Upgrades and add-ons to OS commerce can cost more than the original development if some basic steps are not taken before updates and add-ons are installed.
Always make a full backup of your site and download the back up for each module. Keep the backups stored away for at least a few months.
If anything goes wrong with your site from the new installation it is easy to restore your site back to its operating state.
2. Prior to any install of a new add-on or an upgrade, as a site owner you should ask your developer (if it is not you doing the install) to note the module and version number they are using and the os commerce URL. Keep these details in a log record of your site.
In the future if your developer no longer works for the same company or you change developers then there is a clear record of what has been added to your site and that record will often allow the new developer to quickly ascertain how your system works and where any current issues will be coming from. It will also allow your developer to quickly ascertain what if any security issues need to be updated on your site or the origin of error messages that may appear.
The recession is making companies look at reducing their expenses. Unfortunately over the years there have been many incompetent web companies in New Zealand charging for ineffective services.
Below is a list of some suggestions that will enable you to reduce your costs immediately.
- 1. If you are paying more than $NZ35.00 (ex gst) per annum for your .nz domain or more than $20.00 per annum for your .com you are paying too much.
- If you are paying more than $20.00 per month for Web Hosting you are paying too much.
- If you are paying for a new email address to be added you have the wrong hosting company.
- Do you pay license fees for FTP software. There are plenty of free options such as FileZilla FTP that are equal or better than the commercial equivalents.
- Online advertising campaigns can be costly and inefficient if they are not carefully analysed. Google provide detailed analysis of your campaigns as does FaceBook.com.
- If you are paying your web developer and hourly rate for site modifications you are being taken advantage of.
- If you are paying more than $40 per hour for a web developer – it is time to source a new developer.
- There is no need to spend thousands of dollars on developing and maintaining a new e-commerce web site. There are many free options to create e-commerce web sites. The cost is in customising the site to your organisation
