Computer literate...website building, NOT SO MUCH!

[vhigginbotham]

I am new to building a website. I was using OL as my host and site builder and Vendio as my store.

I now have BlueHost as my host and have installed the Zen-Cart through Site Scripts. Zen Cart v1.3.9h I have also downloaded the Filezilla (which I do not know how to use either).

I am now LOST!

I just want to have an awesome site where I can actually SELL my boutique items. I have my graphics, product images, etc.

I am going insane here. I am very computer literate but I have started to think I must be a complete idiot since I am unable to figure all of this website, ecommerce "stuff"...

Can someone/anyone, PLEASE help this complete idiot out?

Thank you,
Vanessa

[afo]

I suggest you begin with the Tutorials/FAQ (link at top of page).

Filezilla is pretty simple to use. It allows you to see the folders/files on your computer in one window and the folders/files on your website in the other window. You can copy things from one place to the other by dragging and dropping.

[kobra]

I am very computer literate
I have also downloaded the Filezilla (which I do not know how to use either).

If you have ever used Norton Commander this FTP client can be installed with a similar interface....Or it is very like the Win Explorer file manager
http://wiki.filezilla-project.org/Using

[jane]

I felt EXACTLY like you are feeling right now ! ...even after reading the FAQs.
But, then I Purchased the Book, "e-start Your Web Store with Zen Cart" by Goh Koon Hoek

You can click the link usually at the top of the page on this site or go to Amazon or...i got mine on eBay.

It is kind of expensive...and it doesn't answer all of your questions...but it will give you a VERY GOOD START and you will begin feeling alot better about using Zen Cart than you are feeling right now.

It still takes a lot of time to set up and learn everything...but...like all good things...time and patience and perserverence...ONE Day...you will have a beautiful Zen Cart store !

For the "look" of the store: first try altering your stylesheet.css You can find the stysheet.css by going to your Zen Cart Files:
includes>templates>classic(or your custom template)>css>stylesheet.

Find the area and color# to change to your liking. Photoshop or Illustrator or any of these type of Graphic Softwares give you color#s...that's where you can find the #s you would rather have and input them into the appropriate place in your stylesheet.

At first...the stylesheet seems overwhelming too...but just play around and try to make some changes. There are alot of posts & threads about CSS at this site you can learn more from.

If that doesn't work and you want a quick way to get a real "stylized/designer looking" store...just the "looks" now... You can purchase a "Zen Cart Template" at TemplateMonster.com ...which will save you a tremendous amount of time. This way...you do not have to spend time on the "look" of the store...just spend time on learning the Zen Cart Admin "functions/operating system/input products/shipping/payment modules & the many other details" of the store.

This type of Template costs a bit of money...and it is not totally necessary...since ZenCart includes a few Templates to choose from.

I am not a sales person for any of these items. I am just telling you what has helped me to get out of that very very frustrating stage that you are in now.

GOOD LUCK !

[kobra]

you want a quick way to get a real "stylized/designer looking" store...just the "looks" now... You can purchase a "Zen Cart Template" at TemplateMonster.com ...which will save you a tremendous amount of time.

PLEASE do not follow this advice until you search this site for them and see ALL the issues that the way they hap hazzardly code their templates causes.

Once you have searched, and read then make your own educated decision

[saitomedia]

Definitely go through the Zen Cart's tutorials first, it'll save you ton of time.

I personally find it very difficult to search using the search feature in this forum, so I use Google and search with the word "Zen Cart" as prefix.

Zen Cart, how to #########

or

Zen Cart, ##########

You'll find wealth of great answers

[afo]

There are free templates available for Zen Cart which help you get started. You can see them in action at http://(sorry, site offline)/