Transferring an Existing Website into Iris Market Builder
If you're already online with your own website, here's some information to help you as you consider your options for moving your website to Iris Market Builder.
There are two sections on this page: Things You Should Know, The Transfer Process and Step by Step.
Start with Things You Should Know and then in The Transfer Process you can find details about how to transfer your site from various systems. The final section, Step by Step covers exactly what you can expect during the process and what you'll need to know.
Five Things You Should Know About Iris Market Builder
1) It's an online system.
There's no software to download or install. Everything is done online through your web browser. We recommend Firefox, but the features also work in Internet Explorer. Iris Market Builder is compatible with both PC and Mac. To run smoothly on a Mac, please use Firefox browser instead of Safari.
2) It's a database-driven CMS (content management system).
A content management system is an easier way to build and maintain your website.
Iris Market Builder is more than just an ecommerce catalog that displays your products. It brings content management together with ecommerce. From within the store admin area you can activate built in features (such as the contact form or FAQ builder) and you can also add new pages. You can create categories and products.
The store admin works by allowing you to "fill in the blanks" as shown in this screenshot:
Then it saves your entered information into a database. That database is then used to create your website and pull in your information. Each page is dynamically generated by Iris Market Builder.
What's the difference between this and a hand-coded website? First, you don't need to learn HTML or PHP to create your site. IMB takes care of the hard part for you. Second, because it runs on a template system, you can update every page of your site by changing one template file. That template file holds the style and layout of your website and every page is updated when you update that single file. This makes managing your site much easier!
What else should you know? The system functions as shown in this demo. Please take a look and make sure that it works the way you'd like.
An important note about database-driven website management systems is that because they generate your pages based on their pre-set layouts and programming, if you've been creating your pages in HTML and putting every piece exactly where you want it, this doesn't work quite like that. Instead, it allows you to choose a built-in template or create your own template and tell it where to put pieces, and then allows you to choose your product layout style, and the system generates the pages based on your choices.
If you aren't familiar with shopping carts then you may not realize yet, but "little changes" like moving around thumbnails or product displays are not little changes but require modification of the PHP files. IMB offers you a range of product display styles (read below for more info) but those styles work they way they are shown in the demo. The same applies to other features like the contact form, FAQ builder, and event calendar. It will work as shown and if you'd like changes you will need to request a custom programming quote as there is an extra charge for modification of the php files of this cart.
If you are familiar with shopping carts, you quickly see how much more flexible IMB is compared to carts like osCommerce or Zen Cart. It's much easier to integrate your website look and layout, and you have more product display options.
Here are some examples of product layouts you can see what's available:
3) It's a traditional shopping cart ecommerce system.
It works in a fashion similar to other ecommerce systems available online. The customer comes to your website and shops, and once the customers payment is completed *then* the order is recorded and items removed from inventory and marked as belonging to that customer. This means that if you are coming from a cart like Hyena Cart, there is a fundamental difference in the way Iris Market Builder works. But if you're coming from a system like Zen Cart, osCommerce, and other traditional carts, it's very similar. The importance in this distinction is that if you are "stalked" online by crazed shoppers awaiting your items and all trying to purchase the same item at the same time and you have only one available, and you'll know if you this describes you *wink*, then you can contact Michelle directly about the special inventory module to find out when it's available.
4) It's a hosted software system.
A hosted system means that the system includes website hosting. You don't need a separate website host, that's included in the $9.99/monthly fee. You get a full cPanel account including email addresses, statistics, etc. You can add a blog, create subdomains, and more.
This also means that you cannot purchase the system to host somewhere else. Our servers are specifically setup to properly run the Iris Market Builder system and we couldn't provide the level of support we strive to provide to our valued clients if it were hosted somewhere else. There are too many differences in the way servers are configured.
5) It works with Mal's E-Commerce for the checkout.
Iris Market Builder works together with Mal's E-Commerce. Mal's offers a secured, PCI Compliant checkout system so you have one less thing to worry about. All shipping, tax, and payment settings are setup at Mal's. You can find more info about this on the Order page or the support pages.
The Transfer Process
The process of transferring a website from one ecommerce system to another or one website host to another depends on what type of website you are transferring from. You'll find information below to cover a few of the types of websites you may be transferring from. If you have specific questions about whether your template can be transferred or other questions, you can ask by opening a ticket at the Elemental Muse support desk (parent company of Iris Market Builder).
An Informational HTML Website
If you currently have an informational website powered by plain HTML pages, chances are good we can take your design and transfer it into Iris Market Builder for you at a one-time cost of $35.
An Open Source E-Commerce System (Zen Cart, osCommerce, etc)
Moving a website from an open source software system to Iris Market Builder involves the following steps:
- Recreate your design for the new system
- Setup your profile, shipping, taxes, payments, etc in the new system
- Stock your items in the new system
It's also important to save all of your customer and order information as that will not transfer to Iris Market Builder.
A Licensed Software System (WAHMShoppes, Yahoo! Stores, etc)
Moving a website from one licensed software system to Iris Market Builder involves the following steps:
- Recreate your design for the new system
- Setup your profile, shipping, taxes, payments, etc in the new system
- Stock your items in the new system
It's also important to save all of your customer and order information as that will not transfer to Iris Market Builder.
Another Option Cart Site Builder Powered Site
The system powering Iris Market Builder is a branded version of Option Cart Site Builder with our modifications and additions made to the system including an upgraded HTML editor and other modules available such as our instant-inventory option.
Many other online ecommerce shops are also powered by the same base system. If you recognize our administrative area as looking very similar to your current website's administration area, chances are good you're also powered by Option Cart Site Builder. If you choose to transfer your website to us, here are some things to know:
- You will need a new license unlock code (the $99 setup fee covers this)
- Your template and products may be transferrable by us, depending on your setup, at no extra fee if you provide us with access to your cPanel and admnistrative area
- If you have made custom modifications to your php files I cannot transfer those changes.
Step by Step
To safely move your website to a new host, there are several important steps involved and things to be aware of. This will provide a quick overview of the process. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please be sure to contact support.
Terms to Know:
- Domain Name: Your www.yoursite.com address
- Domain Registrar: The company who you purchased your domain name from
- Website Host: The company who your current website is hosted by
Important Things to Know About Your Current Site:
- List of all email addresses
- If you're using webmail or downloading mail to your computer
- If you are running any important scripts such as forums or newsletters
To transfer a website from one server from another, here are the steps to take:
- Create an account with Iris Market Builder and let us know you're moving from another host
- Using the temporary address you receive, set up your store and stock your products (the quick start guide is helpful in this step)
- Test your setup based on the "Before You Open Your Shop" checklist
- Create any email addresses you use in your new control panel
- Setup any other scripts you're currently running on your account at the new host or secure alternatives as needed
- Be sure to save all email from your old web hosting account if you are using webmail, and download and save a backup of all your website files, customer lists, orders, etc.
- Change the nameservers at the domain name registrar to the new ones provided by Iris Market Builder when you received your welcome email
- Wait 48-72 hours, verify that traffic for your website is going to the new website and that your email addresses are working properly, then cancel the old hosting account