Setting up categories for your new site is very simple. Once logged into the Admin Panel, go to the Inventory menu under the Sales Manager area and then select the Category Manager. Using this tool, you can add categories, delete categories or rename categories and also add details to the category pages. Once your categories are done, you can assign products to them using the Product Manager, also under Inventory.
Note: You can also use MonsterDataPort to upload product and category information from a spreadsheet on your computer. Click here to learn more about DataPort.
The best resource for adding products is the Product Creation Quick Guide.
For a new client, the easiest way to learn about the Product Manager is to edit an existing product, which is why most clients start with a Sample product. Go to Inventory > Product Manger and use the Search feature at the bottom of the menu. Leave the box blank and hit 'Search'. You should then see the one Sample product with three links to the right of it; Edit,Basic Edit, and Delete. Use the Basic Edit to get started and familiar with the system. You will see two tabs; General and Images. You can customize this product and see where the text shows up by using the link at the bottom of the General tab to view the product.
Note: You can also use MonsterDataPort to upload product and category information from a spreadsheet on your computer. Click here to learn more about DataPort.
You can do quite a bit of customization to the store template. You should start in Layout > Theme Builder and then customize your chosen theme from there in the HTML and Layout menus. The best references for modifying your site's theme are the following Quick Guide pages -
Technical support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are in your MyMonsterCommerce Account, you can create a ticket request, or you can call our technical support team at 800.353.6582.
Checkout can be customized to add additional questions with the Checkout > Checkout Questions menu. You can also learn more about customizing checkout with the following Quick Guides -
If you will be accepting credit cards online and do not have any other method for completing the transaction (such as a physical terminal), then you will need a Merchant Account and an online Payment Gateway. But you do not need to use MonsterMerchantAccount specifically. If you do not yet have a gateway, however, it is recommended. Our software is also compatible with many other gateways, including but not limited to the following.
You can make your site live whenever you would like. Once your DNS settings are set for the first time, it can take 24 hours or more to be completed. From there, your site can be live. However, you can also set your site to be Disabled. To manage this setting, go to Admin > Enable/Disable Store and set up a construction page. As long as your store is disabled, unless a user is logged in as administrator, they will only see that construction message.