Ok.  This has to be the MOST EXCITING UPGRADE to your Website Forge site in quite some time!!

We recently added a new feature called "VISITOR TRACKING" to your web site!  This feature includes:

• Real time list of anyone on your web site!
• What browser your visitors are using..
• The IP address of your visitor
• How much time your visitors spent on your web site
• How much time your visitors spent on each individual page
• The FULL history of each and every page visited and how long
• The CURRENT search used on your web site
• And more....

You have to check out this video to see the Visitor Tracking feature in action:

Login to your Website Forge Member's Area right now!  Check out who is visiting YOUR site!

Shane Merem

www.websiteforge.com

e-commerce website design

Hello everyone.  Shane Merem here with a long overdue BLOG post.

Website Forge E-commerce websites have always provided excellent custom options and product view controls.

Recently we added a new level of product option.  We call it an "Inventory Grid".

Here is a short video that gives a very brief overview.  The KEY BENEFIT to this upgrade is to allow individual SKU or product number inventory tracking to custom options.

Example:

You sell a pair of Levi 404 jeans in 10 sizes and 3 colors.  Thats 30 different individual SKU's (product numbers) you might sell from one product listed on your web site. 

When a customer purchase a "Size Waist 32" in "White Washed" color.  That SPECIFIC item SKU is identified and your inventory QOH (Quantity on Hand) will be reduced by 1. 

This is true for any of the color/size combinations.

Contact support@websitefoge.com or use our LIVE CHAT at www.websiteforge.com to learn more if you are interested in using this new feature!

Shane Merem

www.websiteforge.com

e-commerce website

When managing a database of thousands of products -- how do your customer's know?

First it's your duty to keep in touch with your customers without becoming a nag (Yes, I sad nag).

If you nag your customers -- they will stop listening.  If you ignore your customers -- they will stop buying.

So take advantage of our "New Product Notification" in Website Forge.

Here is a quick video overview:

Contact LIVE SUPPORT or email support@websiteforge.com with questions!

Shane Merem

www.websiteforge.com

e-commerce website design

Google Checkout now available....  For those of you who have asked and asked and asked.... It's now here.

Some people have read or been told that using Google Checkout on their site shall increase search engine results. 

Our research so far has not given us any real indication of that.  Also keep in mind that Google Checkout has "terms" that might exclude your site from using it.  So make sure you follow all the rules stated.

Also remember, as far as I know, Google isn't a bank.  I will include a snippet that will clarify my point:

"Despite all the media attention surrounding alternative payment systems like Google Checkout™, traditional credit card transactions remain the most popular choice among customers for online purchases. According to a recent survey, only 44% of PayPal™ customers and 19% of Google Checkout customers rate their purchase experience as good or very good.*

Alternative payment systems create a middleman between you and your customers, which may hurt your business and confuse your customers. Accepting traditional credit card payments is critical to building a successful business, and all you need is a merchant account and a payment gateway account."

Please provide any feedback you can on Google Checkout -- so that we can share with all our Website Forge community.

NEED CUSTOM PROGRAMMING ADDED TO YOUR SITE?

I recently received some feedback that sparked this headline.  Website Forge is designed to handle the vast majority of web site and e-commerce needs.

In fact, we find that Website Forge is a fit for about 80% of the business models out there. 

HOWEVER, if you need some customization to your existing Website Forge site -- or -- require special programming for a brand new site.  We can do that as well.   Remember Website Forge is developed and maintained by WORLD CLASS web application developers.  There is no application to big or too small.

So please contact us if you feel you need something special added to your web site.

Thanks,

Shane Merem

www.websiteforge.com

Web Design and E-Commerce

Here are a few exciting upgrades you should be aware of...

1) New cross-browser editor is available.

Just use a non-IE browser (like Firefox or Mac Safari) and you'll see it. Users with IE are still using the old one.  Please test it out and report any bugs you find.  We will iron them out quickly.

2) Java uploader addition.

A Custom File option can be configured to accept either all files or images only, and in the case of images only, they can be forced to be downsized to a certain pixel size.

3) PayPal Pro DirectPayment Gateway.

DirectPayment Gateway now sends customer shipping address to PayPal allowing for third-party software which pull order info from a PayPal account.

4) General performance improvements.

We have done several performance improvements.

***DO NOT FORGET to sign up for one of our weekly tele-classes.  FREE TRAINING!  Go to www.support.websiteforge.com for class schedule.

Thanks,

Shane Merem

www.websiteforge.com

Hello Website Forge community!

I'm pleased to announce that Website Forge has developed an iPhone application to allow you to manage your Website Forge store from anywhere!

Click here to download our new iPhone Website Forge Order Manager!

http://www.websiteforge.com/180.html

I look forward to your comments!

Shane Merem

www.websiteforge.com

Hello WebsiteForge Customers and Associates,

Our Layout Builder frame has been updated to include some additional options for displaying Suggested Items.  Aside from the suggested item's "Product Title" - you can now show images and prices of the suggested items.  We have also added some formatting options which allow you to control their appearance.  The image below shows what options are now available (when you choose to show "Images with Additional Info").

If you already have suggested items assigned to your products (and the suggested items field added to a Layout Builder frame) then you only need to change the new "Mode" field to access the new features.

Make sure you contact support@websiteforge.com if you have ANY questions regarding these upgrades!

Kevin Ledezma

Website Forge

www.websiteforge.com

Web Design and E-commerce

Make sure you contact support@websiteforge.com if you have ANY questions regarding these upgrades!

Website Forge

www.websiteforge.com

Web Design and E-commerce

The following updates were applied to the Website Forge system this Sunday.

1) Fancy Zooming feature. In a Layout Builder frame (for the Ecommerce and Ad modules) a “Zooming” parameter for an Image field has been added.  If it's set to "Yes", the user will be allowed to see enlarged portions of the image while moving the mouse over it. For this to work, an image must be large enough to see all details. Also, the Image field itself must be set up to show a smaller version of the image (by setting the field's Width and Height parameters) and the zoom window will display portions of the image at it's original size.

2) USPS has been upgraded to the newest version of their API. USPS domestic and international methods can now be configured to use different types and sizes of packages (different kinds of Flat Rate Boxes, Envelopes etc.) to fine tune the calculation.

Also, the "Add International Methods" button was added to the Shipping Conditions/Methods form for users who wish to add international shipping.

3) The “FreightQuote” calculation engine has been added. To enable it, you need to add FreightQuote under a shipping condition using the Add Method button in the “Shipping Conditions/Methods” section and configure its parameters according to the type of goods being shipped. Note that FreightQuote is not a general-purpose shipping service like UPS/FedEx/etc., but is used to calculate shipping items of large size and dimensions via different freight companies.

4) Publish notifications have been updated to include an HTML link to the published version of your website.

Kevin Ledezma

www.websiteforge.com

Web Site Design and E-commerce