Believe in fairies - first attempt at osCommerce now live

[Believeinfairies]

Hello!

 

I have just finished implementing my first osCommerce site, I have read an awful amount of topics on what does and does not make a good implementation of osCommerce - I have tried to implement this the best I can.

 

Although new to osCommerce and PHP/Linux/Apache I am reasonably experienced at MS technologies (sorry for swearing!) and after using osCommerce I am definitley a convert!

 

I have added my own Events section and once I have got it connecting smoothly through to the backend Admin module I will look to offer this as a Contribution.

 

Site URL http://www.Believeinfairies.co.uk

 

Your comments, observations and suggestions gratefully recieved!

 

Contributions used

 

basic_design_pack1-9

CSS_BUTTONS_TIP

osCommerce_PayPal_IPN_v1.4

pre-populate_billing_form

 

Now working on;

 

Implementing Ultimate_SEO_URLsv21da_1_2 and improving Google & search ranking generally.

 

Thanks for the product and thanks for your time!

 

BIF

[♥toyicebear]

Nice colors :thumbsup:

 

I would recommend you to use .jpg product pictures so that the automatic thumbnails function in BDP will work. (Alt modify the function to also work for .gif)

[DeadDingo]

Nice looking site and easy to navigate.

 

I agree with the above comments regarding a thumnail generator.

I would also add an SSL to the site and include your address in the contact us page instead of the conditions of use page.

 

Well done

[Believeinfairies]

Thank you both for looking - I will probably alter the graphics to .jpg's. The reason I was using .gifs was for the transparency and therefore the ability via CSS to change the look of the site quickly, however my partner likes all things pink & purple so there is not much danger of that changing!

 

In terms of SSL I know I risk being flamed on this but SSL is for 'on the fly' security - all we take in and store on the site are the customers details, in terms of Paypal, Credit or Debit card details this then goes onto the Paypal site which is secure and the payment is completed there. I have been very careful in the Privacy details to explain this. (Ok - I am now hiding under the table and waiting! :devil:)

 

One thing I would like some advice on (as the whole area of SEO has changed since I last involved) is do I need to or is it even possible/worth to implement not just Ultimate SEO but also some form of Metatag generator either Header controller or the Auto generator?

 

I have implemented a sitemap and have a robots.txt file in the root of the site as well.

 

Thanks for your time and comments,

 

BIF :thumbsup:

[jonquil]

Very nice :)

 

Since your logo is 798 px wide, you might want to change your fixcenter to 798, as well:

 

.fixcenter {

width: 800px;

border: solid; border-width: 1px;

background-color: #FF99FF;

color: #000000;

margin: auto;

margin-top: 20px;

text-align: left;

}

 

I see a 2-pixel gap to the right of your logo (between it and the black border). Reducing the fixcenter will assure those on 800x600 resolution screens will see that border. :)

 

jon

[Believeinfairies]

Jonquil,

 

Thank you - There was kind of a logic to the logo being 798 as opposed to 800 pixels wide, it sort of went along the line of 'well if there is a 1 pixel border that means there is 2 pixels over therefore logo should be .....' :blink: mind you it was very late at night! - I will probably fix the logo as opposed to the CSS as to my obsessive compulsive mind I cant have a site 798 pixels wide!

 

Thanks,

 

BIF :)

[♥toyicebear]

Thank you both for looking - I will probably alter the graphics to .jpg's. The reason I was using .gifs was for the transparency and therefore the ability via CSS to change the look of the site quickly, however my partner likes all things pink & purple so there is not much danger of that changing!

 

In terms of SSL I know I risk being flamed on this but SSL is for 'on the fly' security - all we take in and store on the site are the customers details, in terms of Paypal, Credit or Debit card details this then goes onto the Paypal site which is secure and the payment is completed there. I have been very careful in the Privacy details to explain this. (Ok - I am now hiding under the table and waiting! :devil:)

 

One thing I would like some advice on (as the whole area of SEO has changed since I last involved) is do I need to or is it even possible/worth to implement not just Ultimate SEO but also some form of Metatag generator either Header controller or the Auto generator?

 

I have implemented a sitemap and have a robots.txt file in the root of the site as well.

 

Thanks for your time and comments,

 

BIF :thumbsup:

 

 

Yes, you should definetly get a title tag/meta tags contrib on the site.

 

SSL is not necessary, but it might gain you a few more sales from safty orientated customers...

 

And today you can get a ssl cert from as low as 20 usd. It is a very small investment which you can quickly gain back in increased sales...

[Believeinfairies]

Jonquil,

 

Scrub the above! - I am being a doughnut! :wacko:

 

I now have read what you have said and am altering CSS....

 

Thanks,

 

BIF :blush:

[Believeinfairies]

Yes, you should definetly get a title tag/meta tags contrib on the site.

 

SSL is not necessary, but it might gain you a few more sales from safty orientated customers...

 

And today you can get a ssl cert from as low as 20 usd. It is a very small investment which you can quickly gain back in increased sales...

 

Thanks toyicebear - I will look into the SSL and talk to the hosting company, I understand how strongly feelings can run on this and I know that some people will be put off by not having this.

 

In terms of the search/meta tag/title I take it that Ultimate SEO will not clash with either of the two meta tag contributions you have critiqued?

 

Again thanks for taking time to look at this,

 

BIF :)

[♥toyicebear]

Thanks toyicebear - I will look into the SSL and talk to the hosting company, I understand how strongly feelings can run on this and I know that some people will be put off by not having this.

 

In terms of the search/meta tag/title I take it that Ultimate SEO will not clash with either of the two meta tag contributions you have critiqued?

 

Again thanks for taking time to look at this,

 

BIF :)

 

 

Ultimate seo urls works with all the meta tags contributions i have "reviewed" in the meta tags for your osc shop tread

[el_diavolo]

Hi

 

Yes, I agree! you have done a nice site.

 

One thing I don't like about it. Product listing page. I will sugest centering the information in the boxes, and reconsider the way you have aranged till now - I sugest eventualy placing the quantity column in the left side of the picture.

What do you think about the way I have done this?

 

good luck!

bye bye

[Believeinfairies]

Hi

 

Yes, I agree! you have done a nice site.

 

One thing I don't like about it. Product listing page. I will sugest centering the information in the boxes, and reconsider the way you have aranged till now - I sugest eventualy placing the quantity column in the left side of the picture.

What do you think about the way I have done this?

 

good luck!

bye bye

 

Thanks el_diavlo - from the man with the self-proclaimed best looking site I will take your suggestions seriously! o:)

 

I have looked at your site and see what you mean - I want to have a play around with the Products listing and use a graphic instead of a css button as well - have not quite decided what to do yet instead though and I will review this area.

 

At the moment I really want to start building up 'hits' on our site from performing SEO.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

BIF :D

[Believeinfairies]

Ultimate seo urls works with all the meta tags contributions i have "reviewed" in the meta tags for your osc shop tread

 

Thanks toyicebear - I will go through your 'meta tags for your osc shop' thread again and make sure I back everything up first!

 

BIF :)

[Believeinfairies]

Jonquil,

 

Thank you - There was kind of a logic to the logo being 798 as opposed to 800 pixels wide, it sort of went along the line of 'well if there is a 1 pixel border that means there is 2 pixels over therefore logo should be .....' :blink: mind you it was very late at night! - I will probably fix the logo as opposed to the CSS as to my obsessive compulsive mind I cant have a site 798 pixels wide!

 

Thanks,

 

BIF :)

 

And I have just gone back in to the site and I want to retract my retraction! - My 3:00am logic above was right - if I change the width to 798 I end up with a 2 pixel gap on the right of the breadcrumb/control bar!

 

I had it right all all along!

 

BIF :rolleyes:

[chooch]

The idea behind the colour contrast is good but no, I do not like it but if it appropriate for your logo then I suppose it is a must.

 

The site is too much for the eyes and some of you pictures have trasaprent backgorund which go with the site but some of the pictures have a background so it looks messy. Here's what I mean: Click here

 

Overall, the product info pages are too basic with not a lot going on - maybe you should add multiple images contribution?

 

Good Luck

[Believeinfairies]

The idea behind the colour contrast is good but no, I do not like it but if it appropriate for your logo then I suppose it is a must.

 

The site is too much for the eyes and some of you pictures have trasaprent backgorund which go with the site but some of the pictures have a background so it looks messy. Here's what I mean: Click here

 

Overall, the product info pages are too basic with not a lot going on - maybe you should add multiple images contribution?

 

Good Luck

 

Chooch - Thanks for looking, I know the colour scheme is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have tried to make it consistent and balanced with a sensible amount of contrast.

 

In terms of the pictures I am in the process now of moving everything to jpg's and losing the transparency and going with the overall 'oh help its pink' background theme - some of the other images are 'stock' from our suppliers and we are going through the process of photographing and then enhancing the images before updating the site.

 

I know this area does need some jazzing up and I will be working on this plus SEO - I just needed to get my partner and her sister a solid site up and running which is where OSC has been invaluable.

 

Appreciate the feedback.

 

BIF :thumbsup: