Need a little help setting up a small business website

te51levin · 11-02-2008, 01:36 PM

It is time I finally built a website so I can showcase and sell these 20V-to-AW11 downpipes, rather than handling it through forum threads. I've built a couple of very basic personal sites before with WYSIWYG editors and some simple HTML, so I am not totally clueless, but I was hoping someone could give me a few pointers and/or suggestions.

Basically, I am looking to create a business site from which I can sell downpipes and catalytic converters and, later on down the road, other things like exhaust systems. I already have an existing PayPal Premier account that I can tie in to the site. My problem is that I don't really know where to begin.

I can register a domain name on my own, and get through most of the site layout stuff, but who should I look to for domain registration and hosting? Microsoft Office Live has been suggested. I have also considered turning an old PC into a dedicated home server, but I don't know if that is going to expose me to any sort of security risks or other problems. I have basic PC skills - i.e. can format an old HD and install Windows etc to get the machine running - but am not what the young folks apparently call "leet" (looking at you here, Conor).

There is still a lot to chew on but right now it's all pretty foreign. Anybody got any suggestions?

mthreat · 11-02-2008, 11:10 PM

I don't have any experience setting up an online store myself, plus I'm a programmer so I always do things the hard way

You might look into Yahoo stores - Yahoo! Merchant Solutions: Everything you Need for an Ecommerce Business

Although I have to say, I tried to help a friend with a Yahoo store issue once and I found their administrative interface terrible. Maybe it's not so bad once you learn it... hope this helps.

11-02-2008, 01:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
te51levin Lithia Toyota Parts Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,923 Thanks: 33 Thanked 146 Times in 125 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (126/100% )	Need a little help setting up a small business website It is time I finally built a website so I can showcase and sell these 20V-to-AW11 downpipes, rather than handling it through forum threads. I've built a couple of very basic personal sites before with WYSIWYG editors and some simple HTML, so I am not totally clueless, but I was hoping someone could give me a few pointers and/or suggestions. Basically, I am looking to create a business site from which I can sell downpipes and catalytic converters and, later on down the road, other things like exhaust systems. I already have an existing PayPal Premier account that I can tie in to the site. My problem is that I don't really know where to begin. I can register a domain name on my own, and get through most of the site layout stuff, but who should I look to for domain registration and hosting? Microsoft Office Live has been suggested. I have also considered turning an old PC into a dedicated home server, but I don't know if that is going to expose me to any sort of security risks or other problems. I have basic PC skills - i.e. can format an old HD and install Windows etc to get the machine running - but am not what the young folks apparently call "leet" (looking at you here, Conor). There is still a lot to chew on but right now it's all pretty foreign. Anybody got any suggestions?

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11-02-2008, 11:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
mthreat Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 272 Thanks: 30 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	I don't have any experience setting up an online store myself, plus I'm a programmer so I always do things the hard way You might look into Yahoo stores - Yahoo! Merchant Solutions: Everything you Need for an Ecommerce Business Although I have to say, I tried to help a friend with a Yahoo store issue once and I found their administrative interface terrible. Maybe it's not so bad once you learn it... hope this helps.