Book Image

Building Online Stores with osCommerce: Professional Edition

By : David Mercer
Book Image

Building Online Stores with osCommerce: Professional Edition

By: David Mercer

Overview of this book

<p>The book can be read from front to back, but each chapter is self contained so the reader can skip chapters to read those that they are interested in. Each chapter will move from basic to advanced where applicable and also relate what the administrator (reader) is doing to how this affects what the client sees on the site.</p> <p>So, for example, the customization chapter will start off with a discussion on the concept of design and how to relate this to your business. Once the reader has a clear idea of what they need to do, we look at some really simple changes such as modifying the site's language, before moving to some advanced modifications which may involve some PHP programming. At the same time the discussion will demonstrate how the changes made affect the site.</p> <p>Throughout the book, much consideration is given to the "right" way to doing things. Readers will have the great advantage that they begin, from the very start, doing things properly. This will save them a lot of time and effort in the years to come as they build on and modify their site. Utilizing best practices and sound methodologies is a great asset for beginners and experienced users alike.</p> <p>At all times, the coverage given in this book pays homage to the fact that, ultimately, the reader has a business goal in mind. To this end, the material never gets bogged down in technical issues or long discourses, but rather focuses on what is practically important for the online business and then moves on. To complement this, there are plenty of suggestions and hints as to how and where to look for further information.</p>
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Building Online Stores with osCommerce: Professional Edition
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Foreword
Introduction
Index

Adding Discount and Gift Voucher Facilities


Another fairly common and useful marketing technique relies on the use of gift vouchers and/or coupons. Since most people should understand how these concepts work in practice, we don't need to discuss in much depth. There are quite a few advantages you can derive from implementing these facilities, such as:

  • Providing a rounded, flexible shopping experience: Customers wishing to purchase gifts, for example, can instead purchase a gift voucher, which is redeemable by the recipient.

  • Bringing other customers on board: In order to redeem gift vouchers, customers who might otherwise not visit the site need to come and select a purchase. In this way they are exposed to your store and are more likely to visit it in the future.

  • Marketing: Handing out promotional gift vouchers and discount coupons is a good way to attract new business to your store.

Once again, we need to ask ourselves what it is we require from the additional facilities in order to fulfill...