Design & Dev Tools

Many digital tools facilitate the running of an ecommerce business. Our library includes tools for web design, infographics, no-code apps, user experience, course creation, logo makers, video editors, performance testing, and much more.

Design & Dev Tools
The PeC Review: Firebug Is a Developer’s Tool Worth the Buzz

January 19, 2009 • Armando Roggio

Firebug is a free Mozilla Firefox add on that gives developers a powerful tool to inspect and edit HTML, perfect CSS, or even admire the beautiful code from other websites. For many, the add-on has become an indispensable part of website design, development, and maintenance. "This is ...
Design & Dev Tools
Product Video: Easy Distribution Tools

December 31, 2008 • Jennifer D. Meacham

Editor's Note: This is part four in our special report on “Video for Ecommerce,” where we describe real stories of online merchants creatively using video to drive sales and grow their brands. Previous installments are linked in below. What’s next once you’ve added product videos to yo...
Design & Dev Tools
Video in a Snap: Easy Video Creation Techniques

December 24, 2008 • Jennifer D. Meacham

Editor's Note: This is part three in our special report on “Video for Ecommerce,” where we describe real stories of online merchants creatively using video to drive sales and grow their brands. Previous installments are linked in the "Related articles" section, below. Practical eCommer...
Design & Dev Tools
Ecommerce Know-How: Create a Google Gadget to Promote a Weekly Feature

December 17, 2008 • Armando Roggio

Creating and publishing promotional web gadgets is a great way to spread the word about the products or services you sell and increase traffic to your website. Think about a web gadget as a form of social media. Your customers and potential customers can add the gadget to their iGoog...
Design & Dev Tools
Web Design Tips: Add An Image Flip for More Sales

December 12, 2008 • Armando Roggio

Consumers will judge your website mainly by the size, quality, and interactivity of the images you use. Adding a simple interactive feature—like a JavaScript image flip—may lend your store credibility and improve your conversion rates. Consumers rely on an ecommerce site's aesthetic...
Design & Dev Tools
Site Monitoring Tools Help Prevent Downtime

October 22, 2007 • Dave Young

In order for an ecommerce site to sell products and services, it must be continuously available to online customers. Any downtime could potentially cause a retailer to lose thousands of dollars. Consequently, an important element in any online endeavor is having a structure in place to ...
Design & Dev Tools
Nine Simple Ways To Speed Up Tedious Tasks

September 24, 2007 • Pamela Hazelton

Because I’m all about automation of the tedious of tasks, this month I’m offering up some key, yet very simple ways, to speed up tasks you’ve probably never given much thought to. While it may take me time to figure it out, I always try to tackle the pesky mundane tasks first. Auto-l...
Design & Dev Tools
Experiencing Server Overload

November 1, 2006 • Pamela Hazelton

Each month I talk about things I’ve learned by watching how other store owners run their businesses. Not that I don’t make my own mistakes, but I often try to keep my own embarrassing moments to myself. Until now... I’ve talked before about what to look for in a hosting company. I’ve t...
Design & Dev Tools
Tools of the Trade

June 1, 2006 • Brian Getting

Welcome to our first installment of “Programming Notes,” a column designed to help novice web designers and developers with some of the challenges that they may face. Creating and maintaining a website requires someone to be familiar with graphic design, computer programming, server adm...
Design & Dev Tools
Hosting Companies: Top 10 Questions to Ask

October 1, 2005 • Pamela Hazelton

I field many phone calls in any given day. And never does a day pass where I don’t get a call about someone having trouble with their host. Sometimes I have to bite my tongue, and many would be shocked at some of the stories I’ve heard. I think it’s time to just start referring people ...
Design & Dev Tools
Preventative Maintenance

July 1, 2005 • Pamela Hazelton

I spend just as much time troubleshooting Miva Merchant issues as I do customizing storefronts. I've found that no matter how much you foolproof something, someone out there can, and will, find a way to break its functionality. Fortunately, users of Miva Merchant often need only follow ...