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Setting the main domain via which the shop is to be called is mandatory in the shop configuration. The name of your shop’s main domain is crucial for sustainable search engine optimization. All integrated shop system components from WEBSALE AG use this domain name for consistent linking to the shop, including the shop itself, TopRank HTML, TopRank sitemaps, and the short addresses for campaigns. In addition, you can define further domains via which your shop can also be reached. However, using multiple domains produces what is known as duplicate content (DC), which can be assessed negatively by search engines and thus potentially lead to a lower ranking of your shop. Please discuss this with your search engine specialist if necessary. To avoid DC, WEBSALE V8s offers you the option of automatically redirecting to the main domain when the shop is called via one of the additional domains. The buyer, as well as the search engine, will then only ever see the name of the main domain in connection with the shop pages. The following sections first show the configuration of the main domain, then that of the additional domains. The final section provides an overview of the various ways in which a shop can be called.

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Set the main domain

You set the main domain in the shop configuration shop.config in the <Basic> section with the Domain-! parameter. For the URL of your main domain, there is a difference between xyz.de and www.xyz.de. If both spellings are to be used, you must create corresponding additional domains in the <AddDomains> section.
Please always coordinate a change of the main domain with your personal contact at WEBSALE AG. Make sure to enter the domain name in the shop configuration shop.config exactly as it was registered, that is, either with or without “www”.
Reference: Basic section

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Define further optional domains

If, in addition to the main domain, the shop is also to be reachable under alternative domain names, you can specify these in the shop configuration shop.config in the <AddDomains> section. Here you also determine whether these additional domains are to be redirected to the main domain or not. Every additional domain name must be registered with the Deutsches Network Information Center (DENIC eG) before a redirect can work.
Reference: AddDomains section

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Calling a shop

The URL is the link that takes your customers to specific pages of your online shop — for example, to a specific product, a category, or an information page such as the shipping cost overview. A distinction is made between internal and external links. External links are, for example, those that a search engine creates to your shop, or links in newsletters. Internal links are links within the shop, for example to a sitemap. External as well as internal links, alongside many other factors, play an essential role in search engine optimization. Building up a beneficial external link structure requires a lot of effort, time, and dedication. In contrast, working with internal links is manageable. Guide: URL and link optimization With a well-structured internal link setup, you show not only your customers but also search engines such as Google the way to the most important pages of your shop. Internal links should not, however, be limited to a general product menu or a sitemap. While these are still very important and should always be present, links should also be used depending on the respective page content. The number of links and their orientation are decisive. The principle is: as much as necessary, as little as possible. You can set up internal links specifically on each template. This lets you promote certain products and categories right from the start page, for example, but you can also refer to information about shipping costs and available payment methods. The following chapter explains how these internal links are structured and what possibilities they offer. Guide: Internal links External links are intended to ensure that customers find and notice your online shop. Your customer becomes aware of a product in your online shop, for example via a search engine, and is navigated there via the set link. External links thus make your online shop visible on the internet. The following chapter explains how these external links are structured and what possibilities they offer. Guide: External links

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Enabling and disabling shop test modes

To test new features, design changes, or other modifications to your online shop, there is no need to set up a test environment. By appending special test parameters, you put your productive live shop into a test mode. Within this test mode, you always work with your real product and customer data as well as your templates. Mirroring databases, templates, and other resources is not necessary. Guide: Enabling and disabling shop test modes

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Calling the release version

WEBSALE regularly delivers new software releases. A WEBSALE V8s release version — the release candidate — is the upcoming latest version of the V8s shop software. Read how to call the respective release version with your shop data. Guide: Calling the release version

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URL parameters

Basic and additional parameters are appended to the shop URL using a question mark (?) or ampersand (&), depending on whether the parameter in question is in the first or a subsequent position. Materials: URL parameters