Since spammers are here to stay -- we are forced to constantly battle each new spamming method.  Some spammers will abuse your contact forms with an automated script or software.

We have added a "Code Verification" field type to the Feedback Form module.  This is what you commonly see as an image displaying several letters or numbers that you have to read and retype to submit the form. 

This human readable image assures that your form is not mass submitted by a script or software.

You add this control just like you would add any form field.  Contact support@websiteforge.com if you have any questions.

Shane Merem
www.websiteforge.com
E-commerce and web design

I have had a few customers tell me they routinely hunt for declined orders and contact the customer to assist them with their purchase.  I am told that a high percentage of those sales are recovered.

Because of this fact, it was suggested that we allow you to optionally receive declined order notifications just like you would receive an approved order. 

This optional feature was added in the most recent upgrade.  Check it out and see if it's something that may help you recover otherwise lost sales.

Shane Merem
www.websiteforge.com
Web design and e-commerce

There is now a search feature you can use to search for specific orders in your order list.  Take a look next time you log in to manage your orders.

Shane Merem
www.websiteforge.com
Web design and e-commerce

Since the latest upgrade you can choose to display ANY product field including the image thumbnail in your shopping cart, your customer's invoice and your drop shipping notifications.

If you are interested take a look at the "Product Type/Fields" settings in your e-commerce module.

You may also add/remove product fields to and from the product export file.

Contact support@websiteforge.com with questions if you are interested in this feature.

Shane Merem
www.websiteforge.com
Web design and e-commerce

Hi.  Whether you know about the new "Green" Extended Validation browsers or not you NEED to read this article.  Microsoft has invented a way to scare your prospective customers away from your web site and Website Forge will make sure your site doesn't fall prey to the huge online giants!

I've been sitting here thinking of a good analogy to explain how the new EV (Extended Validation) concept Microsoft dreamed up is one of the biggest scams I have ever seen.  Then I found an article with this perfect portrayal --

"EV SSL is nothing but a second condom. And as such it is being pitched as the solution to make internet users safer. Sure it's more expensive and it's harder to apply for. As of now, only incorporated entities can apply for the EV SSL. As a result, small businesses (sole proprietorships, partnerships, etc... ) are presented with yet another series of hurdles to jump over, only to be followed by a finish line made of expensive red tape.

The introduction and critical mass buy-in of the EV SSL will aid big businesses in edging out their small business competitors. Why? Because small businesses that choose not to incorporate, can't get the EV SSL. The integration of the EV SSL is meant for people to better trust the site their on. But what does it (the EV SSL) actually do? Well, other than turning the address bar green in IE 7, not much. Oh wait, it will attach the name of the incorporated entity to the address in URL bar. Well I'm sure we'll all feel much safer now. Big business gets the edge, my address bar turns green, and I feel safer. Whew, thanks for that."  (Go to http://www.mattmurph.com/myblog/?blogid=152 for full article)

Now for the GOOD news.  The GOOD news is Website Forge customers will not have to pay one extra penny to assure the millions of consumers brainwashed by Microsoft that your web site is absolutely safe.

Just about any other e-commerce solution would require you purchase a $2650.00 EV SSL certificate and renew it every year!

Since Website Forge provides the SSL certificate as part of your service -- your site will be automatically upgraded soon.  Free of charge.

When people are considering working with Website Forge -- we always stress how many new features and cost saving services we provide.  I am positive that you will find MANY small online retailers who use "alternate" web site solutions wont be able to afford this new EV certificate.  Ultimately they will have to close their online stores.  I also predict that you will see some type of backlash or lawsuit over this fabricated scare tactic.

Shane Merem
www.websiteforge.com
Web design and e-commerce

I just wanted to drop a line and let all the Website Forge customers know to expect some amazing improvements in the number of pages indexed within search engines.  This will result in additional sales.

To avoid a lengthy technical conversation, I will get to the main point.

Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and others are always making subtle changes in how they view your site pages.

We have made some substantial changes to the published code of the Website Forge system to maximize your search engine penetration.  So keep an eye on your site stats.

Also, if you have not yet received your free Search Engine consultation by Kevin Gannon.  E-mail support@websiteforge.com and ask that he contact you.  Kevin will get you started when it comes to getting your web site submitted in search engines.  He will also help you with the Froogle and Google Sitemaps submissions.

Shane Merem
www.websiteforge.com
Web Design and E-commerce

     The  hardest decision to make for a person running a e-commerce business today is buying the right technology at the right time. 

     You and I are not e-commerce million dollar companies yet! In the mean time we must use innovation and pure business savvy to become 1 of those e-commerce million dollar companies. So what do you do when you want to become one of those e-commerce million dollar companies? You must study your competition. You need to know them better than you know your self. One of things you need to do is focus on the technology they deployed for their business online and figure out a way to be better at it or make a better informed decision what technology to buy.

     I have my competition now upgrading their websites to compete with the technology that Website Forge has offered my business. This is a great development due to the fact I forced them to spend even more money to keep up with me and my site. Website Forge has many more updates coming and this will force them to even spend more money to keep up with my website. Those other websites use an older technology and this forces them to divert any extra income they have to update their own websites. In the mean time I can use the extra income I earn from my website to expand my inventory and grow my website business. So buying the wrong technology (or not keeping the up with the current technology) at the wrong time can cause you headaches as a business owner. So please have the wisdom to buy the right technology and be sure to keep up with the current technology or you will be in my competitions situation.

So yes I did buy the right technology at the right time. You know you are making the right decision about something when you force your competition to spend thousands of dollars which they had not budgeted to keep up with you. I will go to bed tonight knowing that my people here at Website Forge are hard at work to give me thousands of dollars of free upgrades with out any further cost to me. I know my competition is hard at work trying to raise the additional money they need to keep up with me. I will be dreaming of how I can expand my inventory with all the extra money I have. They will be having nightmares of how are they going to keep up with me. 

Good night! :)