinder, you can duplicate products and have a new menu structure to hone down the visitors choice.

    As for w3c compliance, there are not many carts that are, that I am aware of - I think Magento maybe one.
     
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    new2bus

    new2bus

    Free Member
    Mar 21, 2008
    327
    32
  • #6
    allthingsgifts said:
    at the moment the products can only go under one heading say gifts for him or birthday gifts whereas a lot of the gifts are suitable for more people and occassions.
    Click to expand...

    I think you have been informed wrongly, add whatever, then just add as a link, then when you update the original all the other links in the different categories will change also.
     
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    LianneF

    LianneF

    Free Member
    Jul 18, 2007
    798
    53
    Oxford, UK
  • #8
    I did what you suggested before and had loads of categories and copied all the products to them but then one product would appear on the site say 5 times which i didn't like which is with the current gift finder the manufacturer module has been used but you can only select one manufacturer.
    Lianne
     
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    OldWelshGuy

    OldWelshGuy

    Free Member
    • Jun 12, 2008
    15,873
    6,835
    South West Wales
    www.owgmarketing.co.uk
  • #10
    Your site is fine. certainly no need for a radical overhaul ESPECIALLY at this point in time where your rankings have taken a bit of a dive.

    I would have a rethink maybe but a total overhaul is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. As for the images on the left GREAT!

    Some designers get all prescious about design, just remember you are building it for people who want to buy gifts, and gifts are fun.

    One thing I WOULD look at is making the 'shop by type, shop by price, options LARGER!!!! I missed them and in fact was going to suggest it. Try and get these at the head of your navigation if possible.
     
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    M

    mke

  • #11
    i'm on aol
    Click to expand...
    'Nuff said. You've had some good advice on this thread. The only thing I'd add is that for business purposes, you need to be able to see the warts and you certainly don't need an ISP who will filter your viewing and your mail according to their commercial criteria rather than simply dealing with the worst of the spam. I advise my clients to dump them if they wish to keep their sanity and business intact.
     
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    MartCactus

    MartCactus

    Free Member
    Sep 25, 2007
    983
    214
    London, England
  • #13
    consultant said:
    As for w3c compliance, there are not many carts that are, that I am aware of - I think Magento maybe one.
    Click to expand...

    Our shopping cart is coded to XHTML1.0 STRICT if that is what you are referring to by w3c compliance.

    www.cactushop.com

    However it is an ASP based one, not PHP, its open source (the source code is provided and you are able to edit it), but not free software

    Also you might want to check your site using Firefox 3... I used that and on the home page I get a problem with the pop out menu down the side... it appears behind the central image (the one that rotates between several images)
     
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    F

    fairestcape

  • #15
    I believe the most important thing about an e-commerce site is simplicity of use for the customer. Reduce the number of click the customer must take to get products into the cart, and avoid the temptation to "pepper" the site with add-ons that act as distractions, or (even worse) offer links to external sites. (Once a shopper leaves your site, research shows that there's only a 4% chance they'll return!)

    I am often horrified by webshops that have banner headers and/or sidebars for Google Ads ! To me this is plain idiotic. Why point your customers to potential competitors?

    Focus on the products. Put enticing product offers on the home page. USe cross-sell and up-sell techniques to increase the average value of a shopping cart. Be prepared to contact customers by phone, e-mail - or even cleft stick if you have to.

    A website is not a magic wand. Business is about PEOPLE, so make sure your website looks personal, and have prominent displays of phone numbers, addresses etc.
     
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