Help!!! Zencart, source code and SEO

14 years ago

You say your using Zencart for your shopping cart? If my memory serves me right, it uses PHP coding. This could be the "messy" code your encountering.

How are you viewing your source code? Downloading the file via FTP and opening it in notepad?

Thanks

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Mike Adams

14 years ago

You need to go to wordpress with an ecommerce plugin. It will make your life much easier.

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tyankee 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Mike Adams

You need to go to wordpress with an ecommerce plugin. It will make your life much easier.

totally agree.. and i still own 3 zen cart sites - which will be moved over to wordpress this year..
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jdistad

14 years ago

I have many clients who use zencart (or other derivitaves of oscommerce) and they are quite happy with it. When properly setup it can provide very good results and offers a lot of flexibility in how you setup your store.

If you are looking for some assistance with the SEO of your site or other areas let me know, I have also done integrations with zencart and WordPress which I could show you as well.

Thanks
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Katz

14 years ago

Originally Posted by jdistad

I have many clients who use zencart (or other derivitaves of oscommerce) and they are quite happy with it. When properly setup it can provide very good results and offers a lot of flexibility in how you setup your store.

If you are looking for some assistance with the SEO of your site or other areas let me know, I have also done integrations with zencart and WordPress which I could show you as well.

Hi thanks for the offer!

I think maybe mine may be one of those sites that are not set up correctly.
Its a rather extensive site and it is one of my major sites as well. I am a bit confused about shall I stay with ZC or do the big move over to WP?

I seem to get more trafic for my Younger No backlinked WP sites than my older ZC site that has lots of backlinks etc and that google doesnt even let it get a look in! And yes I am in one of the most competitive niches on the market and have been for over 12 years on the net

So I think what I am saying (and just winging on about) YES PLEASE any help would be extreamly appreciated :p

Thanks
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tyankee

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Katz

Hi thanks for the offer!

I think maybe mine may be one of those sites that are not set up correctly.
Its a rather extensive site and it is one of my major sites as well. I am a bit confused about shall I stay with ZC or do the big move over to WP?

I seem to get more trafic for my Younger No backlinked WP sites than my older ZC site that has lots of backlinks etc and that google doesnt even let it get a look in! And yes I am in one of the most competitive niches on the market and have been for over 12 years on the net

So I think what I am saying (and just winging on about) YES PLEASE any help would be extreamly appreciated :p

i migrated one of my sites from zen to wordpress and used the wp-ecommerce plugin with some paid addons and it was very easy to download my products from zen and then upload them to wordpress using this plugin.. unlike zen carts upload, wp-ecommerce actually let you map the fields on your Excel spreadsheet to the fields wp-ecommerce uses - so you don't have to guess if your spreadsheet is in the right format.. that alone was worth the move..

Thanks

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Talkreal

14 years ago

Zen cart uses php and SMARTY in the code. That's why it looks so "all over the place".

If you want to have seo-friendly urls, you'll need to install a module. The base version of zen doesn't support it. We've used the Ultimate SEO URLs plugin. Works really well.

I really like ZC, despite the steep learning curve. You don't have to be a SMARTY pro to manipulate the files, but aquainting yourself with the syntax may faciliate and easier and less frustrating experience.

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Katz

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Talkreal

Zen cart uses php and SMARTY in the code. That's why it looks so "all over the place".

If you want to have seo-friendly urls, you'll need to install a module. The base version of zen doesn't support it. We've used the Ultimate SEO URLs plugin. Works really well.

I really like ZC, despite the steep learning curve. You don't have to be a SMARTY pro to manipulate the files, but aquainting yourself with the syntax may faciliate and easier and less frustrating experience.

SMARTY in the code??? No idea about this????

I have been using CEON URI Mapping for my URLs and that works fantastically!! I am very impressed by this addon

Yeah ZC has been my first site and even though I now have many WP sites I am Still struggling with ZC. Im not sure why? Maybe I just dont get it! Where as WP to me seems realy easy

Thanks
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Technista

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Katz

SMARTY in the code??? No idea about this????

I have been using CEON URI Mapping for my URLs and that works fantastically!! I am very impressed by this addon

Yeah ZC has been my first site and even though I now have many WP sites I am Still struggling with ZC. Im not sure why? Maybe I just dont get it! Where as WP to me seems realy easy

FYI: Smarty : Template Engine

Zen and WP are very different. Altering the interface in Zen requires a much higher skill level, you will be looking at php code. Though it does work straight out of the box, customization can be challenging. Do not expect it to be as easy as WP.

If you want to jumpstart the learning process, you might want to look at the book that Zen Cart recommends on their site: e-Start Your Web Store with Zen Cart. Otherwise, expect to spend some time in the forums. They are very helpful. Despite the learning curve, you can produce a very nice store with Zen. Be prepared to take the time to practice. Experience is a great teacher.

T

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agha

14 years ago

install wp plugin for ecommerce. it's easy to use

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Technista

14 years ago

I have heard great things about WP ecommerce, and was considering trying it out for my next project. I'm now convinced that I will do it.

I like zen cart, but you have to add mods for every little thing! Customization is not intuitive, and as I mentioned before, the learning curve is steep.

Looking forward to the possibilities that a WP store offers in features, flexibility, and ease of use. Glad to hear that so many people are happy with it.

T

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tyankee

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Technista

I have heard great things about WP ecommerce, and was considering trying it out for my next project. I'm now convinced that I will do it.

I like zen cart, but you have to add mods for every little thing! Customization is not intuitive, and as I mentioned before, the learning curve is steep.

Looking forward to the possibilities that a WP store offers in features, flexibility, and ease of use. Glad to hear that so many people are happy with it.

T

it you need any help, look me up.. of course it doesn't have near the features that Zen has, but it's way easier to use and handles everything i need.