Step 1 - The things we need from you
We ask you to provide us with certain information and materials that we need to create your site. Things like: how you want to do business, delivery options, colour schemes, your company logo, photographs, digital images, and the product information for your first five products - try to send us your most complicated products e.g. multiple colour and size choices, male and female versions, etc. We will send you a detailed questionnaire to help you with this task.
At this stage you should also be thinking about what payment method(s) you will be accepting at your shop. You may need to apply for new payment accounts and this all takes time. See our free 'Guide to Online Payments' for more details.
Step 2 - The look and feel of your site
We offer a full design service only limited by the underlying layout requirements of the osCommerce shopping cart software. We will offer guidance and suggestions about design. We may also show you examples or ask you to do the same. After agreeing on a final design, we will then start hard coding your new site. A new design may take up to two weeks to fully complete.
Step 3 - We build and test your site so that you can try it out
We combine shop design and the information you have given us to create a fully functioning online shop. We add your textural information (if required), setup the online payment methods and delivery methods, and stock your new Online Shop with its first five products. You are then asked to approve your new shop design in our secure test area.
We normally have a development version of your site ready for you with in one week. At this stage you can start to add your products to the site. You may need to demonstrate the web site to your bank to gain approval for a new online merchant account. This time is also ideal for making test orders and familiarising yourself with the admin area of the shop.
Step 4 - Go Live
Once you have accepted your new shop, you must pay all outstanding fees, including the remainder of the Set-up Fee and Hosting Fee (if hosting is to be provided by us) before your Shop is made live at your web address. The hosting fee is payable in advance.
Once live, we submit your Online Shop to a number of search engines. You can then monitor the activity of your shop via the admin area. Orders and enquiries from your shop will be emailed to you directly from the web server.
To help you run your new shop, you will have access to our online 'Admin User Guide'. This is an easy-to-use quick-reference to accompany the admin section of your shop. The information is presented in sections corresponding to the options avaiable in the admin area, allowing you to quickly and painlessly gain the knowledge that you need to administer your new shop.
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