- What is the difference between a Spotlight Catalog and a Product Catalog?
A "Spotlight Catalog" is a section where people can see what kind of merchandise you have on your website, including (but not limited to) a photo of the piece, it's designer, and how much it costs. A Product Catalog has the same features, but with an option for the viewer to buy the piece online. To sell jewelry (or anything) online, you need a secure website.
- What is a "secure website?"
A secure web site has the ability to encrypt all the information being sent over the Internet. This means your web visitors can safely enter their personal information and their credit card number and feel safe knowing that they are protected against identity theft. This encryption is achieved with a Secure Certificate that you will need to pay for.
- How do I get a "Secure Certificate?"
As your web hosting company we have to order the secure certificate for you. Typically we order them from Thawte (www.thawte.com) since they are less expensive than Verisign. The cost of the certificate is $195, which you will need to pay for using a credit card. Once we order the certificate, Thawte will do a brief investigation on your company to make sure you are actually legitimate. Part of the investigation includes a telephone call to you asking some questions about you and your company. Once they are satisfied that you are a real business they will issue the certificate.
- Why should I have a photo album? Can I put jewelry in the photo album?
A photo album -- which does not feature jewelry, but the staff members either around the store, or at events or different locations-- helps humanize your store and keeps you distinctive from all the other similar businesses out there. A customer that knows who you are, and your interests or hobbies will trust you more than a faceless corporation with just a "Buy Me" button.
- I want to link to a jewelry designer's web site. What is the proper linking etiquette?
Firstly, know that you can link to any website's homepage that you want. To link to any interior pages of another person's website, you will need their permission, and it is best to get that in writing, such as e-mail. One thing you absolutely want to avoid is direct-linking to a designer's website that will either bring your potential customers to another place entirely where they will buy from someone else. Instead, we recommend having the jewelry manufacturer's information on your own website, so that both you and they will profit, and you are not sending a customer somewhere else where they may become frustrated, give up, or find an item somewhere else. We also recommend that you link to manufacturer website's only on a designated "Links" page, and never on your main navigation.
- If I want to feature a manufacturer's jewelry on my website, either in a spotlight or product catalog, do I need their permission?
We have found that several of the manufacturers want to control who has their products on the web. In most cases it is just a matter of the manufacturer making sure that only their customers list their items. Our feeling is why would you want to show items online that you don't sell in the store? In most cases, if the manufacturer has already provided you with images for use in your store, you are already granted permission to use them on the web.
- I am involved with the IJO Branding Campaign and want it on my site. How do I get it?
When you choose your Web Site Package you need to select the option to have the IJO Branding Ad. Every month when the Branding Ads change the images will automatically change on your home page, and the details page of the branding items will also change. This is a IJO Exclusive feature we are offering you, monthly free updates for the branding campaign, without ever worrying about it.
- How do I see who has come to my website?
We have a complete back-end system for you. On a daily basis our servers generate statistics of your visitors, what they viewed and when they viewed it. There is no need to have a counter on your web site to track visitors since this system will do it for you. Once we set up your web site we will give you the URL and directions how to read your statistics.
- What is my POP3 email setting?
It will have the form of mail.domain.com. So if your domain is TheJewelryStore.com then your POP3 setting will be mail.TheJewelryStore.com.
- What is my SMTP setting?
Due to spam filters and restriction we cannot allow you to send email through our system. You can receive, but not send. You will need to get the SMTP setting from your ISP. Since you are connecting to the Internet through them, they will be able to give you outbound (SMTP) email ability.
- I want to update my site, but I want you to do it. How does that work?
Once your web site is completed we will assign what we call "points" to every one of your web pages. Whenever you want a page updated you will know how many points it will take to update a particular page. You purchase the points ahead of time and use them as needed. As long as you have an idea how many times each year you will want your site updated, you'll be able to figure out your yearly web site maintenance cost.
This is a little tricky to understand in the beginning, and we will explain it to you when we speak. We came up with this points system so you would not have to worry about prohibitive open-ended web site costs.
- How do I make changes to my web site on my own?
If you are interested in making changes to your web site on your own we will give you the FTP username and password. But if you break something we will slap your hand and charge you to repair it.
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