eCommerce Tycoon

**freeman17** · 01-07-2009, 09:14 PM

Okay, I'm still relatively new at this, but my father wants me to build his company a website to sell some of their products throughout the state. They already have a website, however they are just going to do a separate one for a specific product.

Ultimately, how should I even go about starting this? Should I just use free open-source scripts for the shopping cart and everything?

**witnesstheday** · 01-08-2009, 03:11 PM

Easily. You should start with a reliable web host. And then you should get a reliable hosting solution, choose a language, then spend some time producing and testing scripts, including logging. You want to use someone's webdesign software (if you don't have any) to make a good layout - it's not so easy without a lot of knowledge.

**freeman17** · 01-08-2009, 07:37 PM

What do you think would be a reliable hosting company? The only companies I have worked with were GoDaddy and 1and1. Then you think I should just use their web building tools to create the site?

I have designed sites on my own, but they were just HTML/CSS sites, nothing this complicated using PHP scripts with shopping carts. I'm just trying to figure out how to integrate the two.

Thanks for the help!

**gofetch** · 01-08-2009, 08:58 PM

I like lunarpages. I've used them twice (two for two) and it's easy to find coupons online to save lots with them.

**AD7863** · 01-09-2009, 03:25 PM

If you dont know how to design a website then you can hire somone to make a website for you.

**gofetch** · 01-09-2009, 05:10 PM

How many products? Maybe you could just add paypal buttons to the site, that would be easy.

**liquide** · 01-10-2009, 10:52 AM

To be honest its easy to put up an open source webstore, its plenty of them on web... and not hard to use them... just check google some and you will see

**freeman17** · 01-13-2009, 12:25 AM

Thanks for the responses guys. I want to do this myself because I'm wanting to learn more about web development and technology. So far I think I may go with Magento or Joomla with VirtueMart integration. Any advice towards these two?

I definitely want the ability for the basic purchase with a credit card, and also the ability to use Paypal. I know that VirtueMart can do both of these, but I can't find anything on Mageno's site about being able to use regular credit cards.

**The-Pixel** · 01-13-2009, 12:47 AM

Hello,

If you are not to sure about how to design a website I would suggest hiring a professional to do it for you to start with. Over time when you start to understand and develop the skills it takes to create a powerful website then would be an ideal time for you to take the website over. There are so many directions also the website could go in. As far as web hosting provider I've only used TheHosted (http://www.thehosted.com). I've recommanded them to hundreds and hundreds of people. My dad and uncle both have a website throught the company for just about a year now. For shopping carts if you get a web host the has Fantastico De Luxe installed on the server you can install CubeCart, OS Commerce or Zen Cart just by clicking a button. After all this is a reflection on your fathers business. Nothing that should be taken lightly. I will say I'm very impressed by your desire to learn more about websites and there functionality. You are asking great questions on this thred and overtime I know you will have the skills it takes. I wish you and your father the best of luck in the web design and development process.

**HivelocityDD** · 01-13-2009, 05:02 AM

If u dont know how to design and build a website, better go for some webdesign companies or professionals

**freeman17** · 01-13-2009, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the replies, but as I had said before, I want to do this and my father wants me to do this. So that means we will not be hiring a professional. I have some experience in web design. I have coded many XHTML/CSS sites, just not many with shopping carts.

Now, I have already installed Joomla on my local machine and started looking into VirtueMart. I think I may stick with Joomla once I figure out how to install VirtueMart. I believe my biggest challenge will be styling the site to how I want int to look instead of using pre-defined templates.