Engaging the customers in sites like Google is why SEO is key to the growth of your online store.

Magento web hosting alone isn’t going to guarantee success. There are things you need to do to give it the best chance possible.

In this tutorial, I’ll help you improve Magento SEO for better visibility in engines like Google and Bing. Keep in mind that these are only a few things you can do to enhance how search engines crawl your site.

You may also want to see about exploring CDN capabilities such as CloudFlare for speed. This can greatly influence your search engine ranking.

Search Engine-Friendly URLs

One of the first steps you should do after installing Magento is setting up search engine-friendly URLs. This will improve how engines like Google and Bing crawl the website from the very beginning.

Click on the “Configuration” settings in the Store section of Magento.

Click the “Web” tab in the General category.

In the Search Engine Optimization setting, you’ll see a control for “Use Web Server Rewrites.” Make sure this is set to “Yes” and click “Save Config.” This may already be set by default, but it’s better to be sure.

Site Meta Title and Descriptions

The next thing you should do before you import your product list to start selling is set up the meta information. This is how the data search engines collect to show in the results page as well as categorize your site.

In the Content section, click the “Configuration” tool.

Click the “Edit” link in the Action column of the theme your website is using. Because I have this one set to Magento Luma, I am going to click the top one. The changes made in this “global” setting will be shared among all of the Luma themes.

As Magento can be used in a multisite platform, you’ll need to pay attention to what domain you’re editing. If you want to edit just one website, click the link next to the theme for that particular domain.

Expand the HTML Head section and make your changes. The important areas to keep in mind are:

• Default Title: The name of your online store.
• Default Description: A short one or two sentence long description of your website. Keep it under 255 characters.
• Default Keywords: Use keywords relevant to what you sell. Now, some search engines don’t put a lot of emphasis on keyword meta data today. However, some companies use them anyway to be on the safe side.

Once you’re done with your changes, click the “Save Configuration” button.

Magento will request that you flush the cache after it saves the data. Follow the link the message provides and click the button to flush the cache.

SEO for Products

When you’re adding products to Magento, you’ll have the opportunity to fine-tune the SEO much like you did for the entire site.

From the Products section, click the “Catalog” link.

In the product window, whether you’re creating a new one or editing an existing item, you’ll see a feature for Search Engine Optimization when you scroll down. When you expand the function, you’ll be able to access the meta title, keywords and description of the item.

This is very much similar to the site data I showed you above.

Enter in the title, keywords and description of the item and click “Save.”

Again, Magento may request that you flush the cache.

Product SEO needs to be done to each and every item you sell if you want Magento to maximize the potential for making sales.

Improving Magento SEO for Success

Optimization vastly increases the potential for the online store to engage consumers. There are several things you can do to the site that will improve SEO. Start with the tools that Magento gives you and work your way up from there. Every moment you wait is another customer you give to the competition.

The post How to Improve SEO in Magento appeared first on GreenGeeks.

Magento also allows users to import and export tax rates for backups or reference for other apps and software.

However, this doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes an error will occur when trying to import or export data. Luckily, some of these problems can be addressed.

In this Magento import and export tutorial, I’m going to go over a few of the more common problems you may come across during the procedure.

Fixing Magento Import and Export Problems

The import and export functions can be found in the System area of Magento. From here, you can perform the necessary tasks. So, how do you address the problems that may arise during the process?

CSV File Formatting

Magento supports CSV file types. However, a bad formatting of the data can lead to imports failing or even missing important rows. Because the process of importing data is very strict in Magento, everything needs to be accurate in the spreadsheet.

Sometimes a bad conversion by third-party applications can cause formatting problems. For example, a CSV file converted from Excel may be prone to incorrect table structure.

A good way to get around this problem is to download the CSV file directly from Magento and use it as a sample. This will guide you to how the system is recording the data and how you should structure the additions.

Short Description Information Loss

The short description for products is intended to be a kind of teaser for the main product page. If the text is too long, an error could occur or the text will be cut during the import. The end result is anything but ideal.

It’s recommended that you stick with a maximum of 255 characters for a short description in Magento. All you really need is a condensed version of the long description itself. Keep in mind that spaces between words will count towards this limit when importing data to the website.

If you’re unsure about description length, most word processors offer a word count tool that will show the number of characters within selected text. Many of these applications are free to use, such as Libre Office.

Import and Export Paths Blocked

If file and folder permissions are set incorrectly, there will be a problem importing data. These permissions dictate what can be done to the file system of the website.

Luckily, these permissions are relatively easy to change in cPanel. Use the File Manager in cPanel to edit the folder permissions.

You can also use some FTP programs such as FileZilla to edit the files and folders.

Image Saving Location Problems

Text isn’t the only thing that is capable of being imported into Magento. Many people will have images contained within CSV files as well. The path of these files needs to be accurate in reflecting where the correct folder is located on the website. Otherwise, an error will occur and the images will not be saved.

Issues When Trying to Import Multiple Images

Not all imports for images are going to work well. For instance, sometimes problems will occur if you try to import multiple images between CSV and Excel conversions. As a result, small, thumbnail and actual size images may be causing problems during the import.

You may have to upload images separately if the CSV is not importing correctly.

Use Magento’s Import/Export Feature to Save Time

The import/export feature of Magento is still worth the effort when it comes to saving time. For the most part, a lot of these issues can be averted simply by using the sample CSV or a backup copy of Magento’s actual CSV file. Using it as a template to upload your products or customers can save you a lot of aggravation in the long run.

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In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to fix Magento issues that you may come across after building your website. Some of these are quite simple and don’t take a lot of programming knowledge to address.

Configuring a New Domain Name in Magento

What if you decide to change the domain name of your site to something more appropriate? In the past, many eCommerce owners decided to simplify the URL or make it more marketable for what they sell. In any case, you’ll need to configure Magento to work with the new name.

Changing the Domain in Magento

From Magento, select the Stores section and click “Configuration.”

Click the “Web” tab on the left side of the screen.

Click to expand the “Base URLs” options.

Change the Base URL to reflect the new domain and click “Save Config.” For example, you would enter “https://www.ggexample.com.”

If you use an SSL to support secure access, do the same for Base URLs (Secure). It may not be a bad idea to do this even if you don’t have the SSL attached. It will save you a step later on should you choose to add it.

Clearing the Cache

When you make any change to your website, it’s always best to clear the cache. This keeps the file system current and optimized for your visitors.

Go to the System section of Magento and click “Cache Management.”

Click the “Flush Magento Cache” button on the top. After the site clears its data, your site is ready for visitors to the new domain name.

Resetting the Admin Password in Magento

Perhaps you forgot the administrative password to Magento. Maybe someone stole it, and you want to change the password before someone wreaks havoc on your site. For whatever reason, changing the admin password is relatively simple.

From cPanel, click the phpMyAdmin tool.

Find your database for Magento in the left column and click it.

Click the “SQL” tab along the top toolbar of phpMyAdmin.

Paste the following code in the box for queries:
[ht_message mstyle=”info” title=”” show_icon=”” id=”” class=”” style=”” ]UPDATE admin_user SET password=CONCAT(MD5(‘sGnewpass’), ‘:sG’) WHERE username=’AdminUsername’;[/ht_message]
You will have to change the newpass to the new password and AdminUsername to the admin username.

Once you’ve entered the query, click the “Go” button on the bottom right.

If you have access to the admin panel of Magento, or if another user can access it, you can also change the password for the account in the System area under “All Users.”

Setting Magento to Use Search Engine-Friendly URLs

Search engine-friendly URLs are those that improve how sites like Google crawl and categorize your content. It’s also beneficial for visitors if they see URLs that are easier to identify with the content.

In the configuration screen of the Stores section, click the “Web” tab.

Click the Search Engine Optimization function and select “Yes” from the rewrites option. This may already be set by default in Magento 2.0 and later.

Click the “Save Config” button on the top right, and you’re done. You may have to flush your cache afterward to keep the site running smoothly.

Setting “WWW” URLs to Open Magento

Depending on how you have the domain set up through your Magento web hosting account, sometimes the “www” in a URL may not work. You may also want to set the prefix to open because of SEO or usability reasons. Regardless of the purpose, you can change how Magento opens the website when shoppers visit.

.htaccess Changes

Edit the “.htaccess” file of Magento from File Manager in cPanel.

Input the following code at the top of .htaccess and save the file (replace “ggexample.com” with your domain).
[ht_message mstyle=”info” title=”” show_icon=”” id=”” class=”” style=”” ]RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^ggexample.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.ggexample.com/$1 [R=301,L][/ht_message]

Magento Changes

Once the changes in .htaccess are saved, you’ll need to change the Base URL in Magento.

Go the Stores section and click “Configuration.” In the Web tab, you’ll find the Base URLs option. In the Base URL text box, input your website with the WWW prefix. For instance, you may enter https://www.ggexample.com. Save the configuration once you are done.

Do this to the secured URLs as well if you use SSL.

Solving Access Denied in Magento

If some areas of the site give you an error stating access is denied, the permissions may be altered for the account. To fix this, you’ll need to change the permission for the particular role.

The first thing you should try is to log out of Magento and then try to log back in again. It probably wouldn’t hurt to clear the cache of your web browser before attempting to log in. This will eliminate cached file problems as a factor.

Otherwise, go to the System section of Magento and click “All Users.”

Click on the account in question to open its settings.

Click the “User Role” tab on the left.

Verify the account is set to Administrators. Otherwise, change it and click “Save User.”

You can also verify permissions set by accessing “User Roles” from the System area. From here, you can create custom rules and create specific roles for you and your team.

One thing you want to check is the “Resource Access” option. For administrators, this should always be set to “All.”

These are only a few problems that you may face while maintaining the website. To fix Magento issues keeps your eCommerce location running at optimal performance. When you first build an online store, you may not realize the amount of effort you need to put in to keep it running smoothly. Remember, effort plays heavily in success.

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In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to install themes for Magento from the Connect system. It’s one of the best ways to get an extension without worrying about third-party coding errors or other issues that may arise.

When making changes to your theme, you may want to put your site in maintenance mode. It’s not a requirement, but it’s beneficial as it prevents search engine bots from crawling content that may be invalid by the time you’re done.

Choosing a Theme

The first step is finding a theme you want for the website.

Go to the Find Partners & Extensions area of Magento and click “Visit Magento Marketplace.” This will open a new browser window to access Magento Connect.

Click the navigation link for “Magento 2.0.”

Click the “Themes” link at the top of the page.

Search for a theme you want to use on the website. For this tutorial, I’m keeping it simple and using a free theme that is available. You can use the different filters of the site to fine-tune your search criteria. For instance, you can look for nothing but five star rated themes if you wish.

When you see a theme you want, click to access its information.

Click the “Add to Cart” button to save it to your Magento account.

Click the “Go to Checkout” button above the items in your shopping cart. You will need to log into your Magento account in order to proceed. If you do not have one, it’s probably a good idea that you register. There are a lot of goodies on the site you might want to install on your store.

On the Order Review screen, click the “Place Order” button on the bottom.

You will receive a “thank you” message from the Magento Marketplace complete with your order number.

Installing Your Theme

Once the theme is added to your account, you can install it immediately onto your store. As long as your access keys are valid, all it takes is a couple clicks of the mouse.

From Magento, select the System tool and click “Web Setup Wizard.”

Click on the left box for the “Component Manager.”

Magento will then synchronize your website with the Magento Connect account. You’ll see a number under “New Purchases.” This is the number of additions that are currently available for your website.

The reason why I have so many is because I never installed the sample data that comes with Magento. You really don’t need to install those files for the system to work, but it may be helpful if you’ve never used Magento in the past.

Click the “Install” link that sits just under the number of purchases you have.

Find the component for your theme and click the “Install” link on the right.

Once you’re ready for the install, click “Start Readiness Check.” Magento will then verify your web host and other components support the addition as well as create a backup. Afterwards, the system will finish installing the theme.

After the install is complete, you can access the theme by going to the Content section and clicking “Themes.”

First impressions are important for any website. As the theme is the first thing visitors will experience when looking at your Magento hosted website, it needs to be attractive. Find a layout that is right for what you’re trying to sell. It will directly affect the success of the online store.

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Today, I’m going to show you where to access your encryption key as well as creating a new one.

Where Is the Key Stored?

In Magento 2, the encryption is stored in an env.php file. This is also the location of the configuration settings for your database should you need it when moving your website or making other access changes.

Click on the “File Manager” tool in cPanel.

Click on the “public_html” directory to access your Magento website.

Open the “app” folder by double-clicking it.

Access the “etc” folder by double-clicking it as well.

Highlight the “env.php” file by clicking it once and click “Edit” from the tool bar.

Leave the character coding set as utf-8 and click “Edit.”

The encryption key is located in the “crypt” array within the coding. It’s the long strand of characters after the:
[ht_message mstyle=”info” title=”” show_icon=”” id=”” class=”” style=”” ]’key’ =>[/ht_message]

Normally, you would never share your encryption key with anyone. However, I am going to show you how to generate a new key. Which means this one will be obsolete long before you read this article.

Creating a New Encryption Key

Magento has the ability to create new encryption keys built into its admin panel. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can alter the key to keep security private and protected.

This is ideal in case you take a screen shot of your encryption key and show it to the world.

From the Magento dashboard, select the System section and click “Manage Encryption Key.”

Magento gives you two ways to generate this key. You can have it perform the encryption automatically or you can enter in a new key by hand. By default, Magento will offer the option to manually create a new key.

For this tutorial, let’s go ahead and create an automatic key from Magento.

In the drop down window next to Auto-generate a Key, select “Yes.”

Click the “Change Encryption Key” button on the top right of the screen.

Magento will create a random encryption key for you to use in future APIs or other modifications.

The Magento encryption key is a vital component when you want to save data regarding the website. The system creates one of these keys automatically when you first build your online store. It’s imperative you keep it safe and hidden at all times. Should you suspect there is ever a problem, it’s always best to simply create a new key to prevent anyone from accessing data using the old one.

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In this tutorial, I’m going to go over some of the more important aspects of these elements and why it’s important to know what they do. As a result, you’ll have more control over the site and increase your chances of being successful over the long term.

Accessing Files in Magento

Magento gives you the ability to directly edit some of the most important files of your website. For instance, you can add information to a 404 page that shows if something a visitor is looking for is missing from the site.

Go to the Content section of Magento and click “Pages.”

From this screen, you can access some of the more important pages of your website. These will include the home page, the 404 error page and other pertinent content you create for your visitors.

These pages should be considered more like static content and not a blog. You would add elements such as a Terms of Service page or a Privacy Policy. It may be a good idea to create an “About Us” page to give the online business a bit of clarity to consumers.

Click the “Add New Page” button on the top right if you want to create one of your own. Otherwise, you can edit any of the pages available by clicking “Edit” from the action column.

You could even create a landing page specifically for marketing campaigns from within Magento.

Important Magento Files and Folders

Magento uses a collection of files and folders for maintaining an online store. It may be quite helpful to learn what these elements are and what you can do with them in the future. Although some of these you probably won’t need to access on a regular basis, it’s still good to familiarize yourself.

Go to cPanel and click the “File Manager” tool.

Access the root directory of your Magento site by clicking “public_html.”

Files

Here are a few of the most important files you may want to be aware of to modify your Magento web hosted site.

.htaccess

The .htaccess file is where you can make modifications regarding how visitors and bots crawl the site. It will often contain rewrite rules specifically to benefit search engine-friendly URLs as well as protecting certain areas of the site from being accessed. This is done by the allow/deny command.

.htaccess.sample

The .htaccess.sample file is a backup copy of the original .htaccess. It is used to save settings and revert back. Using this file to revert back the original will set Magento back to the default inputs it had when it was first installed.

favicon.ico

Icons are the little graphics that show up in web browser tabs. If you want to add one of your own, you’ll have to save it as the favicon.ico file. Many businesses simply use the company logo or a variation thereof. This tiny graphic is used essentially as a branding method to engage users.

index.php

Index.php is the main launching point of your website. This is the default programming that loads when someone accesses your domain name. In Magento, it’s a relatively small file that starts the process of accessing important areas to make the site operational. Without this file, the site wouldn’t work.

LICENSE.txt

The LICENSE.txt file contains the licensing information regarding the open nature of Magento. This may be different than the license you might have if you’re using Enterprise Edition instead of Community.

LICENSE_AFL.txt

If you’re curious about the Academic Free License for Magento, the LICENSE_AFL.txt file is the information you want to read. Because there are different agreements for standard and academic features, it’s worth the read if you plan to use Magento for educational purposes.

php.ini.sample

The php.ini files controls many of the capabilities and features of Magento. For instance, it’s this file that tells the system how much memory to allocate to the application. The php.ini.sample is Magento’s default configuration. Because some systems and hosting layouts don’t require a php.ini file to operate, this is an optional function. However, it’s worth the effort to explore what you can do in php.ini.

Folders

Magento utilizes a series of folder directories to keep all of its data organized. By knowing what these folders are, you can quickly find areas within Magento when you decide to make edits or modifications.

app

The app folder contains all of the essential nuts and bolts of Magento. This is where you would find modules, themes, translations files and configuration files. The installation of Magento often comes with templates of these files as a way to create backups or quick modifications of the system.

lib

Lib is where you will find the actual core for Magento. It contains the php library that operates the backbone of your online store.

pub

Media, error pages and other static content is stored in the pub directory of Magento. This also holds some reports regarding the different elements such as the reporting page in the “errors” folder.

update

If you’re curious about update information for your site, this in the update directory.

var

The var folder houses the backup and cache information for Magento. It contains elements for reports, logs and generation.

vendor

In the vendor folder, you will find the packages from various brands. This is data in relation to Magento as well as any modules and themes that are added to the website. For example, you’ll find Braintree data in this location if you have the PayPal-supported payment method attached to your store.

As you continue to explore Magento, you’ll find a large number of things you can do to customize the experience for yourself as well as your guests. Whether you’re setting the site up for maintenance mode or just need to make SEO changes to .htaccess, you have complete control from the file system in Magento.

Just make sure you always create a backup copy before making any adjustments. It’ll save you a great deal of hassle should things go wrong.

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In this transfer Magento tutorial, I’m going to go over how you can move your online store from one site to another. Make sure you read this tutorial in its entirety at least once before attempting to do this yourself.

While moving files isn’t a difficult process, you can surely break the website if you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing.

Step 1: Create a Backup of MySQL Database

In this tutorial, I’m going to demonstrate how to create a backup of your database using phpMyAdmin. It’s a quick and easy way to get all of your data with a few clicks of the mouse.

From cPanel, click the link to open “phpMyAdmin.”

Find and click the database you want to download. If you only have the one website, it will be the only one listed. If you use automated systems to install Magento, it may show a “mage” and then a number. Otherwise, it will be the database you created when you first created your site.

Click the “Export” command from the top tool bar.

Keep the format set to SQL and click the “Go” button on the bottom.

This will bring up your download window depending on your operating system and browser. If you’re not able to choose where the file is saved, it will more than likely be placed in your default downloads folder.

Step 2: Moving the Website Files

Website files are relatively easy to move. While it may be time consuming, it’s not a difficult task. A lot of people like to use FTP applications such as FileZilla. This program allows you to connect to your web host and download all of the files for your site directly to your computer.

Using FTP, download the entire root folder of your Magento website.

Once you’ve downloaded your files, you should save them as an archive ZIP file. Normally, I compress my backups and store them on Dropbox. That way, I have a complete copy of the files on the Cloud. These are accessible from any computer system I sit at with Internet connection.

Using the FTP program, upload your files to the new host.

Step 3: Import the MySQL Backup to the New Host

After your files have been placed on the new site, you’ll need to import your database. Otherwise, none of the data that pertains to the site will be available. This includes admin logins and product data.

First, you will need to create a new database on the new host. This is so you can import the data you downloaded in Step 1.

Click on the MySQL Database Wizard from the new web host’s cPanel. You’ll then follow the steps provided to create a new database.

NOTE: Make sure you write down the information you use to create this new database. You will need it to make adjustments in the configuration file of Magento. Otherwise, your site will not be able to access the data.

With the new database ready, it’s time to fill it up with the backup information from earlier.

From the cPanel of the new host, access phpMyAdmin by clicking the icon.

Find the new database on the left and click it to access the table structure.

Click on the “Import” tool from the top tool bar of the empty database.

Choose the file you want to import and click the “Go” button on the bottom. The file you are importing is the SQL database you downloaded in Step 1.

Step 4: Modify the Magento Config File for the New Location

After the database has been uploaded, you will need to change the configuration file of Magento. This needs to reflect the new:

• Hostname
• Database Name
• User
• Password

All four of these elements are found in the “env.php” file of Magento. You can find this by going to “app/etc/” in Magento’s root directory. To edit the file, you can use either your FTP program or cPanel.

Replace the information in the block of code with your new database information.

Click the “Save Changes” button on the top right to commit your changes.

Step 5: Refresh the Cache in Magento

This last step is perhaps the easiest. All you need to do now is refresh the cache in Magento. Access the cache by going to the System section and clicking “Cache Management.”

Select all of the segments and click “Flush Magento Cache” in the top right.

Slow and Easy Wins the Race

Take your time when moving your Magento store. As long as your original host is still up and running and you’re making sales, you can take your time and make the transition painless for yourself as well as your customers. Don’t try to rush through the process as it can amplify the risks of making a costly mistake.

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Placing an SSL on your Magento hosted website is not only a good practice for protecting shoppers, it also plays heavily into SEO. Search engines such as good value secured websites over others and will rank them better in the results page. Never underestimate the value of good SEO practices for success.

This makes SSL one of the most valuable parts to boosting the success of your website.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to configure Magento with SSL. It’s a quick and easy process that will help boost your traffic as well as entice others to make a purchase.

Getting the SSL Certificate

The SSL certificate is provided by your hosting provider. These usually have an annual fee depending on the host and the package deal if there is one. These certificates are assigned to your account and are connected to a single domain name.

This means you would have to purchase more than one if you operate multiple domains that need encrypted security.

Although the SSL does cost a bit of money each year, the trade-off in security and search engine traffic makes it worth the investment.

Setting Up Magento with SSL

Once you have your SSL ready to go, it’s time to add it to Magento.

In Magento, go to the Stores section and click on “Configuration.”

The General tab will be the default screen in the Configuration manager. If it’s not, make sure you’re in the General tools by clicking on it.

Click on the “Web” tool on the left directly under the General tab.

Expand the “Base URLs (Secure)” segment for Magento by clicking it.

There will be a variety of settings you can change in this screen. However, you want to focus on two primary elements:

1. Use Secure URLs on Storefront
2. Use Secure URLs in Admin

Set both sections to “Yes” from the drop down menus.

Once you’ve changed the two options, click the “Save Config” button at the top.

Your website is now set to only accept commands from secured interaction. This means people will need to use the “https:” prefix to visit. You may want to change any links to your website such as those in social media or other places you have placed the URL.

Secure Sockets Layer is your first line of defense for protecting visitors and your site data. Configure Magento with SSL as soon as you’re ready to get serious about making money on the Internet. Buyers are less pensive about an online store that uses SSL certification.

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Installing widgets is a bit more complicated than it is in other content management systems. However, it’s not too difficult to add various functionality. For example, perhaps you want to install a widget that allows people to sign up for your newsletters.

In today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how to install widgets in Magento 2. It’s a bit different than earlier versions of the application, but similar in how these are added.

Adding a New Widget

Go to the Content section of Magento and click “Widgets.”

This screen will show you all the different widgets you may have installed including the type and design it will use.

Click the “Add Widget” button on the top right of the screen.

Here is where you will set the type of widget and its theme. Depending on the type of widget, you can make its appearance different from the overall view of the website.

Click the drop down for “Type” and select the widget you want to install. I am adding an “Orders and Returns” widget, so that is what I am choosing.

Click the drop down for “Design Theme” and choose a template you want to use. Currently, I only have two installed. I am simply going to pick the Magento Luma for this tutorial. However, you can install different themes for Magento and use them for various areas of your website.

Click the “Continue” button to proceed. This will bring up the Storefront Properties for your widget. You may have different settings available depending on what you’re adding to Magento.

Once you’re done making changes to your widget, click the “Save” button.

The only reason why I don’t go deeper into the settings is because each widget is different. I would have to create a whole tutorial surrounding each specific component that you’ll have available.

However, it is important that you pay attention to any Layout Updates you may have. In the Layout Updates area, you can adjust where the widget is displayed. This may be exceptionally useful if you only want the specific widget to show on certain parts of your site.

You may also want to pay attention to the container in which you’re adding the widget. The container is the block of your website that will hold the widget in place. As you can see from my example, I’ve placed the Orders and Returns widget to show on all pages in the main sidebar of the site.

Refreshing the Cache

After installing or saving a widget, you may have to refresh your site’s cache. This is so the site remains fast and efficient with updated information.

Click on the Cache Management link that appears in the message.

Perhaps the easiest way to perform the cache update is to simply select all of the components at once and update everything. You don’t have to, but it’s the quickest way. Otherwise, you can select each block individually for invalidated files.

Click the “Flush Magento Cache” button on the top right.

Now, your website is ready with the new widget and updated caching of your pages.

When you start an online store with Magento, you have many options to customize the appearance. Whether it’s for form or functionality, widgets can do a lot of good for your website. Find components that your guests may appreciate and focus on providing a superior experience. How your store performs online can be as vital as various marketing tools you use to engage the audience.

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Maintenance mode allows you to make those programming changes or additions without visitors accessing the information or committing sales when your website isn’t ready. This is especially useful if you have sections of coding open that could lead to a compromised website for hackers.

Unfortunately, Magento doesn’t have an easy way to take the site offline. Unless you buy an extension that includes this ability, you have to set maintenance mode manually. If you plan on making a lot of changes in the future,  spending the money to install the module for maintenance mode would be a good investment.

Today, I’m going to show you how to enable maintenance mode in Magento using cPanel‘s File Manager. Don’t worry, it’s only going to require a few copy and pastes from you to set this up.

Accessing Your Computer’s IP Address

In order to set maintenance mode for everyone except yourself, you need to find out your Internet connection’s IP address. This is relatively easy, especially if you’re used to using Google.

Go to Google’s website and type in “My IP Address” in the search bar.

This is your public IP address that will be detected by Magento. Should your address change, you will need the new address for the next steps.

Creating the Maintenance Mode File

In order for maintenance mode to activate, you need a file placed in the “var” directory of Magento.

From cPanel, click on the tool for File Manager.

Access your root directory for Magento. If you only have the eCommerce software installed, it will be located in the “public_html” directory.

Access the “var” folder in the directory to open its contents. You can do this by double clicking the folder icon.

Click the “+ File” button on the top left of the File Manager.

In the New File Name, enter .maintenance.flag and click “Create New File.”

Right click the new file and select “Edit” from the drop down list. Mac users will press CMD and click. You can also select the file and click “Edit” from the top tool bar.

You will now see a blank screen. On the first line of page, enter in the following code:
[ht_message mstyle=”info” title=”” show_icon=”” id=”” class=”” style=”” ]magento maintenance:enable —ip=192.168.0.1[/ht_message]
NOTE: Change the “192.168.0.1” to your Internet IP address you got from the Google search page from above.

Once you’ve entered the code, click the button to “Save Changes.”

What if you want to disable maintenance mode? Simply change “enable” to “disable” in the above within the .maintenance.flag file. You can also simply delete the file, but you may find it useful to leave active should you need to put the site in maintenance mode again in the future.

After all is said and done, it may be far easier to use a module specifically for enabling and disabling maintenance mode in Magento. At any rate, this is just one method to secure your Magento hosted website while making adjustments. This is better than the alternative of people and search engine bots stumbling across a broken site while you spend time fixing it.

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