The right choice of CMS online store for beginners
I found a couple of articles on this subject on the hub, but I wrote an article adhering to a certain philosophy for novice traders: "simplicity = success." Therefore, I gave advice on choosing based on this thesis.
Please judge strictly, but do not minus karma)
The choice of engine. Engine or artist? Engine selection criteria. How not to make a mistake with the choice. Rental engine. Hosting and domain. List of Russian CMS solutions.
I want to say right away: in this article there will be no recommendation to choose any particular engine.
Often, the opening of MI begins with the choice of CMS, but this is a very responsible process. In no case should one approach the issue in a swift way. First, you need to determine what tasks the CMS will solve and how convenient it will be in use with the selected product. Secondly, to determine the budget for connecting the engine, it will depend on how it is worth approaching the solution of the issue.
At the stage when you need to choose how to create IM functionality, I would advise you to consult a professional or the Oborot forum. There are many factors that influence the solution of the issue, for example: region, product, budget. Spent time or even a paid consultation will help to go by the least loss of energy, time and money. Consultation can cost $ 20 while the decision to create IM in the region is 300 cu and turn out to be just an ambitious businessman without serious arguments.
The question is probably from the category “what is the first, an egg or a chicken”. What to choose first? There are several answers to this question:
* Turnkey order of an online store. Depending on customer requirements, it will cost from 1500 to 3000 cu If there is such an amount, then first you need to analyze the market opportunities, business profitability, payback periods. Having received a positive answer, reflect on the tasks that IM will solve and submit them in the form of a statement of work to the web agency. For the money they have to make a good store. In this case, you select the artist.
* If the budget is limited, say, 700 cu the best option would be to choose your own CMS, choose a company that specializes in this engine, order an installation and fit it to your requirements. Most likely, they can also draw the design for you and integrate it into the system. Here you choose the engine, taking into account the number of agencies that will work with it.
* An extreme case when the budget is minimal. Here it’s up to you to act on your own: choose a particular engine in person, install it on your own hosting, find a freelancer who draws the design and integrates it into the engine. And do not make any modifications to the functional. Agencies practically do not play a role.
As we can see, in any of the three cases a third party appears, who does at least program work for you. The choice of a third party should also be taken seriously. Here lies a very important point, we will come back to it. Choose a company or freelancer who has a lot of work in the portfolio and good recommendations. A bad choice is the loss of time and possibly money.
Tip: A common mistake is to look for a familiar programmer and negotiate support and programming with him. You want to save money, but laziness for a friend - like spending money and spending a few months, you get nothing.
If we are talking about beginning businessmen, even regardless of what their budget is (from the second or third option), then the functionality of the engine practically does not matter. Almost all the necessary tools for working with IM are in every engine, so there is no need to list them.
But there are main factors that must be taken into account when choosing an IM:
* Support by third-party developers. The more developers or agencies working with this engine, the better. So the engine is convenient and easy to upgrade. If necessary, it will not be difficult and large funds to make changes.
* Easy to configure and use. There are engines in which the devil will break his leg from many settings and functions. They are not needed now. I remind you, now our motto is “simplicity = success”.
* Compliance with the requirements that the product puts before the businessman, the working conditions of the company and personal preferences (yes, in any case, the choice is a subjective concept).
Probably wild claims will seem that choose any engine. But think for yourself:
First, from practice, I know for sure that most novice traders have little idea about online trading: the specifics of sales, advertising, customer service, engine capabilities, CRM systems, engine interaction with a warehouse, etc. Knowledge comes in the process and only in the process. It will be time before the mature requirements for the functionality of the online store mature.
Secondly, all owners of IM who have taken a sip of porridge and have been working for more than a year in online trading unanimously confirm my words. Maybe you should listen to experienced people?
I would like to return to the last point of the main factors, explain in more detail with examples:
* One acquaintance is going to work with foreigners, because the Magento engine is widespread there and it has many localizations, the choice fell on this particular engine.
* If you will sell perfumes or flowers, then know that the positions have several varieties. There are different volumes in perfumery, and different colors in colors. For convenient display, you have to invent complex catalog implementation schemes.
* Digital goods. Because Since IMs are not very common, not every CMS has convenient functionality for working with digital goods.
Undoubtedly, there are people who once came across online stores, engines. But gentlemen, this is a different story. This is a different cycle. To provide you with quality information, I will need to compile an overview of most CMS - this will be later.
As I said, in principle, any engine that meets the criteria of three main factors is suitable.
We have already significantly reduced the range of choice of the engine. Nevertheless, the choice is still wide enough, and you do not know which of the engines will satisfy your requirements. Therefore, it is worth doing such steps:
* Collect a complete list of the most suitable engines on a budget (cheap or free).
* Select from them those that are supported by at least 4-5 agencies, or have a lot of positive feedback from programmers.
* Collect as much information as possible from the owners of the IM, which engine turned out to be the most convenient. Depending on the correctness of your questions, you will be able to get comprehensive information.
* Choose 2-3 engines for testing.
Tip:some developers create several options for CMS online store: free (truncated) versions, versions with additions, and sophisticated versions. Starting a business with the free version and creating personal requirements for the engine, there is the opportunity to move to a more advanced version of the already beloved engine.
Before buying a CMS license, you must definitely test it on a local server (on your computer). Not a demo version on the developer's site, but on your computer. All files and instructions needed for this process can be easily found in the same section of the developer's site. On the local version, you need to create a directory structure and site navigation that meets the requirements of the third main factor. During such settings, you will figure out how convenient the site is, which will answer the second main factor.
The engine is almost selected. But! There is another alternative solution.
Renting an engine is another option, how to minimize costs when opening a store. Fortunately, the lease allows you to solve many complex issues that have arisen for the future owner of IM.
* Solves the issue with the risk of trial opening of MI. 90% of stores do not survive the first year of operation. Earn for this period of time is not enough, but spend a lot. Rent allows, at a minimum, to save the extra 100-200 cu from buying a full engine and design. Very beneficial for businessmen in small cities.
* Rent allows you to open your store with minimal costs. You only need a database. Hosting and design are provided by the tenant company.
* Payment is a little money, in the region of 500 rubles. per month.
Note:someone may ask a question, "but what about promotion"? The domain is always untwisted, therefore, if after a while you switch to CMS, then the promotion effect will still remain.
As already mentioned, the main advantage of leasing IM is the ability to curtail your business with minimal losses. But keep in mind that there are 2 dangers, if you contacted an unscrupulous company, the most valuable things that can be found in an online store can be stolen from you:
* product
database * customer database
Always carefully read the offer-offer and refer only to trusted companies. Do not be too lazy to inquire.
Why did I make the choice of hosting and domain in this article?
Because the engines present their hosting requirements. Before you buy hosting, make sure that the server capabilities meet all the requirements of CMS. Send a letter to the hosting support service with the requirements of the CMS, let them advise you. Also send a letter with hosting capabilities to the developer of the selected CMS, let them also advise you or advise a hosting partner. By sending letters to different technical support, exclude the possibility of praising “native products”.
The average cost of hosting suitable for the launch of IM is 100 cu in year. At this stage, provided that IM will not be required to look for high-quality hosting.
I want to note that for $ 100 you will get weak hosting designed for weak requests. Some CMS require more serious resources to suit your needs.
There is an opinion that the choice of hosting should be approached very responsibly, that the promotion opportunities depend on this. I assure you, if you choose hosting services among the market leaders, then this problem will disappear by itself. Do not chase cheapness and do not order services from dubious organizations.
Domain
Firstly, they will give you a domain for free when ordering a hosting for a period (everywhere in different ways).
Secondly, choose your domain wisely. Do not chase after associative names. The Internet is already teeming with similar names.
* name should be short
* the name should be easy to remember and reproduced in memory
* the domain name should contain as few disputable spellings as possible and eliminate spelling errors.
* The domain name should be consistent with the theme of the store. Everything connected with beauty should be lyrical, something that is connected with technology, strict. There are also gender differences.
* If the domain name does not do without a controversial spelling, register a second domain that takes into account this problem. Otherwise, competitors will exploit the loophole.
Choosing a domain is a process no less, and probably more, responsible than choosing an engine. Do not forget, the engine will cost you, for example, up to $ 100 In the promotion of the store, and specifically the domain, you will invest significantly more and longer. Therefore, if you make a mistake in one of the points listed by me, you can lose quite a lot.
Conclusion: We take the list from the link -> we find cheap or free solutions -> we select those that are supported by experts -> we find reviews by engines -> we select 2-3 options from reviews -> we test -> we stop at the choice, we buy. The whole process will take a week. Do not be too lazy to spend it wisely.
Please judge strictly, but do not minus karma)
The fifth article of the series “Online shopping from scratch. Help for a novice entrepreneur ”
The choice of engine. Engine or artist? Engine selection criteria. How not to make a mistake with the choice. Rental engine. Hosting and domain. List of Russian CMS solutions.
I want to say right away: in this article there will be no recommendation to choose any particular engine.
Often, the opening of MI begins with the choice of CMS, but this is a very responsible process. In no case should one approach the issue in a swift way. First, you need to determine what tasks the CMS will solve and how convenient it will be in use with the selected product. Secondly, to determine the budget for connecting the engine, it will depend on how it is worth approaching the solution of the issue.
At the stage when you need to choose how to create IM functionality, I would advise you to consult a professional or the Oborot forum. There are many factors that influence the solution of the issue, for example: region, product, budget. Spent time or even a paid consultation will help to go by the least loss of energy, time and money. Consultation can cost $ 20 while the decision to create IM in the region is 300 cu and turn out to be just an ambitious businessman without serious arguments.
Engine or artist?
The question is probably from the category “what is the first, an egg or a chicken”. What to choose first? There are several answers to this question:
* Turnkey order of an online store. Depending on customer requirements, it will cost from 1500 to 3000 cu If there is such an amount, then first you need to analyze the market opportunities, business profitability, payback periods. Having received a positive answer, reflect on the tasks that IM will solve and submit them in the form of a statement of work to the web agency. For the money they have to make a good store. In this case, you select the artist.
* If the budget is limited, say, 700 cu the best option would be to choose your own CMS, choose a company that specializes in this engine, order an installation and fit it to your requirements. Most likely, they can also draw the design for you and integrate it into the system. Here you choose the engine, taking into account the number of agencies that will work with it.
* An extreme case when the budget is minimal. Here it’s up to you to act on your own: choose a particular engine in person, install it on your own hosting, find a freelancer who draws the design and integrates it into the engine. And do not make any modifications to the functional. Agencies practically do not play a role.
As we can see, in any of the three cases a third party appears, who does at least program work for you. The choice of a third party should also be taken seriously. Here lies a very important point, we will come back to it. Choose a company or freelancer who has a lot of work in the portfolio and good recommendations. A bad choice is the loss of time and possibly money.
Tip: A common mistake is to look for a familiar programmer and negotiate support and programming with him. You want to save money, but laziness for a friend - like spending money and spending a few months, you get nothing.
Engine selection criteria
If we are talking about beginning businessmen, even regardless of what their budget is (from the second or third option), then the functionality of the engine practically does not matter. Almost all the necessary tools for working with IM are in every engine, so there is no need to list them.
But there are main factors that must be taken into account when choosing an IM:
* Support by third-party developers. The more developers or agencies working with this engine, the better. So the engine is convenient and easy to upgrade. If necessary, it will not be difficult and large funds to make changes.
* Easy to configure and use. There are engines in which the devil will break his leg from many settings and functions. They are not needed now. I remind you, now our motto is “simplicity = success”.
* Compliance with the requirements that the product puts before the businessman, the working conditions of the company and personal preferences (yes, in any case, the choice is a subjective concept).
Probably wild claims will seem that choose any engine. But think for yourself:
First, from practice, I know for sure that most novice traders have little idea about online trading: the specifics of sales, advertising, customer service, engine capabilities, CRM systems, engine interaction with a warehouse, etc. Knowledge comes in the process and only in the process. It will be time before the mature requirements for the functionality of the online store mature.
Secondly, all owners of IM who have taken a sip of porridge and have been working for more than a year in online trading unanimously confirm my words. Maybe you should listen to experienced people?
I would like to return to the last point of the main factors, explain in more detail with examples:
* One acquaintance is going to work with foreigners, because the Magento engine is widespread there and it has many localizations, the choice fell on this particular engine.
* If you will sell perfumes or flowers, then know that the positions have several varieties. There are different volumes in perfumery, and different colors in colors. For convenient display, you have to invent complex catalog implementation schemes.
* Digital goods. Because Since IMs are not very common, not every CMS has convenient functionality for working with digital goods.
Undoubtedly, there are people who once came across online stores, engines. But gentlemen, this is a different story. This is a different cycle. To provide you with quality information, I will need to compile an overview of most CMS - this will be later.
How not to make a mistake with the choice
As I said, in principle, any engine that meets the criteria of three main factors is suitable.
We have already significantly reduced the range of choice of the engine. Nevertheless, the choice is still wide enough, and you do not know which of the engines will satisfy your requirements. Therefore, it is worth doing such steps:
* Collect a complete list of the most suitable engines on a budget (cheap or free).
* Select from them those that are supported by at least 4-5 agencies, or have a lot of positive feedback from programmers.
* Collect as much information as possible from the owners of the IM, which engine turned out to be the most convenient. Depending on the correctness of your questions, you will be able to get comprehensive information.
* Choose 2-3 engines for testing.
Tip:some developers create several options for CMS online store: free (truncated) versions, versions with additions, and sophisticated versions. Starting a business with the free version and creating personal requirements for the engine, there is the opportunity to move to a more advanced version of the already beloved engine.
Before buying a CMS license, you must definitely test it on a local server (on your computer). Not a demo version on the developer's site, but on your computer. All files and instructions needed for this process can be easily found in the same section of the developer's site. On the local version, you need to create a directory structure and site navigation that meets the requirements of the third main factor. During such settings, you will figure out how convenient the site is, which will answer the second main factor.
The engine is almost selected. But! There is another alternative solution.
Engine rental
Renting an engine is another option, how to minimize costs when opening a store. Fortunately, the lease allows you to solve many complex issues that have arisen for the future owner of IM.
* Solves the issue with the risk of trial opening of MI. 90% of stores do not survive the first year of operation. Earn for this period of time is not enough, but spend a lot. Rent allows, at a minimum, to save the extra 100-200 cu from buying a full engine and design. Very beneficial for businessmen in small cities.
* Rent allows you to open your store with minimal costs. You only need a database. Hosting and design are provided by the tenant company.
* Payment is a little money, in the region of 500 rubles. per month.
Note:someone may ask a question, "but what about promotion"? The domain is always untwisted, therefore, if after a while you switch to CMS, then the promotion effect will still remain.
As already mentioned, the main advantage of leasing IM is the ability to curtail your business with minimal losses. But keep in mind that there are 2 dangers, if you contacted an unscrupulous company, the most valuable things that can be found in an online store can be stolen from you:
* product
database * customer database
Always carefully read the offer-offer and refer only to trusted companies. Do not be too lazy to inquire.
Hosting and domain.
Why did I make the choice of hosting and domain in this article?
Because the engines present their hosting requirements. Before you buy hosting, make sure that the server capabilities meet all the requirements of CMS. Send a letter to the hosting support service with the requirements of the CMS, let them advise you. Also send a letter with hosting capabilities to the developer of the selected CMS, let them also advise you or advise a hosting partner. By sending letters to different technical support, exclude the possibility of praising “native products”.
The average cost of hosting suitable for the launch of IM is 100 cu in year. At this stage, provided that IM will not be required to look for high-quality hosting.
I want to note that for $ 100 you will get weak hosting designed for weak requests. Some CMS require more serious resources to suit your needs.
There is an opinion that the choice of hosting should be approached very responsibly, that the promotion opportunities depend on this. I assure you, if you choose hosting services among the market leaders, then this problem will disappear by itself. Do not chase cheapness and do not order services from dubious organizations.
Domain
Firstly, they will give you a domain for free when ordering a hosting for a period (everywhere in different ways).
Secondly, choose your domain wisely. Do not chase after associative names. The Internet is already teeming with similar names.
* name should be short
* the name should be easy to remember and reproduced in memory
* the domain name should contain as few disputable spellings as possible and eliminate spelling errors.
* The domain name should be consistent with the theme of the store. Everything connected with beauty should be lyrical, something that is connected with technology, strict. There are also gender differences.
* If the domain name does not do without a controversial spelling, register a second domain that takes into account this problem. Otherwise, competitors will exploit the loophole.
Choosing a domain is a process no less, and probably more, responsible than choosing an engine. Do not forget, the engine will cost you, for example, up to $ 100 In the promotion of the store, and specifically the domain, you will invest significantly more and longer. Therefore, if you make a mistake in one of the points listed by me, you can lose quite a lot.
List of Russian CMS-solutions
Conclusion: We take the list from the link -> we find cheap or free solutions -> we select those that are supported by experts -> we find reviews by engines -> we select 2-3 options from reviews -> we test -> we stop at the choice, we buy. The whole process will take a week. Do not be too lazy to spend it wisely.