Major changes coming to ecardmodels...

[cgutzmer]

Well not really major but now I have your attention :)

I have a couple helpers with the shop now so I have freed up some time for development. I have made these changes the past cople days

Dynamic meta tags that will change based on the page data

multipics are again working but all pics need to be readded - this will allow me to better structure that part of the subdirectory too

Installed an auction shop - vanilla install, will be updating as time permits - this will be dedicated to ANY kind of model sales

found gift card mod and discount coupon mod - will be installing as time permits

worked on some new copy for all items in shop. They will likely ALL be updated to enhance search engine optimization and increase hobbyist needs including better info on the kits, formers, cockpit, number of pages, number of parts etc etc

Thanks!
Chris
p.s. please make any suggestions you think would make it a better place to shop, I might not use them but then again I might! :)

[airdave]

pick me! pick me!

oh...I thought this was where you announced the winner of the
"free trip to Hawaii for my favorite designer" award?

[cgutzmer]

No but you can get a free one night stay at the gutzmers, you need to make the travel arrangements though ;)

[APA-168]

It all sounds good to me, Chris! The one minor suggestion I'd like to make is to put the forum link back on the main page. I think that's the main reason activity has dropped off lately...

[cgutzmer]

Thats not a minor suggestion ;) its a realatively major one! In order to add it, I need to redo the links bar that goes across the top. I am not very good with gimp and other apps like it for making the new buttons (I need to remake them all with new dimensions to fit appropriately) so I am holding off on that until I have all the pages added I will need for a while, I have to add the forums, auction site and possibly a link to the site map to make it easier for the search engines to find it :)

I need to get the BASIC look of the auction site setup with my logo and all that stuff before I link out to it :) that will hopefully go pretty quick then I can make up new buttons.
Thanks!
Chris

[airdave]

Chris can I suggest just a simple button link for those things you don't want to add to the navigation menu.
Just use a simple gif or jpeg image for the link and apply an HTML hotspot
or just make the image itself an active link.

Then you could make the link images any size you want, place them anywhere on the page and make them active links.

and you know you can always call on me for a button, or an image.

[cgutzmer]

yeah - good thinking but wont work :) the shop is not nearly so flexible as a standard page. Most of the pages are built off dynamic arrays and other such junk. Thats why the spiders were not crawling nearly so well as I had hoped. :( I cant just build in a new image with reworking the entire template. Once I get the new size figured out it wont be too hard... see the button across the top of the home page Hope page, special, new products etc etc I just need to figure out what new size to make each button that will fit back in there....

the current width of that bar is 934 pixels and 44 pixels high, I need these buttons:

Home Page
New Products
Specials
My Account
Contact Us
Forums
Auctions

Before I commit to these buttons can anyone think of anything else that should be up there? I dont want it over cluttered and Home Page could be changed to Home if needed etc etc.

[cgutzmer]

by the way - if anyone wants a sneak peek of the auction house
http://www.ecardmodels.com/auction

[cgutzmer]

links to the forum and auction house now exist :)