The Process | Logo | Revisions | Illustration and Site | Stationery | Management

Managing your Site
While the site is designed, you will want to populate the site. Start with your categories, go light on your sub-categories and make sure all your pictures are about the same length and height. That will help keep all of your pictures aligned. You may also want to consider framing them. Although this may be time consuming the end result is always very professional. Make sure you always populate your site documents as your About Us, Contact Us and Policies pages will become the lifeline of your site and will answer any questions your customer may have.

On the General Settings link you will see some of the information you need to add to your cart, like your business name and address. You can also put your store on vacation so no one will see your work in progress.

Content is also very important. The lack of content will make you look as if you have no experience or fraudulent. You will need to answer questions before they are asked! Why should your customer buy from you? Are you offering enough information to make your customers feel comfortable and invited? Are you talking about your products? Are you using the keywords you chose and repeating them on your content, titles and links? This will become part of the search words customers use to get to you.

Just remember that copying text from other sites, even phrases, will get you penalized with the search engines!!

Going Live

This is the most exciting part as your site becomes live and a viable source of income for your business. After teaching you how to use and manage your cart and configuring it, it is time to think how you will promote and brand yourself on the internet.

Have you ever driven by a McDonald`s and your son or daughter will recognize the golden arches? They have effectively used an icon, a recognizable icon, that has branded them and bred familiarity. But how do you breed familiarity? Advertising! Mailers, newsletters, postcards and ads will get your logo to your customers.

Create promotions, coupons, sales and online parties to get that ball rolling. Send out your newsletter and promote your store. Mail your postcards and get the sale!

In short, having an easy to navigate layout will help your customer have a pleasant shopping experience. Limit the amount of subcategories you choose, or your customer will feel like she is in a maze of categories and subcategories, never finding the product she came to buy in the first place. Highlighting items and features with graphics can be an excellent way to make a sale.Also keep in mind that having too many subcategories will make your site a labyrinth and your client will get lost or will not find the product she needs and leave. You may want to write down what categories and sub categories you may want and in what order.

SEO and Maintenance

SEO- Search Engine Optimization is essential to be successful as it will be your number one tool to be found on the internet. Here are 5 good tips to make sure you are found;

1. Make sure you use your keywords in your content
2. Always submit your site at lease once a month
3. Site maps are very important for SEO so make sure you ask for one!
4. Change your content on your front page often
5. Don`t use your competitor`s name in your keywords!

Following these simple steps will help you keep your site indexed and found!