professionally designed but personally updated?

[kimo1967]

Hello.I am considering converting my website to e-commerce as well as having it revamped by a professional web designer. My product, however needs minor updating constantly - we sell clothing so we have frequent changes of color, style, etc.. These are mostly changes in text (descriptions of the product)only.
My question is this - Can I, after paying a professional to set up a nice looking website, do some minor alterations-such as putting in new text or once in a while putting in a new photo-by myself, rather than constantly calling up my web designer and having him do it? With my present web site I have experienced delays in getting alterations by our designer (weekends, holidays, busy ...)and we need those changes done quickly. Could I do this sort of thing myself and save some time - and money in the process? Thanks, Diego

[JPnyc]

Well there's 4 ways I can think of to accomplish this.

1) You can learn some very basic and simple HTML (my opinion, it's pretty easy, but if code scares you, then maybe this option isn't for you)

2)You can use a WYSIWYG program like Dreamweaver, Frontpage, or some others. Drawbacks, they're expensive and I think harder to learn than the code they churn out.

3) Have your designer make the site so it draws from a database. Then you need to learn how to put products into the database.

4)Hire a designer who will build in some type of content management system, either of his own design, or some prefab one. This will raise the price of the site however.

[kimo1967]

Well there's 4 ways I can think of to accomplish this.

1) You can learn some very basic and simple HTML (my opinion, it's pretty easy, but if code scares you, then maybe this option isn't for you)

2)You can use a WYSIWYG program like Dreamweaver, Frontpage, or some others. Drawbacks, they're expensive and I think harder to learn than the code they churn out.

3) Have your designer make the site so it draws from a database. Then you need to learn how to put products into the database.

4)Hire a designer who will build in some type of content management system, either of his own design, or some prefab one. This will raise the price of the site however.

Dear JPnyc,
Thank you for your reply. I kind of thought there might be a way to do this directly rather than to pick up the phone and contact and wait for my webmaster everytime I need a small change. This could take time and cost money which I don't have much of at the time. I don't know if this is an issue that other e-business owners, especially those that need frequent and rapid updating of their sites, come accross? Thanks for your suggestions I will definitely look into them. If anyone else finds themselves in the same situation - I'm all ears! Diego

[JPnyc]

I s'pose it would be an issue, I'm not sure. I'm a webdeveloper so I would just open the page in notepad, but lemme show you just how simple it is. You might see something like this on the page:

<img src="product1.jpg"><br>
<p>Product1 Description</p>

Now, to change it to product 2, you change what is between the " " in the image tag, and then change the description:

<img src="product2.jpg"><br>
<p>Product2 Description</p>

Everything else would remain untouched. All you have to do is change the text, and change the picture file that the image tag is pointing to, that's it.

[kimo1967]

I s'pose it would be an issue, I'm not sure. I'm a webdeveloper so I would just open the page in notepad, but lemme show you just how simple it is. You might see something like this on the page:

<img src="product1.jpg"><br>
<p>Product1 Description</p>

Now, to change it to product 2, you change what is between the " " in the image tag, and then change the description:

<img src="product2.jpg"><br>
<p>Product2 Description</p>

Everything else would remain untouched. All you have to do is change the text, and change the picture file that the image tag is pointing to, that's it.

Hmm, I see - the code looks a little strange but I guess it just takes getting used to... First of all, I'll have to learn how to find those lines of code. I use Hostway to host my site and I've gone into their FTP tool a couple of times and fooled around with it a little but couldn't seem to get anything done - maybe I'll go in and give it another try ... Thanks, Diego

[JPnyc]

Well you actually make the changes to a copy of the page on your local computer, then upload the new copy to overwrite the old one.

An easy trick for finding the code is, when you view the page in your browser, right click on the image and select properties, there you will find the file name. Copy it, and open that page on your computer in notepad, ctrl-F is a page find. Paste the file name in, press enter, and it takes you right to it, highlighted. You can then even use notepad's replace to put the new one in it's place.

[roban]

I suppose it depends what the site is designed in. HTML, PHP, ASP all require different approaches. If, as a part of your design contract you have inserted webmastering for 'x' amount of time, say 3 months, you can learn pretty much all you'd need to know in that time. There are forums aplenty that you can join to help you sort out the bits you don't know.

[JPnyc]

Even if it's PHP or ASP there has to be HTML in there. Browsers don't display PHP or ASP they display HTML/XHTML/XML. If it's got a recursive function pulling from a database then it's the other option I mentioned, and all they need do is know how to get new products into the database.

[kimo1967]

Thanks for the suggestion for finding the code by finding the file name of the image in properties, then pasting into notepad, pasting into the "Find" box and pressing enter or "find next". I was hoping the code would come up at that point on the notepad page - but I get a box that says "Cannot find "http://www. etc. etc...." I went to a couple of instructional sites to review the procedure and I'm fairly sure I'm following the right steps for this. I'm wondering if my Web designer - who is Brazilian and lives and works there - set it up intentionally or otherwise - to be inaccesible through this way. Or maybe I'm doing something wrong... Anyway, I'll keep researching it - Thanks again - Diego

[JPnyc]

Just the file name, not the entire path. It's unlikely that he referenced the images using the entire path. It's probably local addressing. So just the image name myPic.jpg, and search on that.

[BigDoor]

I too came across the same situation you are in. constant updates or little tweeks here and there. I had my site converted to draw from a database and it is fantastic and easy to update with very little expertise. I would highly recommend it. It has saved us money and time without the hassle of contacting the developer on a regular basis. It was good for everyone.

[kimo1967]

I'm glad other website owners have come accross this situation. When your site needs constant updates or little tweeks here and there - It's inconvenient to be constatntly calling somebody up for minor changes. I myself have finally learned to work with changing text through my SiteControll FTP tool and some valuable hints given to me by our moderator JPnyc. I'm not naturally talented in this area but I'm learning slowly. My next goal is to be able to work with downloading images via my FTP tool. But, I will definitely consider converting my site to draw from a database (as JPnyc previously suggested) if I can't become proficient at this art. Thanks

[bawalker-ccs]

Kimo1967 - what you described is typical for many online business owners such as yourself. Most of my clients prefer to be in control of their own text updates and changes - that's where a good content management feature/online editor comes in. And they don't have to pay me everytime they want to make a change.

And If you have an ecommerce site, the store you are using is typically already database-driven and offers you an admin area to make your product changes.

And it doesn't have to be a PHP site to have content management -- ASP for windows or PHP for Unix, depending on what platform your site is hosted on - they will both do the job for you nicely! Betty

[The Don Namon]

Question: I'm launching a site relatively soon and will probably have the same problem as kimo. would it be wise for me to invest in ecommerce solution software that will design the site with templates and add a shopping cart etc. Will editing products be easier this way? Also, how does costs figure into this? Finally, if this is a good approach, can anyone name any worth while ecommerce solution software? (keep in mind budget is low, but quality is important)

[bawalker-ccs]

If you are looking to DIY, I would suggest you make sure the host you are going to use has a shopping cart and content management system available. It's best to get this setup right the first time, as trying to move your site to another host once you are already up and running and can increase your hassle factor. ANd be sure that the host will help you/offer support on their products when you have questions, etc.