Tutorial: Creating an Online Store

If you have a product or selection of products you would like to sell on your website, or if you would like to collect donations for a charity, there is no easier way than with the Yola PayPal widgets. By simply dragging and dropping these widgets you can easily create your own online store. PayPal allows you to process transactions safely online, without having to worry about an expensive merchant account.

Yola has three PayPal widgets that you can use on your site:

1. Single product widget

Displays a single product for sale.

2. Catalog of Products widget

Add this to your page to neatly display more than one product for sale.

3. Collect Donation Widget

Allows people to make donations and contributions to your cause.

To be able to use these widgets you need to sign up on www.paypal.com for a free Premier or Business account. Once your account with PayPal has been created, you are ready to add PayPal buttons to your site.

1. Register with PayPal.com

1. Click on the "online store" folder under "Content" in the content sidebar.
2. You are given three options - "single product", "catalog of products" and "collect donation".
3. Double click or drag and drop your chosen widget onto your page, the PayPal dialog box will open.
4. Click on "I don't have an account" and the link that says "Sign Up Today!".

5. On the PayPal screen click the "Sign Up Today!" link. This will take you to a screen where you can create your account.
6. Fill in all your personal information and create your account.

2. Add the PayPal widgets to your site

2.1. Adding the Single Product Widget

1. Drag and drop the Single Product widget onto your page. A dialog box will open asking you for your PayPal email address. This is the email address you use to access your PayPal account. Fill in this email address in both email fields and click "next".

2. The next dialog box will ask you to edit your settings of the particular product you are selling. You will need to:

• Give your product a title. This should be as brief and accurate a name for the product you are selling as possible. Important Note: Each of your products must have a unique Title and Description. If you give your products the same Title or Description they will be added to the cart as the same product.
• Enter the price of the item.
• Enter a description the of product. Use the description field to add further relevant details about the product.
• Upload an image of the product. A clear, well taken photograph will go a long way towards selling your product!
• You can use the radio buttons in the top right hand corner of the dialog box to set the alignment of your image.

3. When you have finished editing your settings, click on "OK" to add all the product information. A PayPal "Buy Now" button will be added to your page.

4. If you need to go back and edit the settings of a widget already added to the page, click on "edit" on the top left of the green widget toolbar on your page or simply double click anywhere inside the widget.
5. You can set the margins of the PayPal widget on your page by clicking on the Properties tab on the sidebar on the right.

2.2. Adding the Catalog of Products Widget

1. Drag and drop the Catalog of Products widget onto your page. A dialogue box will open asking you for your PayPal email address. This is the email address you use to access your PayPal account.
2. The next dialogue box will ask you to add details of the products you are selling. Click on the yellow "Add Product" button to begin adding your products.

3. You can then add, and edit, the settings of the particular product you are selling. Important Note: Each of your products must have a unique Title and Description. If you give your products the same Title or Description they will be added to the cart as the same product.
4. You can continue to add products to your page until you are satisfied with the number of products you have added.

5. Click on "OK" to add the Catalog to your page.
6. You can easily go back and edit the settings, or add more products, by clicking "edit" on the top left of the Catalog widget on your page.
7. You can set the margins of the PayPal widget on your page by clicking on the Properties tab on the sidebar on the right.

2.3. Adding the Collect Donation Widget

1. Drag and drop the Collect Donation widget onto your page. A dialogue box will open asking you for your PayPal email address. This is the email address you use to access your PayPal account.
2. Click on "OK" to add the widget to your page.

3. If you need to go back and change the PayPal email address used to setup the widget, click on "edit" on the top left of the Collect Donation widget on your page.
4. You can set the margins of the PayPal widget on your page by clicking on the Properties tab on the sidebar on the right.

3. Publish your Online Store!

To test any of your PayPal buttons simply save and preview your page. You will then be able to click on the buttons and you will be taken to the PayPal checkout facility. When someone wants to purchase a product they will click on your buttons and this is the page they will see to complete their purchase. When you are satisfied with your store, you can put your site online and start selling! For more information on publishing, please see our tutorial Publishing Your Site.

A PayPal online store give you instant access to the world of ecommerce. Set yours up and start your internet business today!