How to integrate site admin page with WordPress admin?

Question

I am going to build a site that is mainly a word press blog, but the blog will have a link to a shop area where you can purchase products.

I am going to have to build an admin page for the site owner to add/remove products. Since they are already going to be using the WordPress admin for their blog, I am wanting to integrate the products-admin into the WordPress admin so the owner can easily administer everything from one central location.

I am not a blogger and don't have much experience with blog software so before I started poking around I wanted to ask if their was a best practice or standard way of doing this?

Answer 1

The easiest way is just to put link to your products admin area from wordpress admin area. You can put such link using WordPress plugins.

Pluses are...

• you haven't to go deep into WordPress plugins to intergrate
• you haven't to do new design for your admin area (belive me - it will waste a lot of time)

Minuses are...

• admin should be logged in your products admin area; another way he would be asked to auth at your admin panel

UPDATED: More easies way is to show your products admin area in integrated into Wordpress admin using plugin.

Answer 2

Use the WP-Ecommerce WordPress plugin. You can run your shop and everything directly from WordPress. Everything's integrated.