Don't combine checkout steps into a single crowded step

Don't overwrite Magento's functionality

Don't weigh down your checkout page

Don't trust anything but numbers

Look for an alternative

Links mentioned in this post:

• Google Website Optimizer
• A/B Testing the One Step Checkout Magento Extension
• Magento Conversion Rate Optimization – Cart and Checkout
• Optimized Checkout Extension
• Newsletter Checkout Extension

app/code/core/Mage/GoogleAnalytics/Block/Ga.php

    /**
     * Render GA tracking scripts
     *
     * @return string
     */
    protected function _toHtml()
    {
        if (!Mage::helper('googleanalytics')->isGoogleAnalyticsAvailable()) {
            return '';
        }
        $accountId = Mage::getStoreConfig(Mage_GoogleAnalytics_Helper_Data::XML_PATH_ACCOUNT);
        return '
<!-- BEGIN GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(\'script\'); ga.type = \'text/javascript\'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (\'https:\' == document.location.protocol ? \'https://ssl\' : \'http://www\') + \'.google-analytics.com/ga.js\';
(document.getElementsByTagName(\'head\')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName(\'body\')[0]).appendChild(ga);
})();

var _gaq = _gaq || [];
' . $this->_getPageTrackingCode($accountId) . '
' . $this->_getOrdersTrackingCode() . '
//]]>
</script>
<!-- END GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->';
    }
}

    /**
     * Render GA tracking scripts
     *
     * @return string
     */
    protected function _toHtml()
    {
        if (!Mage::helper('googleanalytics')->isGoogleAnalyticsAvailable()) {
            return '';
        }
        $accountId = Mage::getStoreConfig(Mage_GoogleAnalytics_Helper_Data::XML_PATH_ACCOUNT);
        return '
<!-- BEGIN GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
' . $this->_getPageTrackingCode($accountId) . '
' . $this->_getOrdersTrackingCode() . '

(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(\'script\'); ga.type = \'text/javascript\'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (\'https:\' == document.location.protocol ? \'https://ssl\' : \'http://www\') + \'.google-analytics.com/ga.js\';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(\'script\')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
//]]>
</script>
<!-- END GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->';
    }
}

Tracking across sub domains

_gaq.push(["_setAllowHash", false]);

	/**
	 * Added to fix cross sub-domain tracking issue
	 */
	public function getDomainName()
	{
	$removepre = array ("http://","/","www","secure");
	if (!$this->hasData('domain_name')) {
		$this->setDomainName(str_replace($removepre, "", Mage::getBaseUrl()));
	}
	return $this->getData('domain_name');
	} 

_gaq.push(["_setDomainName", "' . $this->getDomainName() . '"]);

	/**
	 * Added to fix cross sub-domain tracking issue
	 */
	public function getDomainName()
	{
	$removepre = array ("http://","/","www","secure");
	if (!$this->hasData('domain_name')) {
		$this->setDomainName(str_replace($removepre, "", Mage::getBaseUrl()));
	}
	return $this->getData('domain_name');
	} 

    /**
     * Render GA tracking scripts
     *
     * @return string
     */
    protected function _toHtml()
    {
        if (!Mage::helper('googleanalytics')->isGoogleAnalyticsAvailable()) {
            return '';
        }
        $accountId = Mage::getStoreConfig(Mage_GoogleAnalytics_Helper_Data::XML_PATH_ACCOUNT);
        return '
<!-- BEGIN GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
' . $this->_getPageTrackingCode($accountId) . '
_gaq.push(["_setDomainName", "' . $this->getDomainName() . '"]);
_gaq.push(["_setAllowHash", false]);
' . $this->_getOrdersTrackingCode() . '

(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(\'script\'); ga.type = \'text/javascript\'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (\'https:\' == document.location.protocol ? \'https://ssl\' : \'http://www\') + \'.google-analytics.com/ga.js\';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(\'script\')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
//]]>
</script>
<!-- END GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->';
    }
}

<?php
/**
* Magento
*
* NOTICE OF LICENSE
*
* This source file is subject to the Open Software License (OSL 3.0)
* that is bundled with this package in the file LICENSE.txt.
* It is also available through the world-wide-web at this URL:
* http://opensource.org/licenses/osl-3.0.php
* If you did not receive a copy of the license and are unable to
* obtain it through the world-wide-web, please send an email
* to license@magentocommerce.com so we can send you a copy immediately.
*
* DISCLAIMER
*
* Do not edit or add to this file if you wish to upgrade Magento to newer
* versions in the future. If you wish to customize Magento for your
* needs please refer to http://www.magentocommerce.com for more information.
*
* @category    Mage
* @package     Mage_GoogleAnalytics
* @copyright   Copyright (c) 2010 Magento Inc. (http://www.magentocommerce.com)
* @license     http://opensource.org/licenses/osl-3.0.php  Open Software License (OSL 3.0)
*/


/**
* GoogleAnalitics Page Block
*
* @category   Mage
* @package    Mage_GoogleAnalytics
* @author     Magento Core Team <core@magentocommerce.com>
*/
class Mage_GoogleAnalytics_Block_Ga extends Mage_Core_Block_Text
{
    /**
     * @deprecated after 1.4.1.1
     * @see self::_getOrdersTrackingCode()
     * @return string
     */
    public function getQuoteOrdersHtml()
    {
        return '';
    }

    /**
     * @deprecated after 1.4.1.1
     * self::_getOrdersTrackingCode()
     * @return string
     */
    public function getOrderHtml()
    {
        return '';
    }

    /**
     * @deprecated after 1.4.1.1
     * @see _toHtml()
     * @return string
     */
    public function getAccount()
    {
        return '';
    }

    /**
     * Get a specific page name (may be customized via layout)
     *
     * @return string|null
     */
    public function getPageName()
    {
        return $this->_getData('page_name');
    }

    /**
     * Render regular page tracking javascript code
     * The custom "page name" may be set from layout or somewhere else. It must start from slash.
     *
     * @link http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/gaJS/gaJSApiBasicConfiguration.html#_gat.GA_Tracker_._trackPageview
     * @link http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/gaJS/gaJSApi_gaq.html
     * @param string $accountId
     * @return string
     */
    protected function _getPageTrackingCode($accountId)
    {
        $pageName   = trim($this->getPageName());
        $optPageURL = '';
        if ($pageName && preg_match('/^\/.*/i', $pageName)) {
            $optPageURL = ", '{$this->jsQuoteEscape($pageName)}'";
        }
        return "
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', '{$this->jsQuoteEscape($accountId)}']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview'{$optPageURL}]);
";
    }

    /**
     * Render information about specified orders and their items
     *
     * @link http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/gaJS/gaJSApiEcommerce.html#_gat.GA_Tracker_._addTrans
     * @return string
     */
    protected function _getOrdersTrackingCode()
    {
        $orderIds = $this->getOrderIds();
        if (empty($orderIds) || !is_array($orderIds)) {
            return;
        }
        $collection = Mage::getResourceModel('sales/order_collection')
            ->addFieldToFilter('entity_id', array('in' => $orderIds))
        ;
        $result = array();
        foreach ($collection as $order) {
            if ($order->getIsVirtual()) {
                $address = $order->getBillingAddress();
            } else {
                $address = $order->getShippingAddress();
            }
            $result[] = sprintf("_gaq.push(['_addTrans', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s']);",
                $order->getIncrementId(), Mage::app()->getStore()->getFrontendName(), $order->getBaseGrandTotal(),
                $order->getBaseTaxAmount(), $order->getBaseShippingAmount(),
                $this->jsQuoteEscape($address->getCity()),
                $this->jsQuoteEscape($address->getRegion()),
                $this->jsQuoteEscape($address->getCountry())
            );
            foreach ($order->getAllVisibleItems() as $item) {
                $result[] = sprintf("_gaq.push(['_addItem', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s']);",
                    $order->getIncrementId(),
                    $this->jsQuoteEscape($item->getSku()), $this->jsQuoteEscape($item->getName()),
                    null, // there is no "category" defined for the order item
                    $item->getBasePrice(), $item->getQtyOrdered()
                );
            }
            $result[] = "_gaq.push(['_trackTrans']);";
        }
        return implode("\n", $result);
    }

	/**
	 * Added by noam to fix cross sub-domain tracking issue
	 */
	public function getDomainName()
	{
	$removepre = array ("http://","/","get","secure");
	if (!$this->hasData('domain_name')) {
		$this->setDomainName(str_replace($removepre, "", Mage::getBaseUrl()));
	}
	return $this->getData('domain_name');
	} 

    /**
     * Render GA tracking scripts
     *
     * @return string
     */
    protected function _toHtml()
    {
        if (!Mage::helper('googleanalytics')->isGoogleAnalyticsAvailable()) {
            return '';
        }
        $accountId = Mage::getStoreConfig(Mage_GoogleAnalytics_Helper_Data::XML_PATH_ACCOUNT);
        return '
<!-- BEGIN GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
' . $this->_getPageTrackingCode($accountId) . '
_gaq.push(["_setDomainName", "' . $this->getDomainName() . '"]);
_gaq.push(["_setAllowHash", false]);
' . $this->_getOrdersTrackingCode() . '

(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(\'script\'); ga.type = \'text/javascript\'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (\'https:\' == document.location.protocol ? \'https://ssl\' : \'http://www\') + \'.google-analytics.com/ga.js\';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(\'script\')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
//]]>
</script>
<!-- END GOOGLE ANALYTICS CODE -->';
    }
}

{{block type="catalog/product_new" name="home.catalog.product.new" alias="product_homepage" template="catalog/product/new.phtml" _productsCount="8" cache_lifetime="1"}}

<reference name="product_list">
	<action method="setTemplate">
		<template>catalog/product/list-custom.phtml</template>
	</action>
</reference>

a:5:{i:0;s:69:"Invalid method Mage_Wishlist_Block_Links::addWishlistLink(Array
(
)
)";i:1;s:2313:"#0 [internal function]: Varien_Object->__call('addWishlistLink', Array)

<reference name="top.links">
    <block type="wishlist/links" name="wishlist_link">
         <action method="addWishlistLink"></action>
    </block>
</reference>

<reference name="top.links">
    <block type="wishlist/links" name="wishlist_link"/>
    <action method="addLinkBlock"><blockName>wishlist_link</blockName></action>
</reference>

{{block  type="catalog/product_new" name="home.catalog.product.new"  alias="product_homepage" template="catalog/product/new.phtml"  _productsCount="9"}}

<select onchange="setLocation(this.value)">
	 <option value=""><?php echo 'Choose an Option...' ?></option>
<?php foreach ($this->getItems() as $_item): ?>
    <option
        <?php if ($_item->getCount() > 0): ?>
        value="<?php echo $this->urlEscape($_item->getUrl()) ?>"><?php echo $_item->getLabel() ?>
        <?php else: echo '>' . $_item->getLabel() ?>
        <?php endif; ?>
        (<?php echo $_item->getCount() ?>)
    </option>
<?php endforeach ?>
</select>

<?php echo $this->getChildHtml('topLinks') ?>

<?php echo $this->getLayout()->getBlock('top.links')->toHtml()?>

<block type="page/template_links" name="top.links" as="topLinks"/>

<?php echo $this->getLayout()->createBlock('cms/block')->setBlockId('your-static-block-identifier')->toHtml() ?>

• Simple Product
• Grouped Product
• Configurable Product
• Virtual Product
• Bundle Product
• Downloadable Product

• Magento Content Management System for content pages (unlimited pages, flexible design, wysiwyg editor, etc)
• Magento's built in CRM (customer relation manager) to keep track of your customers, offer customer account functionality to your users, etc
• Magento's wide pool of extensions (for example support systems, faqs, live chat, etc)
• Default support to most payment methods including all Paypal options, Google Checkout, Authorize.net, etc
• Magento's order management and default integration with most existing shipping methods
• Magento's default support for multiple languages and multiple currencies (if you ever want to grow and expand your store)
• Magento's built in newsletter system (including option to opt-in/opt-out, multiple lists, etc)
• And much much more!

<reference name="left">
	<remove name="cart_sidebar"></remove>
	<remove name="catalog.compare.sidebar"></remove>
	<remove name="sale.reorder.sidebar"></remove>
</reference>

<action method="addJs" ifconfig="dev/js/deprecation"><script>prototype/deprecation.js</script></action>

<action method="addJs"><script>lib/ccard.js</script></action>

<block type="page/html_notices" name="global_notices" as="global_notices" template="page/html/notices.phtml" />

<block type="page/switch" name="store_language" as="store_language" template="page/switch/languages.phtml"/>
<block type="page/html_header" name="header" as="header">
	 <block type="core/text_list" name="top.menu" as="topMenu"/>
</block>

<block type="page/template_links" name="top.links" as="topLinks"/>

<block type="page/html_breadcrumbs" name="breadcrumbs" as="breadcrumbs"/>

<block type="core/text_list" name="left" as="left"/>

<block type="core/messages" name="global_messages" as="global_messages"/>
<block type="core/messages" name="messages" as="messages"/>

<block type="core/text_list" name="content" as="content"/>

<block type="core/text_list" name="right" as="right"/>

<block type="page/html_footer" name="footer" as="footer" template="page/html/footer.phtml">
	 <block type="page/switch" name="store_switcher" as="store_switcher" template="page/switch/stores.phtml"/>
	 <block type="page/template_links" name="footer_links" as="footer_links" template="page/template/footer_links.phtml"/>
</block>

<block type="core/text_list" name="before_body_end" as="before_body_end"/>
</block>

<block type="core/profiler" output="toHtml"/>

<block type="core/text_list" name="after_body_start" as="after_body_start"/>

<block type="page/html_notices" name="global_notices" as="global_notices" template="page/html/notices.phtml" />

<block type="page/switch" name="store_language" as="store_language" template="page/switch/languages.phtml"/>
<block type="page/html_header" name="header" as="header">
	 <block type="core/text_list" name="top.menu" as="topMenu"/>
</block>

<block type="page/template_links" name="top.links" as="topLinks"/>

<block type="page/html_breadcrumbs" name="breadcrumbs" as="breadcrumbs"/>

<block type="core/text_list" name="left" as="left" translate="label">
	 <label>Left Column</label>
</block>

<block type="core/messages" name="global_messages" as="global_messages"/>
<block type="core/messages" name="messages" as="messages"/>

<block type="core/text_list" name="content" as="content" translate="label">
	 <label>Main Content Area</label>
</block>

<block type="core/text_list" name="right" as="right" translate="label">
	 <label>Right Column</label>
</block>

<block type="page/html_footer" name="footer" as="footer" template="page/html/footer.phtml">
	 <block type="page/html_wrapper" name="bottom.container" as="bottomContainer" translate="label">
		  <label>Page Footer</label>
		  <action method="setElementClass"><value>bottom-container</value></action>
	 </block>
	 <block type="page/switch" name="store_switcher" as="store_switcher" template="page/switch/stores.phtml"/>
	 <block type="page/template_links" name="footer_links" as="footer_links" template="page/template/links.phtml"/>
</block>

<block type="core/text_list" name="before_body_end" as="before_body_end"/>
</block>

<block type="core/profiler" output="toHtml" name="core_profiler"/>

$result = imagejpeg($object->getTmpImage(), $object->getFilePath(true), 80);

$result = imagejpeg($object->getTmpImage(), $object->getFilePath(true), 95);

1. Set the appropriate root category.

2. Magento store categories must be sub categories under root category.

3. Delete Magento cache and reindex all data!

1. Go to System>Index Management
2. Click on "select all" in the upper left corner
3. Under "Action" select "Reindex Data" and click submit

4. Lastly I highly recommend manually deleting all files under var/cache and var/sessions.

Add Home Link To The Menu Bar

<div class="header-nav-container">
	 <div class="header-nav">
		  <h4 class="no-display"><?php echo $this->__('Category Navigation:') ?></h4>
		  <ul id="nav">
 
		  <!-- HOME BUTTON HACK -->
		  <?php $_anyActive = false; foreach ($this->getStoreCategories() as $_category) { $_anyActive = $_anyActive || $this->isCategoryActive($_category); } ?>
		  <li class="<?php echo !$_anyActive ? 'active' : '' ?>"><a href="<?php echo $this->getUrl('')?>"><?php echo $this->__('Home') ?></a></li>
		  <!-- HOME BUTTON HACK -->
 
		  <?php foreach ($this->getStoreCategories(10) as $_category):?>
				<?php echo $this->drawItem($_category) ?>
		  <?php endforeach ?>
		  </ul>
	 </div>
	 <?php echo $this->getChildHtml('topLeftLinks') ?>
</div>

Add Home Link To The Top Links Bar

<?php $_links = $this->getLinks(); ?>
<?php if(count($_links)>0): ?>
	 <div>
		  <ul<?php if($this->getName()): ?>):?> id="<?php echo $this->getName() ?>"<?php endif;?>>
		 
		  <!-- HOME BUTTON HACK -->
		  <li class="first"><a href="<?php echo $this->getUrl('')?>"><?php echo $this->__('Home') ?></a></li>
		  <!-- HOME BUTTON HACK -->
		 
				<?php foreach($_links as $_link): ?>
					 <li <?php if($_link->getIsLast()): ?> class="last"<?php endif; ?><?php echo $_link->getLiParams() ?>><?php echo $_link->getBeforeText() ?><a href="<?php echo $_link->getUrl() ?>" title="<?php echo $_link->getTitle() ?>" <?php echo $_link->getAParams() ?>><?php echo $_link->getLabel() ?></a><?php echo $_link->getAfterText() ?></li>
				<?php endforeach; ?>
		  </ul>
	</div>
<?php endif; ?>

What is a cache?

How do I refresh my browser's cache?

How do I refresh Magento's cache?

Step One: Add .phtml to extension.txt in your Application Data

Step Two: Add .phtml to the extension.txt configuration file

Step Three: Add PHTML to MMDocumentTypes.xml

<documenttype id="PHP_MySQL" servermodel="PHP MySQL" 
internaltype="Dynamic"
winfileextension="php,php3,php4,php5,phtml"

macfileextension="php,php3,php4,php5,phtml" file="Default.php" 
writebyteordermark="false">;
</documenttype>

1. Find extension in Magento Connect: Click on the extension name to view the extension’s details.
2. Get Extension Key Click on Extension Key button. Extension key is what MagentoConnect uses to identify the package in PEAR.
3. Check the box to agree to the extension license agreement
4. Click on the Get Extension Key again.
5. Select selection key displaying in the text box and copy.

1. Navigate to your Magento Admin Panel and select Manage Extension under the System Menu
2. After logging in with your Admin login, paste in the extension key you copied and click the “Install” button.

All SEO techniques can be divided into 2 main categories: on-page SEO techniques, and off-page SEO techniques.

On-page SEO

Step 1 - Page Title and URL

• Use friendly URLs for your website's pages such as www.yourdomain.com/website-design and NOT your www.domain.com/page2.html
• Check the length of your page title. If it’s under 50 characters then you should add an additional word. The maximum recommended length for page titles is 70 characters. Something thats related to your site such as ‘Shirts’, ‘Flowers’, ‘Web Design’, ‘Coupons’, ‘Envelopes’, or even a name of a local town or county would be a great addition.
• Make sure your key phrase is at the beginning of your title. Rather than 'Website Temple - Search Engine Optimization' go for 'Search Engine Optimization by Website Temple'. Google prefers key phrases as close to the beginning of your title as possible.

Step 2 Meta Data

• Keywords - Make the keywords specific to every page they are on. Ensure that your most important phrases are at the beginning.
• Description - Make sure the main keyword you want your page found for is as close to the beginning of the description as possible. Ideally it should start in the first 3 words.

Step 3 - Good Content

• Headings and Subheadings
  • Ensure you have only one h1 (heading 1) tag on each page. Subsequent headings can be wrapped around other heading tags such as (H2, H3, H4, H5, H6).
  • Check that every heading relates to your content directly below it. So if a heading contains a keyword, make sure this keyword is in the first sentence below the heading.
• Internal Linking
  • When linking to other pages within your website, don’t just call them ‘products’, ’services’, ‘gallery’ etc. Try adding an additional word to these to describe the page the link goes to. Something like ‘Marketing Products’, ‘SEO Services’, ‘Web Design Gallery’. These describe the page that the link goes to in better detail.
• External Linking
  • Links to high rankings sites that are relevant to the content of your page. This may be a link to a news website that talks about the same topic or even Wikipedia.

Off-page SEO

Step 4 - Inbound linking

• Create quality traffic to your site via 3rd party websites - talk about your business and your website on forums that relate to your industry, blogs, etc… Quality inbound links will not only bring visitors to your site, they will also vastly improve your website ranking on major search engines as they will consider your website as popular and relevant.
• Submit your website to directories and web galleries.

1. Install Magento
   Install Magento onto your site and create a Website, Store, and Store View. For more information on how to install Magento, see the Magento Installation Guide.
   
   
2. Upload Your Theme
   After installing Magento on your site, upload your theme files to the appropriate folders, following the folder structure in which the theme is provided.
   
   
3. Activate Your Theme
   Access the Admin Panel and navigate to System > Configuration. Select your Store View from the Current Configuration Scope drop-down menu in the upper left corner. Click on "Design" under the "General" section of the left side navigation. Under the "Themes" section, uncheck all of the check boxes titled "Use website." In each text field, enter the name of the folders containing the theme you wish to use.
   
   
4. Setup Your Homepage
   From the top navigation, navigate to CMS > Manage Pages. Click on the "+ Add New Page" button. Enter your desired page title. For the home page, be sure to set your SEF URL Identifier as "home" and select your store view. Select "Custom Design" from the left side navigation and set Layout to "1 column." Return to General Information and enter the HTML for your homepage in the text area labeled "Content." Set the Status to "Enabled" and click on the "Save Page" button in the upper right corner to save and activate your homepage.
   
   

That's it! Congratulations! Just set up your categories and products, and you now have a beautiful, fully functioning ecommerce website!

• Supported Operating Systems:
  • Linux x86, x86-64
• Supported Web Servers:
  • Apache 1.3.x
  • Apache 2.0.x
  • Apache 2.2.x
• Supported Browsers:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and above
  • Mozilla Firefox 2.0 and above
  • Apple Safari 2.x
  • Google Chrome
  • Adobe Flash browser plug-in should be installed
• PHP Compatibility:
  • 5.2
  • Required extensions:
    • PDO_MySQL
    • simplexml
    • mcrypt
    • hash
    • GD
    • DOM
    • iconv
    • SOAP (if Webservices API is to be used)
  • Safe_mode off
  • Memory_limit 32M or more
• MySQL:
  • 4.1.20 or newer
  • InnoDB storage engine
• SSL:
  • If HTTPS is used to work in the admin, SSL certificate should be valid. Self-signed SSL certificates are not supported
• Server - hosting - setup:
  • Ability to run scheduled jobs (crontab) with PHP 5
  • Ability to override options in .htaccess files