Hi all.
We intend on re-launching our website www.funstuff.com.au by ourselves. I am in the graphic design field so am savvy with graphics, but need guidance on where to start in terms of purchasing a template website and what software (if any) is required to insert our own products.
If there is also an easy way to migrate all products (around 500) over in an easy way?
Any help in terms of professional template websites would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
No you're not rude, thanks for your input.
I definitely don't have knowledge in CMS, and yes I am going down the Wordpress, woocommerce, shopify route as I think majority of the ready templates look professional. I just need to find a couple that relates to ours.
I have checked Themeforest although not extensively, as I use Graphicriver occasionally.
What is the next step after purchasing the template? Would I need another software to launch once the editing is done?
If purchasing a Wordpress template, you just install it and edit it without code.
If purchasing a HTML template, you have to find a host and use a code editor (most hosts will use cPanel which has a web based code editor or you can install one to your computer (even Notepad works). I'd recommend publishing the website and Ctrl+F and edit it that way.
Once again, don't hesitate to contact me
If you purchase a template, you want one from a reputable source who is going to have updates available over the lifetime of your site. IE at least the next 3 years, if a vulnerability is found in the theme and there are no updates you're basically going to be up for big $$ or a really quick forced migration to a new platform and site downtime.
I commented below but unless you have a fair bit of money or technical knowledge (it seems like you don't) I'd recommend against wordpress.
Not trying to be rude or negative with that comment, I just mean you're better off paying a service who does this for thousands of customers at mass scale to keep costs down and security up.
I also do this for a living. YLD1 has basically got it all. If you are doing something like that, Wordpress + some addons should do the trick. Find out more on Google or PM me if you need more info too.
Wordpress or Wix and Shopify combo
So I've purchased a WP theme. Is there a way to migrate all the products over easily? Or do they need to be inserted one by one?
There isn't an easy transition path
you can run some scripts if you're tech savvy but it usually doesn't end well
a site migration is usually a big task
Look at Joomla and full themed template from Joomlart
Easy to set up migrate etc
Ugh, no, bad. Declining market share, declining contributor base… Just use Wordpress. Or Drupal if you're going to go big.
I updated WordPress but I am now facing this problem
Fatal error: Call to undefined method WC_Shipping_Zone::get_shipping_methods() in /home/funstuff/public_html/wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/includes/class-wc-shipping.php on line 145
I looked online and tried a few methods but I can't seem to find the same problem by anyone.
Any advice?
Could be caused by a number of issues. If you're determined to fix this yourself then first try removing then reinstalling WooCommerce.
Oh god, don't do Wordpress unless you a) have a lot of time to spend b) are a Wordpress expert c) have money to pay a Wordpress expert. I am a Wordpress developer and I love it. But I generally recommend people just go with SquareSpace if they've got an eye for design. For $34 a month you get an online shop and they manage all the tech stuff for you. Do it.
I'm of the same opinion. I'm an IT Consultant / Server /Infrastructure guy and see this shit all the time.
It goes one of three ways with wordpress
Some hotshot web developer slaps the site together with 500 plugins and it looks great and has vulnerabilities throughout it. It can't be maintained and breaks if you do any little change.
A competent developer puts a great site together, gives the client the option of a maintenance plan, the client doesn't go ahead with it. Site gets hacked eventually, clients blames developer.
You DIY it, and end up in the same boat as scenario 1.
All in all like @FakeJames said, pay squarespace, wix , bigcommerce, shopify or any of the other providers and let them worry about things you don't understand, like web security, SSL etc.
Also, word of warning. If you do go that route, specifically with Wix from memory they're very aggressive when it comes to having you point your nameservers to them. They however don't generally factor in your other DNS records, such as those required for your email. With these providers I'd be keeping DNS separate and just delegating your website to them. Happy to provide a bit of free guidance on this if you require.
Thanks for the advice.
I am actually playing around with BigCommerce templates as we speak as I have come to the conclusion that it's going to be hassle free with stuff we don't know about as most have said.
I have a client who uses them for their site and they've been quite happy over the years. Looks fairly straight forward from what I've seen on the admin side of things (I've only been in there to setup DNS for them ).
Not to sound rude but I don’t think you have a solid understanding of websites
You have your traditional websites that are coded, where you can buy a template and edit the code and add your copy and content
You have your CMS (Content Management System) websites that are usually run with Wordpress and Drupal
Then you have your enterprise CMS websites such as Adobe Experience Manager and Sitecore
I think you are going down the wordpress route
Anyway for templates, go to themeforest and they have tons
Message me privately if you need more info as I do this work for a living