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There are some common mistakes in web designing that both amateurs and professionals commit. For the former, it is out of being new in the business and for the latter it is more of being too familiar with the playing field. That is why it is best that every now and then you get to have a checklist that you can use to tell you whether or not you have crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s.

1st downside. When you do not make sure that you get what your money’s worth is the first of the many common mistakes that people commit not just in web designing or online marketing but also in any form of business. Always make sure that you know what you get for a certain price because you might just end up paying more for less or paying less for lesser.

2nd downside. If you site does not have any means to be ranked because it lacks search terms that people use in looking for sites, then you have a problem. Always make sure that you have a place in your site intended for keywords, descriptions and contents, title tags, and the likes.

3rd downside. One problem that most sites encounter is compatibility. Make sure that your site renders well in any browser that people use. Being incompatible in some browsers could decrease your visibility and your ranking.

4th downside. Difficulty to access because of the use of outdated computer equipment or slow internet connection is always a bother. Once viewers notice that your website is difficult to access, they forget your site readily. This affects your chances of getting good feedback from prospect customers.

5th downside. Having an unreliable web hosting service is a very big problem, especially if customer supports are not readily available and downtime lasts for long periods of time.

6th downside. Slow upload because of heavy graphics turn off customers. They may be nice to look at but not everybody or every Internet connection type can appreciate such heavy designs. Cut low on flash animations and stick to simpler methods. Always put fast access on top of your priority list at all times.

7th downside. Almost all people who ask to have a website made does not understand the difference between license to use and property rights. If not discussed with the web designer properly, the property rights of a website are owned by the website designer while the license to use is owned by the one paid for the website to be made. If you intend to have full ownership of the website, then you have to make it clear with the developer so that things can be properly set.

8th downside. When customers and web developers do not communicate, some after effects of the website design might not be too good on the side of the customer. Customers ask website designers to make their website because customers are not so good when it comes to computer terms. Thus, always have a discussion with the web developer so that he/she could give you advice as to what design is suited for your taste and how much it would cost you to get your desired results. Some web designers cut back on price without telling the customer and this price cut back might be the reason why some of the desired results of the customers are not achieved.

Oscommerce is shopping cart software that can be used in any web server that has installed PHP and MySQL. One of the big advantages that oscommerce has, aside from being free, is its reputation. It has become a trusted shopping cart supported by a lot of people and has been in the business for quite a long time. This combination of support and time are reasons why it is popular among a lot of people and is used by a lot of online stores.

This shopping cart software solution is freely downloaded together with its code/contributions. And since clients who make use of this software solution can modify the codes to make the software compatible with their site, Oscommerce is very suitable for any kinds of online stores. For businesses who are planning to become bigger in the future, oscommerce allows for customization and expansion with the help of professional website developers. Yes, it is suitable for any kinds of stores, from any countries and available to different kinds of nationalities, because of its multilanguage and multicurrency features.

Added to this is its being user-friendly, both to the administration and the viewers. Magento uses a shopping cart model that is very familiar, and the product catalog can be accessed using a lot of ways. Newsletters and emails are sent to customers to notify them about certain products and promos. The software also provides security in their accounts to protect any information data about themselves. This information data includes, but is not limited to, their history of purchase, status of their orders, among others. On merchant’s side, the software makes it possible for merchants to check what is going in their business through report generation, payment processing and back-up tools, including packing slips and even invoices. Merchants have control over catalog content, catalog structure, shipping cost calculations and the products being sold. Aboce all, security on the merchant’s administration are is simple, thus easy to use, and is protected.

Oscommerce also helps in the marketing strategy of your business. It has product catalogs, product specials, reviews, newletters, related product features, and what’s new feature. All of these helps your customers know what new products are being offered and what products are doing well in the market and how these products can help them.