Build a Niche Store - 5 Steps for a Quick Install
Last week I wrote two entries about my Build a Niche Store project. Build a Niche store is a PHP script that helps you create an eBay affiliate store in less than 20 minutes. Once it’s set up you can customize it fully, making a unique and outstanding website.
As you keep reading this entry, you’ll soon understand why I really, really like this product. Be sure you check out my Build a Niche Store project, I think you’ll agree that it looks like a unique, robust, content filled site. You can see my in-progress Build a Niche Store here at Angled Reviews (It’s a live site, but I’m still working on customizations, etc, so if you notice anything funny going on, please leave a comment below. Thanks)
It’s all in The Manual
The Build a Niche Store product includes a detailed 74 page PDF Manual that takes the absolute beginner through all the steps required to install the software on your first site, starting with purchasing a domain name, thru installing the software, all the way to fine tuning your content.
However, many people purchasing the product are not absolute beginners and have already set up several websites. I’d like to provide a more concise summary for those of you who are considering purchasing Build a Niche Store so that you can evaluate the amount of work required to get it up and running before making your purchasing decision.
Step 1: Purchase a domain name and set up a hosting account. If this is foreign to you, see my article on “Finding a Good Host”
Step 2: Upload the Store files to your root directory. This is a simple step requiring knowledge of how to use FTP. If this is unfamiliar to you, see my article on Using FTP to your Advantage.
Step 3: Change permissions on a single file to ensure read & write access to everyone. This step also uses FTP, it’s simple depending on your FTP program, but worth reviewing the help seciton of your FTP software for how to “Change Mode” or “Change Permissins”
Step 4: Create a new MySQL Database. Simple if your hosting company has a CPanel, or similar interface with the SQL Administration tool called PHPMySQLAdmin. This step was the most involved, as all my previous databases have been automatically installed for me. But if your host uses CPanel (I recommend using LunarPages), it’s all poitn and click. I selected the name of my database to match with LunarPages existing patter of naming the database, so that if I add additional ones, I won’t lose track of each niche store database.
Step 5: Visit your new domain URL and the rest of the installation is point and click in your browser window.
Your Build a Niche Site is now installed, and hopefully, it took less than 20 minutes.
The remainder of the valuable Manual covers customization and content creation for your store. Since customizing your niche store can take up as much time as you let it, I have decided not to cover it here, the manual does a great job. Enjoy the process of discovery and let me know what your results are!
Go hear to see the Build a Niche Store Homepage and see some of the other features offered.
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Hope this is not too off topic, but was curious about your goals with BANS? On the digital point forum today, there was a thread titled “How many BANS/eBay stores is too many?”.
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=519212
I think this question is not discussed too often. Is it better to have one awesome BANS/ebay store front or 100? Also, are you worried about diverisification? Are you only putting eBay eggs in the affilate marketing basket?
I myself am heavily invested in the eBay game, and I’m starting to look for other money making affiliate store programs to help diversify.
Excellent blog by the way!
hanji
Hi Hanji, Thanks for raising the question, it is a good one. I want to give the answer the attention it deserves and will write a post about this this coming week. Thanks for stopping by, too.
Can’t wait to read what you have to say!
hanji
I’ve been using BANS for a while. It’s a decent piece of software. But still you have to put in a lot of hard work into it. Thanks for the 5 steps to a quick install.
BANS is great software. Not hard to set up at all, and after a little SEO + link building, it makes some nice money.
I thought BANS was kinda tough at first but once I pulled my head out of my duffle bag…it is really easy. I started with one BANS site and now have over 100! BANS rocks!
BANS is a great tool and it really saves you a lot of time. The main thing many people don’t do is you need a lot of sites/stores to make good money.
BANS is great software and once you make a few sites, it’s really hard to stop yourself from making more. I think the first commenter makes a good point though. Everyone really needs to diversify, so as to insulate themselves, just in case something changes with EPN.
Seems like a great tool, now I just have to buy a load of domains