Dream Merchant • 2309 Torrance Blvd. #104, Torrance, CA 90501 (310) 328-1925 email: Jkm316@aol.com TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF PUTTING UP A REAL WEB STOREFRONT
By Michael A. Tims
Part Two
In part one of this little drama, I explained how I had chosen a web hosting service and had gotten my domain name registered. Now I needed to get something put together to publish on that empty site in cyberspace.
At first I thought that maybe I would purchase a commercial software package specifically designed for building web storefronts, but they were far too expensive for my meager budget. Then several of my math students showed me their web pages they designed in computer class and since they used Microsoft FrontPage software, I was convinced. If a 16 or 17 year old could put together a good looking website, so could I.
One nice thing about FrontPage is the ability to import a web page from the Internet to use as a template. How many times have you surfed the web and landed at a site you thought was real nice looking and wouldn't mind having the same look at your own site? FrontPage has many nice looking templates of its own, as well. You can modify these and give them your own design touches.
For starters, I found a site that I like and imported the page into FrontPage. This became the basis for my entire website design and the first or "Index" page. I searched the web and found a site with background GIFs that I could download and found one that was pleasant to look at and didn't interfere with the reading of text placed on the background. I also searched for sites on the web where you could create and then download your own banner ad or logo. There are several sites where you can do this, but I ended up using the animation utility that comes with FrontPage itself. With a little practice, I designed my own animated logo, as well as a banner ad I could later exchange.
I finally got the first page looking pretty good and then used that page as a template to put together the 50 or so pages I finally ended up with. In this way, each page had the same look and feel.
One of the sub-pages of my site was an index for a catalog of hobby type electronics construction plans I sell. There are over 200 items in this section alone and I wanted my customers to be able to browse my site and put the plans they wanted to purchase into a shopping cart. When they were done shopping, they would check out using their charge card to pay for the purchases. To get to that point was easier said than done.
We'll look at that in the next issue.
Michael A. Tims is a full-time high school math teacher who has run a mail order business as a sideline for more than 20 years. Being a self-taught computer NUT, one of his passions has been to find unique ways to use a PC to enhance or enable a small business venture.
Visit his web site at www.matcopublishing.com to read this and other articles. You may also write for a current catalog.
Matco Publishing P.O. Box 509 Roseville, MI 48066-0509
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