Exactly. Not real hard to do, and then it belongs to you and you vcan work it from home. :)
great idea martin
great idea martin
2 months ago
Over the last severals years, I've watched two friends each do their own on-line store. They tried to do it themselves with help only from webmasters who were much better at techie stuff than marketing stuff. It ended up costing them each a lot of extra time and money; and even though they both have great products they've gotten virtually no traffic to their sites.
If I decide to go this way, I'll look into the new small-business on-line services that Yahoo view link and Google view link and view link are offering, especially since they both include help with making the website more visible and findable.
On a related note, Google's blogger.com is restructuring (end of this year?) to help anyone blogging with them to be easier to find. This is good since blogs can be used to drive potential buyers to your business website.
MM
If I decide to go this way, I'll look into the new small-business on-line services that Yahoo view link and Google view link and view link are offering, especially since they both include help with making the website more visible and findable.
On a related note, Google's blogger.com is restructuring (end of this year?) to help anyone blogging with them to be easier to find. This is good since blogs can be used to drive potential buyers to your business website.
MM
2 months ago
A complimentary how-to start a small business online is Start Up Nation view link
Also here is MicroSoft's webstite to help small businesses start up online view link
So there's lots of resources out there. Just do your homework and compare services vs costs.
But first you have to pick your product(s) and make sure you can get your hands on enough inventory in a timely manner ... especially if it's creative stuff you make yourself. I still it'd be a good idea to start at flea markets, gift stores (always looking for unique inventory), craft fairs, etc. to see what actually sells, what the competition is and maybe even to get new ideas. Check out the "Farmers Market" thread here view link for other ideas.
And someone here (thank you whoever you are) pointed out that you don't even have to open your own vendors booth, you can ask if the established vendors are willing to feature your handmade cards, jewelry or other crafts. If they like your stuff, that's a first great sign that you've got a sellable product!
Also here is MicroSoft's webstite to help small businesses start up online view link
So there's lots of resources out there. Just do your homework and compare services vs costs.
But first you have to pick your product(s) and make sure you can get your hands on enough inventory in a timely manner ... especially if it's creative stuff you make yourself. I still it'd be a good idea to start at flea markets, gift stores (always looking for unique inventory), craft fairs, etc. to see what actually sells, what the competition is and maybe even to get new ideas. Check out the "Farmers Market" thread here view link for other ideas.
And someone here (thank you whoever you are) pointed out that you don't even have to open your own vendors booth, you can ask if the established vendors are willing to feature your handmade cards, jewelry or other crafts. If they like your stuff, that's a first great sign that you've got a sellable product!
2 months ago
Marti, good info.
2 months ago
one other problem that both my friends ran into with their online business websites was the shopping carts. They both went cheap, and have both spent hours beating their foreheads on their keyboards in total frustration. One advantage of going with the big players like Google, Yahoo or Microsoft is that you will get a proven shopping cart and lots more help than from many of the independents who are operating on a shoestring and don't have the resources they need to keep your store up and running. Or if you do go with an independent, make sure they've been in business for awhile and can give you references from current customers.
Shopping carts can make or break a new business because customers aren't likely to reorder everything if the cart loses their order at the last minute.
Shopping carts can make or break a new business because customers aren't likely to reorder everything if the cart loses their order at the last minute.
2 months ago