Setting up an Online Business?
I am as some of you may know starting an online business selling a whole range of Greeting Cards (humour, love, get wel soon, thank you, celebrations etc)
I will primarily stock mass produced cards but I will also have a handmade range
I will be in direct competion with big faceless companies such as moonpig.com and bluemountain.com as well as others such as the confusing dontforgetyourcard.com
Initiallly I will be offering 50 different types of cards for potential customers to buy. What are the flaws you can see in my Business and how can I become as big as my rivals
Also I plan to sell my cards for Great British Pounds 1.99 + 99 pence First Class postage and handmade for 2.99 + 99 pence postage
Answers:
Check out http://www.myfriendbenjamin.com/. and go to their "moneymaking articles" section, they've got some good tips there.
You see Bluemountain.com as a "big faceless company"? Don't get you started on insurance companies, i'd imagine.
Anyway, to challenge the existing players, you'll need to do something different. Ask yourself some questions as you go, and be honest with yourself; if you were a customer, why would you choose your site over the others? No amount of advertising can make people use a business with no unique benefits.
If you can't think of anything to do in the greeting card business that sets you apart, then pick another business
(by way of example, and with no spamming intentions, my own company at www.psccs.com brought simpler terms to the consultancy industry; you need a "reason" for people to come to you, too.)
As for becoming as big as your rivals, that's probably not a great goal. Either you're a niche producer, in which case you want to get to a good size, but will never really match the big fish, or you want to be mainstream, in which case the goal should be to be far and away the biggest player. Know what market you're aiming for, then go for it properly.
A better alternative is get a FREE website from Yahoo's Geocities.
When ppl visit your website and use the service/product of websites under the "Favourite Links", you earn a commision.
Hope mine can be an example for you:
http://sg.geocities.com/allanthteh/.
Having run a couple of successful business, both in 'mainstream channels' I would recommend that you first of all look at 3 things:
1) Niche markets
2) Word of mouth referalls
3) eBay
Niche Markets
Look for certain areas where you can focus your business where 'the faceless' companies won't. Try and think where a hand made card would really make a difference and then concentrate on this key area. Whilst your business may grow a little slower than you want it to, you will get repeat business which is what most businesses are after. Once you have one niche market working well concentrate on the next one and so on.
Word of Mouth Referalls
By telling everyone and I mean everyone what you are doing you will become successful. Give your business cards to everyone you talk to and instigate conversations everywhere. When you pay for your fuel say something like "Oh by the way I make hand-made cards for all occasions and can send them anywhere, can I leave you my card. If it's not for you please pass it onto someone else". Another tip is to leave cheap mass produced cards here, there and everywhere too.
eBay
Maybe put the cards on ebay with a low price but a reasonable postage amount to make up the difference. Have them as standard auctions, if nothing else you will get great publicity.
My other main tip would be to go that extra mile for service. Most companies are only after a quick buck and they don't get repeat business because of that.
I wish you success and feel free to contact me with any further questions.
Ivan Darch
https://liveadreamlife.wordpress.com/. - Blog<br>
http://www.liveadreamlife.co.uk. - Website
Check out the site below to help you build and promote your online business!
http://www.excelyourbiz.com
iv heard u can make money copy and pasting stuff onto internet, with no need for site? anyone know how?cheers?
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I will primarily stock mass produced cards but I will also have a handmade range
I will be in direct competion with big faceless companies such as moonpig.com and bluemountain.com as well as others such as the confusing dontforgetyourcard.com
Initiallly I will be offering 50 different types of cards for potential customers to buy. What are the flaws you can see in my Business and how can I become as big as my rivals
Also I plan to sell my cards for Great British Pounds 1.99 + 99 pence First Class postage and handmade for 2.99 + 99 pence postage
Answers:
Check out http://www.myfriendbenjamin.com/. and go to their "moneymaking articles" section, they've got some good tips there.
You see Bluemountain.com as a "big faceless company"? Don't get you started on insurance companies, i'd imagine.
Anyway, to challenge the existing players, you'll need to do something different. Ask yourself some questions as you go, and be honest with yourself; if you were a customer, why would you choose your site over the others? No amount of advertising can make people use a business with no unique benefits.
If you can't think of anything to do in the greeting card business that sets you apart, then pick another business
(by way of example, and with no spamming intentions, my own company at www.psccs.com brought simpler terms to the consultancy industry; you need a "reason" for people to come to you, too.)
As for becoming as big as your rivals, that's probably not a great goal. Either you're a niche producer, in which case you want to get to a good size, but will never really match the big fish, or you want to be mainstream, in which case the goal should be to be far and away the biggest player. Know what market you're aiming for, then go for it properly.
A better alternative is get a FREE website from Yahoo's Geocities.
When ppl visit your website and use the service/product of websites under the "Favourite Links", you earn a commision.
Hope mine can be an example for you:
http://sg.geocities.com/allanthteh/.
Having run a couple of successful business, both in 'mainstream channels' I would recommend that you first of all look at 3 things:
1) Niche markets
2) Word of mouth referalls
3) eBay
Niche Markets
Look for certain areas where you can focus your business where 'the faceless' companies won't. Try and think where a hand made card would really make a difference and then concentrate on this key area. Whilst your business may grow a little slower than you want it to, you will get repeat business which is what most businesses are after. Once you have one niche market working well concentrate on the next one and so on.
Word of Mouth Referalls
By telling everyone and I mean everyone what you are doing you will become successful. Give your business cards to everyone you talk to and instigate conversations everywhere. When you pay for your fuel say something like "Oh by the way I make hand-made cards for all occasions and can send them anywhere, can I leave you my card. If it's not for you please pass it onto someone else". Another tip is to leave cheap mass produced cards here, there and everywhere too.
eBay
Maybe put the cards on ebay with a low price but a reasonable postage amount to make up the difference. Have them as standard auctions, if nothing else you will get great publicity.
My other main tip would be to go that extra mile for service. Most companies are only after a quick buck and they don't get repeat business because of that.
I wish you success and feel free to contact me with any further questions.
Ivan Darch
https://liveadreamlife.wordpress.com/. - Blog<br>
http://www.liveadreamlife.co.uk. - Website
Check out the site below to help you build and promote your online business!
http://www.excelyourbiz.com
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