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You have created your products, uploaded your images, and selected your site design. Before you "go live" and begin accepting orders, take a few minutes to review the following checklist.

This checklist is designed to ensure that various important site features have been configured to provide the best customer shopping experience for your site needs.

Required Steps

Domain name pointed to MonsterCommerce storefront
You will want to point your domain name to your MC IP address.

Specify the Site Domain Name
Once your domain name points to your MC store, specify your domain name within the software.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Site Security

For processing payments through a selected Gateway/Merchant Account:
In order to accept credit card payments online, you are required to apply for a merchant account.
Admin Panel >> Order Processing >> Online Payment Manager

For collecting payment information to process manually:
You can setup Payment Options for Checks, C.O.D., Money order, etc.
Admin Panel >> Order Processing >> Custom Payment Manager

Note: A default payment method is setup when your store is created ("Account Number"). You can use this method for testing your site. You will want to Delete or Hide this option before going live.

Specify the types of credit cards your store accepts
You will need to consult with your credit card processing company for this information.
Admin Panel >> Order Processing >> Credit Card List

Set up Order Invoices
Tailor your customer communications by selecting the information to include on order invoices.
Admin Panel >> Orders >> Order Invoice Print Settings

Set up Shipping Options
The Shipping Manager allows you to set up handling fees, define shipping rules, and create real-time live links to popular shipping companies.
Admin Panel >> Order Processing >> Shipping Manager

Create Company Policy Pages
Provide the best customer service by listing your Refund, Shipping, and Privacy policies on your site.
Admin Panel >> Site HTML >> Custom Pages Editor
Admin Panel >> Order Processing >> Checkout Questions

Setup Checkout Options
The Checkout Settings allow you to choose between two or four step checkout, charge tax based upon billing or shipping address, determine which type of customers to allow, and customize the look and feel of your checkout with text fields and HTML.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Checkout Settings

Checkout Test
Place a test order on your site to ensure that your checkout process, various shipping methods and payment types are enabled and functioning on the site.

Best Practices

Create Administrator accounts
After creating an Admin Account, you can "Edit" the user permissions. Be sure that you are giving the right access to your employees.
Admin Panel >> Admin >> Administrator Editor

SEO Content - Site Wide Default Content
There are multiple fields to specify content for Title, Description and Keyword Meta tags.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Site Wide Settings >> System Options Tab
   >> Company Name and Default Title
   >> Default Description META Tag Content
   >> Default Keywords META Tag Content

SEO Content - Products
Once you determine the main keyword phrases for your site, it is important to name your categories and products accordingly.
Admin Panel >> Inventory >> Category Manager
Admin Panel >> Inventory >> Product Manager >> Product Editor

Search Engine Optimization
Built-In Search Engine Optimization for your storefront is available.
Admin Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Search Engine Optimizer

Specify where Order Alerts should be emailed to
The system can be set so that you are notified when an order is placed on your site.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Site Wide Settings >> Email Content > Send New Order Email Alert To

Specify the currency symbol that your store will use
Verify the specified currency symbol to be used for your site.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Site Wide Settings >> Product List & Details > Currency Symbol

Set Log In & My Account Rules for site
Review each available settings in this section prior to “Go Live”.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Site Wide Settings >> Log In & My Account

Site Wide Search Settings
Specify what content areas of your products are searchable within the Site Search.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Search Settings

Set up company email accounts
Add email accounts for your domain name.
Admin Panel >> Email button (Quick Links navigation bar)

Purchase your own SSL Certificate
A Dedicated SSL Certificate increases customer confidence and is proven to increase conversion rates. MonsterCommerce recommends Network Solutions® SiteSafe™ SSL Certificates. After installation of a Dedicated SSL Certificate, update your security settings within the software.
Admin Panel >> Site Information >> Site Security