Where To Begin

Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 180

If you have thought about starting your own web store here are a few resources to help make the decision easier.

First off let me say, it takes a lot of time to build up your site and then even more time to get traffic, so do your part and be patient.

I highly recommend Tina's site, http://www.primitivebusinessjunction.com/ she has done an outstanding job giving details on just about any question you might have related to running your site. When you start hearing words like HTML and Meta tags and have no idea what they are this is the place to be.

One of the biggest problems that you face is HTML, I love this site http://www.isdntek.com/editor.htm to decode my HTML. You can switch from HTML code to a text editor to see what your actually doing. This is a great place to play around with your code with out messing up your web page.

I also use http://www.isdntek.com/tagbot/borders.htm to create my borders for auction sites. If you already have a background you can place them in this program and make layered borders.

Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Florida

If you've never set up a website before and just want to get your products out there you can use a free store. I know alot of people who use eCrater and BISI and are very successful.

And don't forget Etsy if you make you own items Wink

I just set up my website using Wordpress as my CMS and let me tell you it was the easiest website I have done and it is so easy to manage. Granted I'm not hosting my own cart as the links go to my page with Affordable Mineral Makeupâ„¢ and customers can checkout from there.

I'm also adding a forum where I can post things like specials and new products for customers to see and they can ask questions as well. Then there will be a private area on the forum for my "team" to hang out, connect with one another and share ideas.

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 159 Location: Canada

There are a number of online website builders you can use to build your estore like WAHMshoppes & DIYestores or a simple shoppe like EZshoppes

If you just want to showcase your products and have people email you with no online ordering then a blog works beautifully... Wordpress and Blogger are both blogs portals you can use and they already get great traffic

Amy is right though... the biggest complaints I hear are "I'm not getting sales"... you have to promote, promote, promote your site like crazy to get the good traffic ;-)

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:44 pm

Great links Amy thanks, and craftisan I totally agree promotion is the key to SUCCESS!!!!!