Big Foot Web Marketing

I have been looking at a way to sell downloadable digital content off one of my blogs. I sell a type of vector file for digital download. The files are cheap, some of them as low as 25 cents.
I basically just want to sell though paypal and not deal with credit card service and I want customers to be able to buy and receive the file right away.
There are a few ways of doing this- Creating my own database, etc and use product like PayPal shopping cart. I did try this and to be honest the software was over my head and was gettign into some pretty complicated areas. I really just need a IPN feature ( Instant Payment Notification). X-cart is also popular shopping cart software but comes with a hefty price tag and not not sure I want to fork out that kind of money. I believe they have a trial version but takign the time to set uo at not be worth my while.

Next there are third part companies that will let you do this. Tradebit is a site that host your product images and handles your sales- with a smallish commission of 7.5 percent. Thsi may be the option I go with. I think they payout weekly. Paypal charges commission plus .30 cents per transaction if buyer uses credit card to purchases. Not sure what happens if some one buts something for .25 cents and my fee is 30 cents- do I end up owing Paypal?

This may be my biggest stumbling block. I am looking at a WordPress shopping cart plugin, WP e-Commerce and the free version does not do digital downloads. The cost is 25.00 USD to get the “gold” version which will let me sell digital downloads and buyer will receive file instantly.
I also see that they have an add-on that will integrate with NexGen Gallery plugin, which costs another 10.00 . ARGH.

I will give free version a whirl and if does what i want will do upgrade to paid version.

I also have looked at WordPress Simple Paypal Shopping Cart which is free but I do like that WP e-Commerce will work with NextGen Gallery and that might be the tipping point for me.

I will play with the plugins over the weekend and post back on which shopping cart plugin what worked best.
Lisa

Tags: Web Design by Lisa Stewart
11 Comments »

Ever the masochists I keep baning my head against the wall. I often write that I have been trying to have a working ability to use Photoshop for close to 12 years no with next to know headway. I am beginning to think I have an Adobe learning disability.
So whats a girl to do? Continue the madness but delving into vector design band Adobe Illustrator. What is wring with me?

In my travails I cam across an outstanding website that feature fantastic Illustrator Tutorials.
Is is bad to say tha other people talent makes me depressed? I often feel that if I can be “as good” not worth doing. I have to master everything I have an interest in and get depressed when I can’t.

At any rate- check out the site and its Illustrator Tutorials it is really good for the challenged liek me

Tags: Web Design by Lisa Stewart
12 Comments »

This is for my own benefit- keep forgetting hoe to type in the copyright symbol on standard keyboard and god forbid I write it down on peice of paper or put in text file on Desktop.

To get the copy right to appear type Alt+0169 ( numbers must be types in using number keyboard) symbol will appear when you lift from alt key.

Tags: Web Design by Lisa Stewart
24 Comments »

The easiest way to get a different look is to change colours in your css file. Use an HTML editor and the find/replace function.
Copy your entire css file ( found in Presentation–> Theme editor and usually called stylesheet or style.css or similar.
Copy the entire file into an html editor ( don’t use Word which can sometimes change or add characters in code). Save.
Make sure you keep copy of your original css file ( or any file) somewhere before you make changes.

Find a color (using a hex color chart) you are going to replace and choose the colour you want to replace. Use find/replace function to edit. Test.
Keep going until you get look you want, It can be tricky you may find a styling will make text disappear or colors look strange.

Are You Color challenge and don;t want to go through the hassle?
You can find some very nice color themes online.
Kuler.com has gorgeous color themes available for free. I particularly like Firenze and Blueberry juice. You can also custom design your own themes. This is the best tool of its kind .
Also MediaZeal’s Color Planner

Test colours before you apply theme with many of the free color picker tools available, like yaflaColor

Did you personalize your free WordPress theme by changing colors? I would love to see them- post link and theme name in comments section. This is a dofollow blog and your link in comments section will be followed.

Helpful Tools For Changing Your WordPress Blog

Free CoffeeCup HTML Editor.
PSPad – a freeware code editor
Bluefish editor
Hex Color Chart

Tags: Web Design, WordPress Blog by Lisa Stewart
2 Comments »