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James & Zelma Litzmann
11-27-2017, 12:01 PM
Can anyone tell me a good website company to use to build my own website on. I was going to use WIX but then I started reading the reviews and backed out of that. Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks, Zelma

John Lifer
11-27-2017, 12:22 PM
I've used Wix for past year. No issues as far as use, Canned layouts are ok, you can do your own site entirely on your own if you want. My only issue is speed, but it is on MY end, not theirs.

James & Zelma Litzmann
11-27-2017, 12:28 PM
I have started a webpage with WIX and I LOVE it but before putting my cc in I decided to read the reviews, now I am a little apprehensive. Although now I am looking for a site that has similar options, I am not finding anything close to theirs.

Mike Chance in Iowa
11-27-2017, 1:17 PM
What are you looking for? Do you want a shopping cart on your web site so you can sell products, or do you just want to display information and graphics?

Are you looking for someone to host your domain and you build do your own website so you maintain the control?

James & Zelma Litzmann
11-27-2017, 2:22 PM
Yes to shopping cart and selling products. I have a website so I will be looking at transferring my domain, and yes I want to build the website and keep control, just not sure where.

Mike Chance in Iowa
11-27-2017, 4:11 PM
Check out this thread
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?256100-What-do-you-guys-use-to-manage-your-websites

Matt McCoy
11-27-2017, 4:34 PM
Shopify and Big Cartel would be a good place to start.

James & Zelma Litzmann
11-27-2017, 4:50 PM
I did, thank you for showing that to me.

Samuel Espy
11-27-2017, 8:22 PM
Since you specify that you want a shopping cart, I agree with Matt regarding Shopify. It is simple to develop a modest (even fairly flashy/sophisticated) shopping site with it. I am not knocking Wix. It is great at what it does. However, shopping was an afterthought for Wix's infrastructure. I strongly urge anyone developing a site, where its primary purpose is ecommerce, to build the site on a provider like Shopify that focuses on exactly that. Shopify and its competitors have an enormous amount of shopping tools/capabilities built in that you likely won't even know you may need until you use it and discover new needs as you go/grow. Best of luck.

Grant Carson
11-28-2017, 7:00 AM
I don't know the details of your company, but for a small to medium sized business, my vote would also be Shopify. I've built several test stores on there and it is very intuitive. One of the biggest advantages of Shopify is how many people that use it for eCommerce already. For almost any problem you have, somebody has already had that problem, fixed it, and then made a video of it. For the lowest tier pricing, you can get a lot of value. Shopify will also allow you to grow your site as your business does with the endless plug-ins. At the very least, I would use the free trial to give it a go and see how you like it.

NOTE - The company I work for is currently building a website using Magento. Magento is great if you have a lot of web development skill, and time to invest in it. I personally don't, but we have an IT team that is building it for us.

Bill Stearns
11-28-2017, 4:04 PM
JAMES & OTHERS
Here’s my two-cents regarding using a “shopping cart function” on an engraving business website.
Would seem that a “shopping cart function” has ‘lot to do with the types of products/services you’re offering?
Fact that just ‘bout all of my products are customized, or personalized, I couldn’t see where a “click to order function” would work for me - without the rigmarole of including an on-line way for customers to pick ‘n relay their choice of fonts, font sizes, ‘n other info needed to place an order.
Plus, as I looked into this, it became evident that it’d be necessary for me to constantly be maintaining (hidden) data files of each ‘n every item, size, and color I offered - for the “cart ordering” to work. I tried doing this, at one point, but quickly found myself caught-up spending more time working on my site, than I did engraving.
So, I brought things down to a Dull-Roar! Customers visiting my site simply find what they want, jot down the details, and e-mail, or phone, me with their orders. (this way gives me ‘chance to build a “relationship” with the customer, too.)
BTW: the program I use was available thru my hosting provider - free of charge - thru my C-Panel - called RVSitebuilder. - was easy to figure out. I’m able to make changes, or additions, to my site within minutes!
Customers e-mailing, or calling, seems to work for me! BILL

Julian Ashcroft
11-29-2017, 2:30 AM
All these sites, unless you are happy with adverts on the free versions, have a monthly subscription.

I use Opencart, which is totally free, yes there are paid themes and modules, but I have never had to use them, what modules and themes I use were also free and I’m pretty pleased with how the site looks and performs and my customers seem to like it too. I sell my laser products as a micro business in my spare time so I need to keep my costs low. My costs for hosting run to around £25.00 per year. I would put a link to my site, but I don’t think that’s allowed.

Ross Moshinsky
11-29-2017, 7:38 AM
Shopify is probably the best for your average Joe, but be prepared to spend more than whatever they advertise on their site. The site lacks a lot of features which require you to spend monthly on add on options.

Want to have a box where people can input engraving? Need to spend $15/mo for an add on.

Want to have more than 2-3 drop downs? Need to spend $12/mo for an add on.

Want to have a place where a customer can upload a file? Need to spend $10/mo for an add on.

The benefit is a more streamlined, integrated system, which is naturally optimized to draw traffic in.

Robert Bonenfant
11-29-2017, 9:09 AM
I would go with Shopify - We have several sites with them and they have a huge community of programmers adding new addon features every day (They cost a few dollars but automation is key in E commerce). We have tried a few other companies but they all never made me feel the WOW Factor. We do a large amount of revenue with them and payment is always sent to my bank the next day. Try there 30 day free trail and see if you feel comfortable with there setup.

If you do go with Shopify there standard layouts are kinda generic (Like Most Companies) Plan on spending a few hundred on premium website layout, good products are key but a good looking and easy to use website is just as important.

Clark Pace
11-29-2017, 2:33 PM
I have used weebly for that past few years. No issues. Beeh easy to use.

James & Zelma Litzmann
11-29-2017, 7:22 PM
I was wondering if anyone was going to comment on GoDaddy's website building . . . guess not. I looked at Shopify today, guess I will go look at it again. Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it, and it has helped : )

Zelma

Brian Lamb
11-29-2017, 8:39 PM
I use GoDaddy, happy with it, but then I don't do shopping carts and such on the website. The stuff I build for the woodworking accessories is too specialized and hard to keep all the variations in stock, so I just have folks contact me to purchase.

Chuck Phillips
11-30-2017, 11:59 AM
Shopify is good but keep in mind your will be running CC transactions through them at a high (IMHO) rate of 2.9% (basic plan). If you use a third party payment processor like PayPal, you will pay Shopify 1% on top of Paypal's fees. For us, the transaction fee increase was far more than the subscription fee.

Matt McCoy
11-30-2017, 1:53 PM
Shopify is good but keep in mind your will be running CC transactions through them at a high (IMHO) rate of 2.9% (basic plan). If you use a third party payment processor like PayPal, you will pay Shopify 1% on top of Paypal's fees. For us, the transaction fee increase was far more than the subscription fee.

Hi Chuck: What would you consider a good rate?

Bert McMahan
11-30-2017, 3:55 PM
One issue with Shopify is that they only support like, 3 label printers- not the one I own :(