1. Get your domain name.
   • We can acquire the domain name for you or you can purchase it independently and point it to us.
2. Run the store setup wizard:
   Your welcome email has the login credentials for your admin console. Please run the setup wizard the first time you log in. This is important for the initial store setup and for your site to function correctly.
3. Setup FTP if you want to manage files through FTP software. This will allow you to transfer entire folders and multiple files to your site at a time. Otherwise you can use the AmeriCommerce File Browser in the Store tab. You may need FTP to manage Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expressions/Front Page content for your site. Please create a support ticket at www.myamericommerce.com to request FTP access.
4. Create your product catalog
   • Enter or import all your products. Edit your product details and set up categories for your items.
   • If you have an existing site, map your old product URLs.
     1. Export your old urls, give each a new custom URL and import these URL mappings into the redirect module for an easy way to map old to new product links. This avoids having to map old product ID's to their AmeriCommerce equivalent ID saving time.
   • Be sure to add as much descriptive text about your products as possible for good SEO
   • Upload any product images in mass via FTP or individually via the file explorer, or auto associate them based on their name.
5. Create and tweak the Theme of your site.
   • If you purchased an implementation,  quick start, theme rollover or design package, AmeriCommerce personnel will log into your site and setup the required portions. There are many exclusions to what we will not do. Please click here to review the exclusions.
   • It's a good idea to have some products and categories on your site before the design process starts so the entire site can be tested and seen in it's entirety.
   • Test your site in multiple internet browsers, not just one.
6. Enter Content Pages or other static information about your site.
   • Theme rollovers and design packages typically do not incorporate this content or creative writing. AmeriCommerce provides some generic content pages that you can add to your store as a jump start.
   • Examples are shipping and company policies, pricing information, articles about your store or product, etc.
7. Setup Payment Methods.
   • If you will be processing credit cards, ensure that the payment gateway information is entered and working correctly.
   • You can go live without actually processing the credit cards and process them manually if you have a terminal.
   • Some gateways require keys, tokens and other authorization, all entered on the payment method setup page in AmeriCommerce.
8. Setup Shipping Providers and Rates.
   • Each provider such as UPS, USPS, FedEx, must be setup to pull rates from their shipping interfaces.
   • Setup any flat fee or rate table shipping rates.
9. Setup any Coupons, Discounts, Sales or Special offers.
10. Enter test orders to make sure your site is working as expected.
11. For existing sites, please ensure your old url's are redirected using a combination of our Global Redirect module and our Custom urls module. This is very important for SEO
12. Request AmeriCommerce Support to setup DNS on our servers. This will allow us to route your domain's traffic to your new storefront.
    Please Note: This request must be made at least 48 hours prior to launch. You can request this by submitting a support ticket at www.myamericommerce.com
13. Set up email if you will be requiring it for your domain. Please see the related FAQ below on 'How do I setup Email'
14. SSL Certificate Setup - You can use shared SSL or get a dedicated SSL for your site. The shared SSL is pre-installed on your site. If you would like a dedicated SSL, please submit a support ticket at www.myamericommerce.com and a support specialist will assist you with it.
15. Switch the domain/URL to point to AmeriCommerce. Please see the related FAQ below for "How do I point my domain or site to AmeriCommerce?"
16. Change the official Store URL
    • Once your site is working and shows up successfully on the new domain, make one final request to AmeriCommerce support to change your official store url under Store Settings to point to the full domain instead of yourstore.myamericommerce.com. Until this request is made and configured by us, your site will continue to automatically redirect to yourstore.americommerce.com
    • You must get your site off of the AmeriCommerce sub domain. We instruct search engines to specifically ignore .americommerce storefronts because they are testing / site creation phases.
17. You are now ready to conduct business on the internet! Welcome to the world of eCommerce! Successful stores require near constant changes and updates, be sure to checkout these services:
    • SEO Consultation
    • Site Implementation
    • Site Design Upkeep
    • Comparison Shopping Engine Submission
    • Comparison Shopping Engine Feed Optimization
    • PPC Management
    • Email Campaigns

You can review these services on our website at www.americommerce.com under the Services tab or call Sales at 1.800.936.9006 for details on our marketing and storefront management programs.