Downloadable file advice

[tipgal]

I currently run a couple of sites selling cross stitch patterns. I send them the old way.. my post. But I really want to sell pdf versions of the patterns as well.. downloadable from some sort of secure page.. how would I be best to do this? At the moment I build my set with frontpage so my html knowledge is reasonably basic.. so is it something I could set up myself or is it something I would have to pay a developer to do.. see the problem is I design a lot of pattern so am always adding to my range sometimes every day.. so i need access to the site 24/7 to add new files.. any advice?

[NogDog]

If you want any sort of automated method, it will likely require some server-side programming. The files could be stored in a directory not accessible via HTTP requests, then the developer would create a download script that grab the specific file and serve it up as a file attachment for download.

Each purchase would generate some sort of pseudo-random string that would be in the link the user would use to access the file, and also saved in a database with the info needed to grab the right file. Then the link could be sent in an email, or just provided directly on the "success" page when the payment transaction completes. You'd probably want to impose some sort of time limit and/or maximum number of download attempts so that someone cannot just publish the link on the web for others to access it.

[tipgal]

Thanks for that info..

I actually just found a site called payloadz have you heard of it? it looks really easy and seems to be connected to paypal so there is only paypal fees.. have you heard any good or bad stuff about them? I've upload a few files on their site and then posted the link on my site so my customers can either purchase downloads or hard copies.. will be interesting to see how sales go with both. Sent a test email of the downloaded version to myself and it said i had 24 hours to access the download so that seems quite secure as it's all through their website.

[Kimberlh]

Thanks for that info..

I actually just found a site called payloadz have you heard of it? it looks really easy and seems to be connected to paypal so there is only paypal fees.. have you heard any good or bad stuff about them? I've upload a few files on their site and then posted the link on my site so my customers can either purchase downloads or hard copies.. will be interesting to see how sales go with both. Sent a test email of the downloaded version to myself and it said i had 24 hours to access the download so that seems quite secure as it's all through their website.

Hello, I am looking at PayLoadz. Have you been using since you posted and if so, what do you think of it.

Thanks
Kimberly

[tipgal]

yes.. it's very good. i'd recommend it for selling downloads for sure. i since found clickbank.com but even though that site is huge compaired to payloadz they don't seem to allow my kind of downloads (patterns).. payloadz is easy to work but costs $15.00 a month depending on how many downloads you make.. the money goes straight into paypal account. one problem i have been having with their site though is the affiliate information.. it's complicated to place an affiliate link up and even though I don't use many of them myself I have people wanted to be affiliates for me and it's difficult for them to use.. ie they give you html that you have to incorporate into a text link etc.. as in 'click here' etc etc.. they don't make it easy for folk with their affiliate program but i think they are still working on that side of things.. other than that they are very good.

[Kimberlh]

yes.. it's very good. i'd recommend it for selling downloads for sure. i since found clickbank.com but even though that site is huge compaired to payloadz they don't seem to allow my kind of downloads (patterns).. payloadz is easy to work but costs $15.00 a month depending on how many downloads you make.. the money goes straight into paypal account. one problem i have been having with their site though is the affiliate information.. it's complicated to place an affiliate link up and even though I don't use many of them myself I have people wanted to be affiliates for me and it's difficult for them to use.. ie they give you html that you have to incorporate into a text link etc.. as in 'click here' etc etc.. they don't make it easy for folk with their affiliate program but i think they are still working on that side of things.. other than that they are very good.

I tested it yesterday and did not like the continue shopping had to close a window but it the best place I can seem to find at a reasonable price.

I would love my own shopping cart but simple do not have the knowledge it takes to install and update one.

Thank you for the input, it really helps.