Can I add a Blogger (Google) Blog to my ZC site

Can I add a Blogger (Google Blogspot) Blog to my ZC site? If so How can it be done? (if not, why not?:smile:)

cheers,
Mike

Technically, you can do whatever you want, I suppose.

I don't think this is a good BUSINESS DECISION, however...

An eCommerce site should (if you are serious about BUSINESS) have the single-minded purpose of getting people to place orders.

BLOGS have a very different purpose on the WWW. People go to blogs because:-

1. They have lots of free time - suggesting that they are not in gainful employment, so have no money to spend anyway.
2. Want to gossip and participate in banal discussions.

Nobody visits a BLOG with the principal intention of BUYING anything. They MIGHT be led towards buying something, but the chances of this are relatively low...

So... we tend to advise our clients to keep their BLOGS separate from their eComm site(s), and to use them as "harvest sites" to point people to the eComm site(s).

In our opinion, the ONLY WAY you want someone to leave your webshop is through the checkout counter...

shags38:

Can I add a Blogger (Google Blogspot) Blog to my ZC site? If so How can it be done? (if not, why not?:smile:)

cheers,
Mike

Respecting, and agreeing with Schoolboy's logic (we plan to split our blog from store when time allows).
However if you do want to go ahead and do it then I suggest this way.

1. Install WordPress to LOCALHOST on your p.c or on a test server if you have one.
2. Add this plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/blogger-importer/ into your WordPress site.
3. Import your blog into WordPress
4. Follow this very useful mod by Numinix https://www.numinix.com/blog/2009/09/26/integrating-wordpress-into-zen-cart-1-3-8a/
5. Done!

picandnix:

Respecting, and agreeing with Schoolboy's logic (we plan to split our blog from store when time allows).
However if you do want to go ahead and do it then I suggest this way.

1. Install WordPress to LOCALHOST on your p.c or on a test server if you have one.
2. Add this plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/blogger-importer/ into your WordPress site.
3. Import your blog into WordPress
4. Follow this very useful mod by Numinix https://www.numinix.com/blog/2009/09/26/integrating-wordpress-into-zen-cart-1-3-8a/
5. Done!

Thanks Picandix,

what do you mean by "LOCALHOST" - is this simply a folder? (I do not currently use Wordpress as my CMS) - the rest I can follow.

cheers,
Mike

schoolboy:

Technically, you can do whatever you want, I suppose.

I don't think this is a good BUSINESS DECISION, however...

An eCommerce site should (if you are serious about BUSINESS) have the single-minded purpose of getting people to place orders.

BLOGS have a very different purpose on the WWW. People go to blogs because:-

1. They have lots of free time - suggesting that they are not in gainful employment, so have no money to spend anyway.
2. Want to gossip and participate in banal discussions.

Nobody visits a BLOG with the principal intention of BUYING anything. They MIGHT be led towards buying something, but the chances of this are relatively low...

So... we tend to advise our clients to keep their BLOGS separate from their eComm site(s), and to use them as "harvest sites" to point people to the eComm site(s).

In our opinion, the ONLY WAY you want someone to leave your webshop is through the checkout counter...

Thanks Schoolboy,

I haven't yet determined whether I will go ahead with loading the blog to the site - I do not necessarily disagree with your comments suffice to say I still need to weigh up the pros and cons of doing so (for my needs) - I merely need to know how to do it should I decide to go ahead. Picandix has suggested a method which I just need some clarification on.

cheers and thanks for your response,
Mike

http://www.scriptol.com/wordpress/installing-wordpress-locally.php

Is a good starting point. I use WAMP server, works fine for me. You can also use WAMP to host a local copy of your ZC store, or any other site come to mention it. Great for trying mods as you can break it and just 'undo' to fix it.
There is an old but still relevant guide in the free addons area for WAMP too http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=391
once setup it's a bonza tool to have! :cool: