This document discusses eCommerce platforms Magento and Shopify. It provides an overview of why businesses use eCommerce content management systems (CMS) and highlights some key features of Magento and Shopify. The document outlines homework assignments for students to set up sample online stores using Shopify and answer questions about their experiences. It also suggests additional reading materials about Magento and Shopify for further research.

1. eCommerce Platforms
Hajrë Hyseni & Richard Balawender
University of Hertfordshire
Oct 2011
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2. Today
Why using eCommerce CMS platforms
Review (Magento & Shopify)
Shopify features & setup
Homework A,B & C
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3. Why eCommerce CMS?
Easy to use
No programming code required
It supports all types of payment gateways
Fast and reliable for customers
Low costs
Safe and secure
Quick setup
It helps you to learn while growing the business
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4. Why Magento
Catalog Management/Browsing Marketing Tools
Mobile eCommerce Analytics & Reporting
Product Browsing Large community
Checkout/Payment/Tracking Search Engine Optimisation
Site Management/APIs
Good for bigger eCommerce sites
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5. Why Shopify
• Set up an account and build a simple store
• Change the look and feel using free/paid templates
• Upload design images
• Create stock, set descriptions, weights and product images
• Add information pages and a blog if desired
• Accepts PayPal and other multiple payment partners
• Set preferences for postage, taxes
• Customise the layout of your store using CSS
Good for smaller eCommerce sites
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6. Things to consider
• Consider how well your site has been optimised for search
engines
• Setup a domain and point it at the store
• Install Google Analytics and other tracking software
• Engage in marketing activities including Google Adwords
• Launch your store
• Explore the customer service involved in running a store
• Find online resources to help customise and market the store
• Find other services that can be mashed up within your store
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7. Planning your store
1. Choose 10 things to sell that fall into 2-3 product categories
2.Write a short description and title for each item
3.Take a photograph of each item
4.Decide on pricing, weights and shipping costs for each item
5.Decide on a name for your store
6.Set up your Shopify account
7.Set up a Google account specifically for this project
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8. Cost
• Shopify costs £15 pm if you launch a proper store
• A domain name will cost £2 - £5 and is worth having
anyway
• A Google Adwords account will cost a £5 - 10 minimum
• A PayPal account will not cost anything but both Shopify
and *PayPal will take part of your sales 10 items to sell
could cost £10
• For around £40, therefore, you will be able to launch a
real store. This is better value than a textbook of the
same cost
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9. 9
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10. Homework A
Project Interview
Ask yourself/friend 20 questions to complete
the specification process for setting up an
ecommerce project
Add the Project Interview completed template
into your Research File
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11. Homework B
Design and build a store and launch it based on your
Project Interview requests even if you don’t intend to
run it properly. On your own time spend at least 4-6
hours on this activity. You may work with someone
else (no groups) but provide individual answers.
Here is the link to allow you to sign up for Shopify
30 day trial:
https://app.shopify.com/services/signup/new/basic
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12. Homework C
Add answers of the following questions to your
Research File:
1. Take a screenshot of your store's home page with at least 4 products
2. List at least 3 things that you like about Shopify
3. Describe any problems you had with using Shopify and explain how you
overcame them.
4. Describe at least two limitations you can see with Shopify for a major
commerce site (without extending it using the API). Make sure that they are
genuine limitations.
5. Describe at least 2 possible reasons why large companies might not use this
sort of service for their ecommerce activities
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13. Suggested reading
Magento http://www.magentocommerce.com/product/features
Shopify http://www.shopify.com/tour
http://boagworld.com/reviews/why-magento-is-worth-it-for-
some/
http://www.zippycart.com/shopping-cart-ratings/shopify-
review.html
eBook: http://goo.gl/S5sfv
http://www.osbr.ca/ojs/index.php/osbr/article/viewArticle/1151
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14. Thank you!
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