If you wish, programmers will do the initial building of your site for you (according to the guidelines laid out in this packet). This lesson will help you gather and prepare all materials for your storefront and then submit them to StoresOnline.

If at all possible, use the store-building program. This will give you the fastest development track and teach you the skills needed to regularly update your storefront to keep up with your customers’ needs. If, however, you wish to have programmers build your site, we are ready to assist you.

1. Your assigned StoresOnline programmer will call you and discuss the details of your website submission.
2. StoresOnline will temporarily take over access to your Account License.
3. You should include a detailed “laundry list” of remaining tasks your site needs. StoresOnline will complete the list to the best of its ability.
4. You will be provided with the opportunity to review your site and submit one set of corrections.
5. When StoresOnline has completed the corrections to the best of its ability, you will be asked to complete a brief survey rating your programmer.
6. When you have completed the survey, access to your Account will be returned to you.

To prepare your storefront’s information and submit it to the StoresOnline programmers, read the rest of this lesson and complete the following steps:

1. Gather and review all of your storefront materials, which you created in Part 2. This includes all items discussed in Lessons 7, 8, & 9 including:
   
   
The content of the Home Page, Contact Page, the Footer, Product pages (ensure a clear, and visually compelling appearance), Shipping and Return Policies Page, etc. For more information review Lessons 7 and 8.


1. If using an online processor, be sure to gather and submit the information required by the merchant account provider. You may be required to list an address, and other entity-specific information on your website. (Please refer to your merchant account provider for more information.)
   
   
2. As a suggestion, as you build content for pages, don’t overdo it. Try to keep it simple and short, and eliminate unnecessary steps.
   
   
3. As you gather, review, and submit the items discussed in Lessons 7 & 8 remember these basic principles:
   
   
   1. Make it easy for customers to navigate in your site
      
      
   2. Make it easy for customers to buy products or services from your site
      
      
   3. Keep the whole customer experience simple
      
      
2. Login to the StoresOnline Account using your license number and password. Add information, images, text, and more to the pages and products of your site.
   
   
3. Take the information you did not add (i.e. additional text, graphics, product information, downloadable products, etc.) and put as much of it as possible on a computer disk or burn it to a blank CD ROM. Indicate where each item of information will go. Label your disks or files on the CD according to the criteria discussed in this lesson
   
   
4. If you are submitting any images on paper or in photograph form, make sure the images are in good condition and are printed clearly. Label each image appropriately, indicating where on your site, or with which product, the image will go. Don’t forget to put your name and storefront name on each image.
   
   
5. Illustrate, as necessary, the layout of your Web site’s content. You may do this with a drawing or a simple written document. All we need is a good idea of which products, text, and graphics will go on which page (be sure to reference file names).
   
   
6. Carefully read, fill out, and sign the StoresOnline Storefront Authorization & Debit Form. You will need to submit this to StoresOnline with your website setup fee.
   
   
7. Complete the Storefront Transmittal Checklist to make sure you have not skipped any important steps. Be sure to provide your license number on this form. This will allow your programmer to access the information you provided in the Quick Start Interview and build your store from there. You must include the Storefront Transmittal Checklist with your storefront submission.
   
   
8. Mail all disks, papers, and required forms with your website setup fee to the StoresOnline Programming Department.

Submit all of your Web site’s text on a computer disk or CD ROM. Please check all text for errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure before you submit it to StoresOnline. We assume no responsibility for these aspects.

When you send information on disk, follow these simple guidelines:

All text must be in ASCII or Microsoft Word formats.
Clearly mark each disk/cd with your name and the name of your storefront.
Indicate “DOS” or “MAC”.
Indicate “ASCII” or “Word”.
If you send more than one disk/cd, number the disks/cds “1 of 2”, “2 of 2”, etc.
Label your text according to where you would like it to go on your site.

Send as Much as You Can on Computer Disks or CD ROM
The easiest and fastest way to get your storefront published is to send all of your storefront information and graphics on disk or CD ROM.

You may submit your graphics either on disk (digital format), as photographs, or in other printed formats.

You may submit as many graphics with your site as you feel are appropriate to sell your products and/or services. If you do not have the resources to prepare digital graphics and optimize them yourself, your programmers can provide additional services at rates comparable to your local copy centers.

You may submit as many graphics as needed, which, if they meet the following guidelines, will be included on your storefront at no additional cost:

	Resolution: 72 DPI.
	Saving and Naming Structure: Images must be separated, sized, saved, and named appropriately to be associated with their corresponding products (If you have 20 products, you should have at least 20 different images—one image file for each product. Example: The file “tshirt1.jpg” will be a picture of “T Shirt #1”). Images should not have any special characters in their file name. Acceptable file names consist of lowercase letters, a–z, and numbers. Do not use spaces in the file name.
	Maximum Image Size: 450 pixels wide.
	Maximum File Size: 50 KB
	Format: .jpg or .gif.
	All images should be saved on a 3 ½” Diskette, CD, zip disk, or flash drive.

Option Two: Submitting Digitized Graphics Needing Optimization and Retouching— Some Small Additional Cost

If you wish, you may submit your graphics in digital format but have StoresOnline programmers retouch and optimize them (see the attached “Catalog of Products and Services” for applicable fees). Images should meet the following guidelines:

	Resolution: 150 DPI.
	Format: .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .tif
	Named and saved using the same guidelines outlined above

Option Three: Submitting Photographs or Other Printed Pictures—Most Expensive Option

You may submit your storefront graphics in the form of photographs or other paper images. The programmers will scan, size, retouch, and optimize the images. See the “Catalog of Products and Services” for additional charges.

If you choose to submit your graphics in this way, please

	Send the highest quality originals you have available. A small, dark picture does not usually show detail. Likewise, a faded original will appear faded on your page. Photographs on hi-gloss paper do not scan well. We recommend using a flat- or mattefinish paper. Creases on a brochure or printed picture are picked up by a scanner and will be seen in a final Internet version. A poor quality original will result in a poor quality electronic copy.
	Send color pictures, logos, or graphics on a clean printed copy.
	Avoid photocopies.
	Do not submit graphics larger than 8” x 10”.
	Label each graphic on the back with your name, the name of your storefront, and the name of the image (such as “company logo”, or “product #1”, etc.). Match the name to the location or product that the image is associated with.
	Do not send original or one-of-a-kind artwork.

Photos will not be returned unless specifically requested on a transmittal letter. (Although we receive excellent service from UPS, USPS, and other delivery services, StoresOnline assumes no responsibility or liability for lost or damaged documents, graphics and/or pictures. Send one-of-a-kind originals at your own risk.)

Refer to tab 6 of your Workshop Workbook for a list of the services provided by the StoresOnline Programming Department. Services not listed in that document can be completed for the programming rates listed in the “Catalog of Products and Services.”

Mail it in!

When you’re ready, gather up your materials, forms, disks, and checklists and mail them all in a single package to:

Stores Online, Inc.
Storefront Programming Department
1303 N. Research Way, Bldg. K
Orem, UT 84097

Be sure to include all of the following materials in your package:

	All text and graphics required to build your site
	Payment for the website setup along with a signed Storefront Authorization & Debit Form
	The Storefront Transmittal Checklist, to confirm you have included everything in your package—be sure to include any instructions and your Customer ID number with the Storefront Transmittal Checklist
	Copy of your Certificate of License
	The Virtual Domain Hosting Form (if you are choosing this optional service)

Be sure to make and keep a copy of all materials you send to us. If there is ever a problem with the mail service, you certainly don’t want to start over again!

When we receive your storefront information, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your submission. If anything is missing, you will receive an email with detailed information. We cannot assign your storefront to programming until all of your materials have been received. Please be thorough and submit all of your materials at one time. If additional programming services or products are requested, please include payment, which must be received before we begin programming.

The programming services provided by the StoresOnline programmers includes the population of your StoresOnline Web site with the data (text, graphics, etc.) you provide. Specific limitations on what your programmer can do are as follows:

• Products: Your programmer will add up to 25 products. Products 26–100 can be added by a programmer for $2.50 per product, or you can add these products yourself at no additional cost. Products can contain two variations (size, color, etc.) with a maximum of ten options on any single variation.
• Pages: Your programmer will add up to 30 pages (top-level or subpages). Pages 31–50 can be added by a programmer for $25 dollars per page, or you can add these pages yourself at no additional cost. Programmers will not format technical or scientific data.
• Forms: Your programmer will add up to three forms—one order form and two custom forms—with up to 15 questions or options per form. Your programmer can create additional forms at a price of $40.00 per form, with each form containing up to 15 questions or options.
• Ordering Rules: Your programmer will create up to five ordering rule calculations. These may include a one-state-specific tax rule, shipping rules, discount rules, or surcharge rules. Additional ordering rules can be created for $15 each.

You may personally add as many products, pages, forms, or ordering rules as you wish, up to the megabyte limitation of your Web site, at no additional cost.

Product Description—Standard Storefront
The Stores Online Complete Store Building Packet contains everything you need to create your own Internet storefront using our training materials. The following is a list of the features and capabilities included with your purchase.

Advanced Programming Services

Product Description—Storefront Creation Assistance
How can we help you create your storefront? In addition to the initial programming services we offer, we can provide some assistance typing your text or retouching your images, should you need it. The conditions and fees associated with these surveys are listed below. If you simply need advice through the store building process, you can call our Customer Supportteam at +1 801.227.0004.

Product Description—Hosting Options
You can host your finished storefront with any hosting service on the Internet. We hope you will consider hosting with us. Refer to your workshop handouts for the cost of hosting your storefront. When considering hosting options, be aware of the costs associated with virtual domains. You may choose to use a custom domain name (such as www.skincleanser.com), but you will have to register this domain with a third-party registration company, such as http://www.register.com, and pay the registration company’s registration fee.