Modified Google Trusted Stores Date

Below is modified JavaScript to add 7 days to the Google Trusted Stores code ship date.

var d = new Date();
var seven_date = d.getDate();
var curr_month = d.getMonth();
if (seven_date < 22) {
  var curr_year = d.getFullYear();
  var seven_date_two = seven_date + parseInt(7);
  if (curr_month < 9) {var curr_month_two = "0" + curr_month;} else {var curr_month_two = curr_month;}
  var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_two + "-" + seven_date_two);
}
else if (curr_month > 12) {
  var curr_year = d.getFullYear()+1;
  var curr_month_two = "01";
  var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_two + "-" + seven_date_two);
}
else {
  var curr_year = d.getFullYear();
  var curr_month_two = curr_month + parseInt(1);
  if (curr_month_two < 9) {var curr_month_three = "0" + curr_month_two;} else {var curr_month_three = curr_month_two;}
  var seven_date_two = "07";
  var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_three + "-" + seven_date_two);
}

Google Trusted Stores With Your ShopSite Website

Google Trusted Stores is a feature you can setup for your website if you have a Google Account.  You will need to have a verified website in Google. Google Trusted Stores is another way to let online shoppers know that you are a verified, secure, and trusted website.  Customers are encouraged to report feedback on your website. Shoppers can hover over or click on the Google Trusted Stores logo on your website to see your company's standing with Google Stores.

To set this up, you will need to add some custom JavaScript to all your store pages.  You will also need to get your Google Product ID for all your products (this can be done by moving this information into an extra product field).  Follow the instructions below for adding the Google Trusted Stores code to your website.

1. Add Google Product ID For Products Into An Extra Product Field. For this example, I will be placing the Google Product ID in the extra product field 10.  Do this by downloading your products database (Utilities > Database > Download).  You only need to download your product identifier field (either name or SKU), and the Google Product ID field.  Once you have downloaded the file and saved it to your computer, re-upload it into your store.  When you get to the step where you can map the product fields, click on the link to map the fields, and change the Google Product ID field to the Product Field 10, then complete the upload. 
   Note: If you are already using the extra product field 10, you will want to use a different product field.
     
2. Begin Setting Up Your Google Trusted Stores Account. If you have a Google Account for your business, you can go to http://www.google.com/trustedstores/merchants/, to begin setting up your Google Trusted Stores account.  Go through the process until you need to place the JavaScript code on your website, then go onto step 3.
    
3. Paste Code Below Onto All Store Pages. The code below should be added to all store pages.  It should be included in the template.  What I would suggest is create an include file called "GoogleTrustedStoresPageCode" and paste this code into that include file, replacing the red fields below with your specific store information.  Then include the include file at the bottom of the page code in all the template types (in your page template and search template DEFINE PAGE section, product template DEFINE MORE_INFO_PAGE section, and the cart template DEFINEs).  For example, in your page template, at the bottom of the template it should look similar to:
   
   [-- INCLUDE GoogleTrustedStoresPageCode PROCESS --]
   </body>
   </html>
   [-- END_DEFINE PAGE --]
   
   You will also want to add the following VAR tag to the TOP of all your templates (except the product template).
   
   [-- VAR.Field10 "" --]
   
   
   Your product template should be slightly different.  In the product template, you will want to place the following VAR tag in both the [-- DEFINE PRODUCT --] and [-- DEFINE MORE_INFO_PAGE --] sections.
   
   [-- VAR.Field10 PRODUCT.Field10 --]
   
   
   Here is the JavaScript for the include file:
   
   <!-- BEGIN: Google Trusted Store -->
   <script type="text/javascript">
     var gts = gts || [];
     gts.push(["id", "555555"]);
     gts.push(["google_base_offer_id", "[-- IF VAR.Field10 --][-- VAR.Field10 --][-- ELSE --]90014c3c-6d63-11e1-9ced-000a5e410845[-- END_IF --]"]);
     gts.push(["google_base_subaccount_id", "555555"]);
     gts.push(["google_base_country", "ISO 3166-1"]);
     gts.push(["google_base_language", "ISO 639-1"]);
     (function() {
       var scheme = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://" : "http://");
       var gts = document.createElement("script");
       gts.type = "text/javascript";
       gts.async = true;
       gts.src = scheme + "www.googlecommerce.com/trustedstores/gtmp_compiled.js";
       var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];
       s.parentNode.insertBefore(gts, s);
     })();
   </script>
   <!-- END: Google Trusted Store -->
   
   Note: 90014c3c-6d63-11e1-9ced-000a5e410845 in the code above should be replaced with ANY of your products' Google Product ID number.
    
4. Add JavaScript To Your Thank You Screen. The last step involves adding the JavaScript code below into the DEFINE THANK_YOU section of your shopping cart template.  Again, replace the red information below with your specific store information.
   <script type="text/javascript">
   var d = new Date();
   var seven_date = d.getDate()+7;
   if (seven_date < 10) {var seven_date_two = "0" + seven_date;}
   else {var seven_date_two = seven_date;}
   var curr_month = d.getMonth();
   if (curr_month < 10) {var curr_month_two = "0" + curr_month;}
   else {var curr_month_two = curr_month;}
   var curr_year = d.getFullYear();
   var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_two + "-" + seven_date_two);
   var prodNum = number_products;
   document.write("<div id=\"gts-order\">");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-id\">" + ss_ordernum + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-domain\">www.yourdomain.com<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-email\">" + ss_email + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-country\">US<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-currency\">USD<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-total\">" + ss_ordertotal + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-discounts\">" + ss_coupon_discount + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-shipping-total\">" + ss_shiptotal + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-tax-total\">" + ss_taxtotal + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-est-ship-date\">" + weekDate + "<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-has-preorder\">N<\/span>");
     document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-has-digital\">N<\/span>");
   for (i=0; i<prodNum; i++) {
     document.write("<span class=\"gts-item\">");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-name\">" + ss_name[i] + "<\/span>");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-price\">" + ss_price[i] + "<\/span>");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-quantity\">" + ss_quantity[i] + "<\/span>");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-id\">" + ss_field10[i] + "<\/span>");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-store-id\">555555<\/span>");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-country\">US<\/span>");
       document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-language\">en<\/span>");
     document.write("<\/span>");
   }
   document.write("<\/div>");
   </script>
   
   Note: The orange areas in the code above can be changed but don't necessarily have to.  The first one, d.getDate()+7, says that you are telling Google you will ship the order 7 days after it is placed.  If your average ship time is longer than that, you will want to modify the 7 to whatever is more accurate for your store. The next few, " + ss_coupon_discount + ", " + ss_shiptotal + ", " + ss_taxtotal + " should remain the same if you have coupons, use any shipping rates, and use tax rates.  If you do not use any of these, replace the orange with 0. Also, the codes provided above are generic codes and should work for most stores.  I am not guaranteeing that they work for all stores.
   

I hope that this article helps as you set up your Google Trusted Stores account.  There is a month probationary period from Google for the Google Trusted Stores seal, so make sure that you have everything setup correctly, before waiting through that probation period.  Good luck :).

Full Code Example (changed for 4 days out for shipping instead of 7):
<script type="text/javascript">
var d = new Date();
var seven_date = d.getDate();
var curr_month = d.getMonth() + parseInt(1);
if (seven_date < 25) {
  var curr_year = d.getFullYear();
  var seven_date_two = seven_date + parseInt(4);
  if (curr_month < 9) {var curr_month_two = "0" + curr_month;} else {var curr_month_two = curr_month;}
  var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_two + "-" + seven_date_two);
}
else if (curr_month > 11) {
  var curr_year = d.getFullYear()+1;
  var curr_month_two = "01";
  var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_two + "-" + seven_date_two);
}
else {
  var curr_year = d.getFullYear();
  var curr_month_two = curr_month + parseInt(1);
  if (curr_month_two < 9) {var curr_month_three = "0" + curr_month_two;} else {var curr_month_three = curr_month_two;}
  var seven_date_two = "04";
  var weekDate =(curr_year + "-" + curr_month_three + "-" + seven_date_two);
}
var prodNum = number_products;

document.write("<div id=\"gts-order\" style=\"display: none;\">");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-id\">" + ss_ordernum + "<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-domain\">www.laurenhillsdesign.com<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-email\">" + ss_email + "<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-country\">US<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-currency\">USD<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-total\">" + ss_ordertotal + "<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-discounts\">0<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-shipping-total\">0<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-tax-total\">" + ss_taxtotal + "<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-est-ship-date\">" + weekDate + "<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-has-preorder\">N<\/span>");
  document.write("<span id=\"gts-o-has-digital\">N<\/span>");

for (i=0; i<prodNum; i++) {
  document.write("<span class=\"gts-item\">");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-name\">" + ss_name[i] + "<\/span>");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-price\">" + ss_price[i] + "<\/span>");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-quantity\">" + ss_quantity[i] + "<\/span>");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-id\">" + ss_field14[i] + "<\/span>");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-store-id\">123455<\/span>");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-country\">US<\/span>");
    document.write("<span class=\"gts-i-prodsearch-language\">en<\/span>");
  document.write("<\/span>");
}
document.write("<\/div>");
#### show this line only for testing the date purposes.
#document.write(weekDate);
</script>

Re-Committing To Goals

Clearly I need to be on a path of repentance, especially since my last post wasn't even during this last season. So here I am, entering one of the busiest parts of the year for online sales, ready to lend some support and guidance to any who would like it. Below are my own personal short term goals:

1. Post on setting up a Google Trusted Stores account. There is a 30 day (I actually think it is a 28 day) probation period, so if you would like to have a Google Trusted Stores account setup by December, you will need to get that set up by next week.
2. Create New Friendlier Design. I have been looking at redesigning my website and blog for a while now.  With the hype of this holiday season approaching, I think I will be able to finally get the new look implemented.
3. More Customer Support Avenues. I normally only provide customer support via email.  This goal has 2 parts, the first is setting up and advertising a website analysis option.  I will offer my own website analysis, as well as provide detailed information on how merchants can do their own website analysis.  I think this is especially important for merchants who hire companies to do work for them.  The merchant should be able to check, to some extent, the quality of the work being done.  The second is to actually setup a business phone number. I am sure that most of your companies already have a business phone number setup, but since my company is mostly just me, I haven't needed it.  I find that I have been a little hindered without an option for customers to call me directly, so I will be setting that up before the end of the year.

I would advise that you sit down and map out a few short term goals for your company that you would be able to complete before the holiday season gets crazy.  Make these goals things that can take advantage of the holiday season sales, such as setting up an avenue for new customers to be added to a newsletter, or to streamline promotions. Whatever your goals are, bullet point a few steps that will help you reach those goals in the coming weeks.

Small Steps To Stay On Track - Navigation

A website's navigation is an essential element that is often overlooked. Below is a list of DON'Ts and DOs for your site navigation. First the bad news:

What NOT to do in your Site Navigation

• Don't have link-appearing titles that are not links.  When you go to a website, for example, Target.com, there are a list of links at the top of the page such as "Women" and "Men." These links denote different departments in their store/website. When you hover over these links, there are many sublinks that are available. Here is the don't, even if a link-appearing object has sublinks, still make the link-appearing object link somewhere.  Yes, many customers will hover over "Women" then find the subcategory that they want and click that subcategory, but there will be some customers who keep trying to click "Women" and may become frustrated when it doesn't go anywhere. This is good for customers who are not sure what subcategory they want, as well as for customers who may jump the gun and click on a link before the page loads enough to have the sublinks even appear.

• Don't have too many levels in drop down menus. I am a firm believer in drop down or flyout menus in top or side navigation bars.  However, if there are too many levels, chances are that a customer's mouse will slip and they will lose all the levels they have gone through.  This is a similar idea to avoiding too many clicks before a customer can purchase. There are some websites that need to have that many clicks or need to have that many levels, but if you can avoid it, do. 
• Avoid vague links.  A single link that says "Customer Service" is less helpful than a series of links that say "Returns," "Shipping Information," and "Privacy Policy."

What you SHOULD do in your Site Navigation

• Build navigation with your customers in mind. The first navigation bar that you see on the page (no-a-ways this is typically the top navigation bar), should contain your main categories or your main site links.  I would not suggest using the top navigation bar for informative links like "About Us" or other customer service related links.  Those links are informative about your company, but they are not as useful to the customer.  Start your navigation with major categories.  If you look at Target.com, the first categories on their page are "Women," "Men," and "Baby." Looking at Apple.com, you will find that their main categories at the top of their home page list the main products that they sell. Toys "R" Us starts their navigation with "Category" and "Age" pull down menus to immediately help their customers sort through the thousands of products available.

• Do create a navigation menu that is straight to the point with meaningful text.  Don't include links called "Products" with a flyout menu.  Instead, include major categories at the top and any non-major categories in the side navigation bar or a flyout selection. 
• Do have interactive links.  If a customer mouses over a link, something should happen.  The link could change background color, change text color, become underlined. The customer should be visually shown what link they are mousing over, and be able to see that it is in fact a link. 
• Do include link titles.  In the HTML for an href statement, you can include the href location, as well as a link title.  This is not only good for search engines, but it is good for customers, especially for links of images.  
• Do make the navigation stand out.
• Do have clear breadcrumb menus.
• Do make it simple. I like the idea of getting to any category page on your website from any category page on your website. Repeat customers or customers on a mission will know exactly what sub category they would like to view.  Having a categorized navigation with all of your sub categories will make it simple for customers to get exactly where they want without having to dig.
• Do include company information links in the footer.  Just like the top navigation, the footer navigation can have categories of links.  Group your links in categories such as "Company" containing "About Us" type links, "Customer Service" containing "Shipping" and "Returns" type links, and "Stay Connected" with links to blogs, Facebook, etc.

Small Steps To Stay On Track - Home Page

If you are anything like me, it is about this time in the year that you realize you aren't sticking to your New Year's Resolutions.  I start off the year with so many goals and ambitions, but I realize that by trying to take on everything at once, I end up failing on most of my goals.  So what I propose is to relax a bit, and take those New Year's Resolutions one step at a time.  This series of blog posts will take various elements on your website and evaluate the good vs the bad. You can make improvements to your website one section at a time.

Home Page
The home page on your website introduces your company to potential clients, advertises your top products and promotions, and gives information on the various categories in your store.  With those three goals in mind, your home page should have some of the following features:

• Clear call to action.  This may be a current promotion or sale, a top product, or a seasonal product line.  Whatever it is, have one, and only one, clear call to action that you change periodically.  You want your customers to come back and see what's new in your store.
• Full navigation. Have your page setup so that either in your top navigation, side navigation or footer navigation, customers can go directly to what they want.  With ShopSite you can create categories or top navigation fly-out menus so that customers can find the main category (for example, Women's Clothes), and view a list of sub categories (such as Shirts or Tops) to go directly where they want.
• Links to additional resources. You are an active business owner so you'll have Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, blogs, newsletters or other ways to keep in touch with your customers.  Let your new customers know that you are current with many online resources. 

A few things to watch out for that could hurt your home page are the following:

• Too many calls-to-action. Trying to pull your customers in 5 different directions could distract customers or overwhelm customers. If a customer comes to your website with a purpose, for example to buy pants, they will look at your navigation and find exactly where they want to go.  If a customer finds your website some other way, direct them with one call-to-action.  If you want to direct them to more than that, have your additional features (such as other best sellers or promotions) highlighted as cross selling items on another page, not all on your home page.

• Slow Speed. Your home page should be the attention grabber, but a slow loading page does not grab attention.  Make sure that your home page is clean and loads quickly. 

On the right I have the home page of four popular brands, Apple.com, VictoriasSecret.com, Nike.com and Columbia.com. You can see that each of these home pages has one main call-to-action.  Apple.com is advertising their iPhone 4S; VictoriasSecret.com is advertising their swim line; Nike.com is advertising their new sport band; Columbia.com is advertising their waterproof shoes. With each of these sites, the main thing they are advertising will take up nearly all the space 'above the fold' when viewing.  In order to view the categories below, a customer would need to scroll down.