Websites current options?

[JMugs]

Let me start with I don't mix well with anything that isn't mechanical!

I have an idea that I will need to develop over time. I will need a website with a store, but not a huge amount of items in it (approx 25 give or take a few). The blog side of it will be quite important.

So what is the simplest option? I don't mind a monthly charge if it keeps things really simple, my time is more important to me.

There appears to be loads of one stop options, but are they any good?

All help welcome, but all comments need to be at numpty level.

Regards
Janners

[Justin]

I've always worked with OpenCart and get on very well with it. That said, we also have a Shopify....shop. I had intended to get rid of this but for what we pay the platform and support is excellent so we've kept it on.

[Drew]

Go and buy a simple hosting package somewhere. May cost £3 to £6 a month, cheaper if you pay annually (I recommend Vidahost £3.59 a month or £34.80 annually)

Install Wordpress. Should be a simple one click thing, if not, the new host should do it. Onto wordpress, install WooCommerce.

That way, you'll have the blog, and the shop all in one place, and its the most simple stupid solution I can think of. Both systems WP and Woo are used by so many people, that any issues a quick question gets answered, and if you choose a good host, they can do almost all of the install for you.

[raydavies]

Drew is absolutely right.

Ray

[JMugs]

Ahhh, see good job I asked!
I was thinking "Go Daddy" or "Wix" Etc. I shall explore.

Janners

[bubbleimages]

Stick with what your man Drew has said, woocommerce on the WP is a fantastic platform, and if you have hosting for cheap somewhere then is really easy to set up with no ongoing costs, unless you want to buy a theme etc going forward. This was one of the reasons we opted for it and spent many an hour on that things the kids are all doing, YouTube, learning how to bulk add items etc.

Great piece of kit with no on going costs.

We did have shopify for a long term on an old shop, very good and easy to use. but, monthly costs mad us look elsewhere. On the SEO side of things we found both have advantages.