What is the function of a Category

[Mightec]

I am trying to understand the hierarchy of the BP, what is the function of a category? Also I cannot see how I can add a pricing function to a new webpage, I have looked at the user guide but I cannot see what I need, can someone direct me.

[Dave]

Putting your products into categories and sub-categories allows the shopper to browse your website using these categories to find the product(s) they want. Think of them like departments of a department store.

With regards to the pricing function can you explain more what you are trying to do? Prices go against products.

[icegems]

You need to create a product.

Catalogue > Product Manager then in the top(ish) right the page sign with a plus.

That allows you to create a product. The products then get assigned to a category (ie, a department).

[Mightec]

I have been able to create a product and category, I think that I understand your reference to a department within a store, but I am confused with how that relates to webpages I have created, there seems to be a duplications of information! My reference to pricing is I do not know how to relate my product into the ecommerce part of the software nor do I know how to add a 'Add to Basket to my webpage, is this an image and using a hyperlink to ecommerce. If so how do I do this I cannot seem to find this in the users guide.

[Neil]

Really don't think you should be doing this yourself if you don't understand these bits. This is the most basic of things, whats going to happen when you hit the more complicated bits.

There is loads of help on the forum - just do a search, but i think you really need a designer to help you - we all have our own businesses to run as well remember.

[little-linguist]

I would suggest having a good play around with Demopark. Have a look at a product in the demo shopfront and then find it in the admin panel and see which bits relate to the public side of things.

[Mightec]

Little-Iinguist
Thank you for your advise, I do appreciate you taking the time and responding, I know that you all have your own business to run and questions from a beginner can be seem a stupid question. I will certainly have a play with Demopark.

[jimmyservis]

Hi Mightec!

By all means ask questions, thats what we are here for! I wish i was that busy i couldn't spare a couple of minutes

Regarding the build, i'm sure you could get your head around it, although if you have the funds its probably easier/may look better to get someone else to do it!

Have a look round other peoples sites to - this should give you a feel as to what the system is capable of doing. Most people have a link in their footer.

Regarding catergories - by all means have a look at my site;

Eco Friendly Presents is a catergory. <click>
Under £5, Under £10 is a subcatergory.

Create the products individually, then assign them to as many of the catergories you wish!
Any questions, just ask! Good Luck!

[Mightec]

Hi James
Thank you for your encouragement, I did feel that I could be asking silly question, and I don't want to waste members time. I am lucky, I have finished my working career, been retired 5 years, so I have all day to lean the system. What I am doing is trying to help my son-in-law, he has an on-line business, although not ecommerce, he like most of you is up to eyes in work and is at the same time trying to launch a new on-line business. We have three months to get this system up and running, we will get there, I spoke to Rich today and he was very helpful. Thanks again.
Best Regards
Mike

Just had a look at your website, some very interesting items, I may just have become a customer, thanks for your help.

[Neil]

Never said i wouldn't help, but you will find what i said is the best advice you will get. Having built one store myself, i then got giles to build my second, and then he redesigned my first one! The difference a well built and designed store makes to conversions and sales is worth their fees many times over. Everyones heard of 'first impresions last' well it really does count with a website.

There are 3 designers lurking here : Giles, red Devil and shelley, they all know their stuff and have different styles.

Get them to set up and design your store. Concentrate on putting products online, and buy the Dummies guide to SEO book and read it 3 times over.

[Mightec]

Neil
thanks again for your advice, I will talk to my son-in-law about getting the system design, that is we decide to go with BP, thanks again, most helpful.
Regards
Mike

[Camlyn]

Hello Mike
Good luck with your project. I have to say that Bluepark will take a lot of beating and a really good way to go. It is amazing how versatile it is and the members on the forum are a good bunch who will help where they can.
I have had a lot of help from Dave and Red Devil
Lynne
www.yourpresents.co.uk

[icegems]

A good way of learning Bluepark is to change things from the front (store) end rather than the back end - that way you see the changes as you make them. Log in to your control panel then in the top right click on view site - you will see little pen signs in either green or yellow - click on them and have a play as you learn.

I do agree though with the others that in order to be successful you need the shop to look good and it is therefore not a bad idea to invest in a designer to get the store up and running for you. You will soon reap the rewards.

Also you should get "SEO for dummies" and read that book - because you need to be aware from the beginning the impact of how you word and set up your products and how they will be found in the search engines. It is no use at all having a site that can't be found. That is counter productive. With a little work from the beginning (and I promise it isn't rocket science) you will be in a much better position than if you go in gun-ho without any sort of SEO (search engine optimisation).

[chubster]

Hi Mike....Dont worry about asking questions, we have all been there, in fact I still am. BP is very good but can also be infuriatingly difficult as well in the beginning. But once you have got your head around the basics, adding categories and then products etc it will all start to make sense. Honest.

Also lets face it, forums arent the easiest of things to search in either, so ask away. Oh and dont worry about Neil, he is a grumpy old git but knows his stuff too

[Mightec]

Hi Everyone
Thanks for your comments, I am now getting to understand the system, it was a great help talking to Rich the other day. What does infuriate me is that I cannot see any undo button, so when I make a mistake, and I make many, I have to start all over again.

The one problem I have now is that I have added Magic Magnify Plus to the Head and Body, which works very well. Now when I use an image in a Product page the magnifying effect is also displayed, although I can live with this. However, I find that what ever I do I cannot centralise the image, it appears at an upper right position. See image below, any advise whould be welcomed.

I have just bourght the SEO for Dummies from Amazon, thanks again.

Bluepark_Image.jpg