On the marketplace Opencart are free themes. Their quality is as good as complain, but uniqueness can suffer. There are also premium templates. They cost an average of $20-100. Paying once, the theme can be used in several stores. In the settings, the webmaster can change the following parameters: colors, location of widgets and logo.

For more in-depth customization, you need to edit the files with your own hands. You have to work with the code, so knowledge of the programming languages HTML, CSS and PHP. So you can adapt the site design for all merchant needs.

When choosing a template, pay attention to the following:

The layout should be adaptive so that the site will still reflect well on all devices.

Different layouts have different customization options. If you’re working with code, make sure you can change key elements (colors, logo, blocks).

Elements will be reflected correctly if the template matches your version of the engine.

Feedback from other users matters. Read them carefully. If many webmasters have problems with installation, it’s likely you will too. Pay attention to comments pointing out errors.

If there is an opportunity to download a demo version of the theme before you buy, be sure to take advantage of it. Do not install the template if you are not sure about its quality. Deactivation requires a lot of time and effort on your part.

To set the theme, download the archive with the template. Next, add to the root folder of your store instead of the archive. Don’t forget to confirm the file replacements. When you enter the admin panel, open System => Setup => Store. Click on the tab and download the theme.

Optimizing your site on Opencart
To increase sales you need to optimize your site for search engine standards. If you neglect SEO-optimization, merchants risk getting an online store that never makes it to the first page of search results.

The platform provides a set of tools for basic optimization.

Without downloading the extension, the webmaster can:

Generate clear URLs;
Create unique meta title and meta description;
add keywords that search engines will index the store;
add URL redirections to the store, in other words, an available redirection manager;
Close some pages from being indexed.

Opencart templates are adaptive by default. That is, the pages of the site will be displayed correctly on smartphones, tablets and computers.

Meet all the other requirements of search engines will help additional plugins. There are free SEO-extensions in the Opencart catalog. To have access to more features, you need to buy paid applications. They allow you to create a sitemap, customize the navigation “breadcrumbs”, optimize the page 404, add templates for tagging purposes, etc.

CMS Opencart is well optimized for SEO requirements. The only problem we’ve already mentioned has to do with creating duplicate pages. When Google, Yandex or any other search engine sees duplicates, it recognizes them as not unique. As a result, the site’s ranking drops. You can eliminate this problem by using a plugin or manual configuration.

Fees
Opencart software is free. It can be downloaded from the official site, English and Russian versions are available. Costs will arise after the software download.

For users to find the store on the Internet, you need hosting. We do not recommend saving on it, because it determines how well and quickly the site will be reflected on the web. Hosting ensures the protection of user data.

Domain registration is paid separately. But you can kill two birds with one stone by buying a space at Bluehost.com. That way you get hosting and a domain. The cost of the plan ranges from $ 3.95 to $ 13.95 per month.

By the way, when you create a domain, include the name of your store. It is not worth placing keywords in the domain, this will not raise you in the search engine.

In addition to hosting will have to pay for the design and additional functionality of the online store. On average a good plugin will cost up to $100, a template – $20-50.

If you have no experience in creating online stores, you have never worked with CMS-systems and do not know the programming languages, the help of specialists there will definitely be needed. Developers can charge $100-$1000 depending on the task at hand. If you are planning a large-scale e-commerce project, you will have to involve a SEO specialist, a copywriter, a marketer.

The post Design and theme work appeared first on Flextype.

Christopher Manu was the first to think of creating such a platform back in 1998. But he was busy with other projects, so the idea went unrealized. A few years later, Daniel Kerr, a British developer, became interested in the idea of creating an engine for e-commerce projects. In 2009, he managed to launch a fully completed system. An updated version was released in May 2020. Now the service is freely available under the GNU General Public License – a universal public license.

With OpenCart you can create an online store of any complexity. The system allows you to accept payments, manage and process orders, and no additional extensions are required. These features are basic functionality by default. If the merchant needs to customize the project to his needs, special plugins can be added.

Those who have programming skills can change the source code. Opencart software is written in PHP, respectively, will require knowledge of this programming language.

If the merchant is not able to edit the code himself, the application and the expansion of functionality can be delegated to programmers. Professionals who are ready to work in this CMS, very much. In the community of Opencart more than 45000 members. Moreover, there are enough resources on the Internet, training videos and articles, and there is a detailed documentation.

Who is suitable for the CMS Opencart
Opencart – a platform for those who want to create a ready-made online store without significant financial cost and as quickly as possible. The system works on the principle of “easy to install, easy to use. In practice this is the case. Its user-friendly interface allows you to launch the store as quickly as possible and within a week to get the first sales. And technical support is ready to answer any question from the developer.

On the one hand, Opencart is suitable for beginners. Since the CMS is free, in case of failure the losses will be insignificant. On the other hand, even a beginner will have to install plugins, upload products, configure the site, find the right hosting and much more. That is, Opencart is the ideal solution for entrepreneurs who have experience in e-commerce. The system will also appeal to those who have a team of specialists, who can be entrusted with the task of setting up and managing the site.

The post What is Opencart appeared first on Flextype.

These functionalities are available by default:

• adding an unlimited number of products, as well as their categories and subcategories;
• sale of digital products (e.g. e-books, music, movies, software);
• product ratings, reviews and comments;
• built-in affiliate marketing system – a method of business promotion in the network;
• the option of award points (merchant can create a loyalty system: give the customer bonus points, and he will use them for further purchases);
• Multilingualism (if the language you need is not included in the localization, you can add it yourself).

The store administrator will like the following features:

• convenient admin panel, where the data with orders, sales and customers are presented;
• the ability to manage several stores from one admin panel;
• different parameters (colors, size, other characteristics) can be added for each product;
• sellers can offer customers discounts, gift certificates, coupons;
• several people can administer the site;
• available sales reports (reviewed products and purchased products);
• integration with Google Analytics and CRM;
• synchronization with applications such as 1C, My Composition and Class 36;
• backup of the entire store (a backup copy can be restored in the admin panel).

Convenient and clear interface of the site is important for customers, as well as the product itself. The basic functions of Opencart will be enough for customers to:

• set filters on goods by the categories offered;
• pay in a convenient currency;
• receive email notifications (order status, promotional offers, etc.)
• subscribe for goods/services;
• use one of the most popular delivery services.

Basic functionality can always be increased by means of modules. With them, the merchant will have access to a greater number of additional options. Here are some of them:

• email confirmation;
• the ability to compare prices and products;
• lists of similar and new products, bestsellers;
• quick wait on one page;
• a specific color for each order status;
• sending notifications via SMS;
• communication with customers in live-chat directly on the site.

Payment module for Opencart
In addition to quality products and clear interface, the store should have convenient payment methods. Moreover, the protection of payment data is more important for customers.

Opencart offers the use of one of the 36 payment systems integrated into the standard functionality. If another payment module is needed, it can be downloaded and added to the site. The main thing is that the software extension is suitable for the CMS-system.

The aggregator of payment systems Interkassa offers merchants payment module for Opencart . It is installed in a few clicks, even an inexperienced user can cope with it.

Thanks to Interkassa payment acceptance you guarantee customers protection of their personal data and access to a wide range of payment solutions: payment by any Visa or MasterCard card, e-wallets, payments via terminals.

The post Functional capabilities appeared first on Flextype.

• the available Russian-language version of Opencart and an active community of users who add new topics, extensions, tutorials and participate in forum discussions;
• Built-in analytics system, which can be improved by connecting the tools of Yandex or Google.

Like any other system, Opencart has its shortcomings:

• Because of the large number of installed plugins, the engine can be slow. As a result, the store performs worse.
• When it comes to better functionality, all plugins can fit. Often you will have to try all sorts of combinations of extensions.
• The Opencart engine does not provide for the removal of duplicated pages. The webmaster has to fix this problem himself or unload the appropriate plugins.
• Plugins go through a quality assessment before they get to the Opencart marketplace, but not all of them are completely safe. If you add an extension from a side developer, there is a risk of data leakage.
• Opencart users note that unloading products is very inconvenient. Often the goods end up in the MySQL database, so you have to upload the entire assortment all over again. Also, users don’t like the fact that the catalog of over 30,000 products is difficult to optimize.
• Even the updated version has a number of problems with SEO. In order for the store to meet all search engine parameters, you will have to download the appropriate plugins.
• After the engine update, some modules may not work. Usually due to incompatibility of versions.

The post Opencart: pros and cons appeared first on Flextype.