SSL with Paypal only site?

[Monty_Python]

Hello, the short story is I've had a Zen Cart store for a few years and it doesn't make much money. I bought an SSL cert, but only use paypal. Do I need an SSL cert for a Paypal only store? I'm looking to cut down on expenses.

Same question about Dedicated IP too.

Thanks for your time!
-Monty

[dbltoe]

You don't give us quite all the info we need to answer. Which PayPal? Do customers ever use the log in form?
If the answer to the latter is yes, you need an SSL. You can obtain a shared cert without a dedicated IP but the $2 a month is worth it to make your customers feel better about sharing information.
If your were to give a link (something like yoursiteDOTcom if you want to hide more) we could take a look and see what might draw more traffic.
*** No SEO mods will be proposed****

[malc]

Great point Monty as its one that goes through my mind mist days whilst building the site. My site is for a charity and therefore every penny really does count mostly because all charities are being hit by the recession and its hard for anyone to get the money.
This has been a tough learning curve for me to get into Zen Cart but one that i have enjoyed and i hope to be able in time to reward a bit more funds to those that will have contributed to my site by providing th e Cart and the addons, i watch with interest.
malc

sighthoundsforlife.org

[dbltoe]

Okay, I found your site. Looks good and I think you can get a lot more business with some changes.

One report shows only 86 pages indexed which is probably due to the lack of a robots.txt and sitemaps. Search engines do better when pointed in the right direction.

Your Meta Description leaves a lot unspecified about your site. Is is just an art gallery store or are other items available.

Although keywords aren't used for ranking by most search engines they should help in creating text for a page. They have long been thought of as the things your customer will use to find you. You doesn't necessarily mean your name UNLESS you are up there with Picasso or Van Gogh How many customers have bought something after searching for "Happy"

After deciding what keywords should be used to describe any page, you then create text that is pertinent to both. Try to include some h tags and enough text so that both search engines and customers will be enticed to look further. Your text/HTML ratio for the main page is 2.19% And "Click here to see our online store." is just a little redundant when they're already there.

What is being indexed may be doubled as search engines are seeing both the www and non-www versions of your site. They will flag you for duplicate data and drop you down in rank. The .htaccess file is the quickest place to fix this.

Your html code looks great and the change of

http://www.imaginerockyneck.com/stor...ain_page=index&cPath=12"

to

http://www.imaginerockyneck.com/stor...ain_page=index&cPath=12"

will fix that little glitch.

There are several new things in the Website Compliance field.

• Microformats - used to better describe data to search engines and Google LOVES it.
• Dublin Core - 15 added metadata items that might help with photographer/artist recognition.
• Geo Meta Tags - if you have a brick and mortar, bing will put customers at the checkout counter!

Lastly, let's take a look at Candy Striped Thai Necklaces. With the exception of color, they all have the same description. This in frowned on by the search engines but is still touted by the "experts" as a way to show the search engines that you have a lot of product. Can't think of a one that cares, but they do ban folks with too much duplication. Consider making one Candy Striped Thai Necklace with options for each of the colors. Something like here. With the addition of Stock by Attributes, wonders could be accomplished.

None of these steps cost anything other than time. I believe these fixes will bring better traffic quickly. A good looking site needs someone to look at it.

[dbltoe]

@malc,

I can empathize with you as I am or have been chairman of several non-profits.

Some of the same things I mentioned form Monty_Python apply in your case but...

While you have an excellent text/HTML ration on your main page, search engines can't read images. So, the fact that you are "Raising Awareness and Funds for Sighthounds" is lost on a search engine. Take away the image and see if the remaining text really identifies what you're doing.

Your Welcome to the ... And Welcome Guest cries out boiler plate cart and gives a decidedly amateur look. Getting rid of just one will result in greater customer confidence.

Each case is unique yet each case ranks dead center average. That means both can be above average with just a little work.

[malc]

top comments, i will take them all in and do some more studying, thank you for your time.
malc

[Monty_Python]

I'm still making it through your responses and thanks so much for your time! massdistro.com/store is my store, the rockyneck store is an old project drifting away.

Yes people will login to their account, add to cart and check out via Paypal.

Just wanted to chime in real quick during a quick break working... I'm still digesting your input, I really appreciate your time. Be right back.

[Monty_Python]

dbltoe, I never heard of shared cert before until now, thanks for the mention. I read a few things about it. Godaddy and Hostmoster, the 2 hosting companies I deal with, don't offer them. I guess I'd have to go to a different place, you have a recommendation for it?

When I started Zencart a few years back, GoDaddy was a big 'no no' with errors on install, but now they seems to be offering it as a preinstall. My store is at hostmonster with a $70 SSL and a $30 dedicated IP per year (so i about break even every year on sales).

Does Zen Cart need that Dedicated IP? It seems it did at least a few versions ago, would love to ditch that expense

I'd like to leave Hostmonster and move to Godaddy with the store for cheaper prices, not that I don't want to support the underdogs.

Any feedback on any of this stuff by chance?

Thanks so much again for your posts!
-Monty

[DrByte]

I guess I'd have to go to a different place, you have a recommendation for it?

If it's hosting recommendations you seek, scroll up to the top of this page -- look for the Certified Hosts link.

When I started Zencart a few years back, GoDaddy was a big 'no no'

It's STILL a huge no-no.

now they seems to be offering it as a preinstall.

That was *their* choice, and is NOT an indicator of any improvements on their end.

Does Zen Cart need that Dedicated IP?

Zen Cart has never "required" a dedicated IP. But a dedicated SSL cert *does* require a dedicated IP. A Shared SSL cert does not require a dedicated IP.

I'd like to ... move to Godaddy with the store for cheaper prices

You'll be worse off. Buy their domains or their SSL certs, but nothing else.

[Monty_Python]

Thanks for answering every question! You're awesome!

-Monty