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There are a lot of misconceptions about the internet — and doing business Online…
Realizing how Retail REALLY works on the Internet is one of the biggest issues a business owner faces!
I have just added a 12 part Online Training Course that approaches this issue in depth.
I was up early this morning, trying to get some of my daily chores out of the way before heading off to an early morning appointment. Getting a head start on the day’s email was part of the agenda.
I had an email from a new retailer that I needed to answer ASAP. It was a very pretty email, formatted to within an inch of its life with background color and graphics. It did look very pretty and I would guess that it is part of her *Shop Brand*… which would seem to be a good thing…
However, I send out plain vanilla text emails, and it took me an additional 5 minutes and 5 tries to get my plain text reply appended to her pretty email. Now, in this case, I was motivated by our professional relationship to persevere until I triumphed, BUT…
If I were a customer, trying to email her about making a purchase, and if I knew that the product was available elsewhere, I probably would have given up, and purchased from someone else!
We are at an interesting place in technology. There are many new options available and at a glance, many of them seem to provide excellent value. Visually branding email would seem to be a GOOD thing, especially in an industry that is all about presentation…
However, it is also important to keep in mind that part of the unspoken goal of the internet (real or otherwise) is to make life easier and more efficient. Do make sure that in your quest for pretty and innovative you are not shooting yourself in the foot with things that are annoying, unwieldy, and a barrier to efficiency!
This is especially important for those who are selling to busy women who are trying to fit 26 hours into a crowded 24 hour day. Nothing personal, but they are likely to just move on person providing the FASTER solution to the problem they are trying to solve!
Sharing the Road to Success!
Tink
Web site statistics are an important part of understanding how to
evaluate the effectiveness of your Web site. The statistics are
available from your Hosting company as well as outside sources. I
discuss the differences, which ones you need to be using, and what it
takes to implement them. I also translate the terminology into plain,
easy to understand English. Part of understanding Web site statistics
is recognizing the different kinds of online searches and why they are
important. This course also deals with those issues.
Thursday, May 31, 2007 · 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday, June 1, 2007 · 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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A Step By Step Guide To Creating Your First Web Site
Description:
This is a step-by-step guide to getting a shop online. It discusses
the 4 types of Web sites and what is involved with each. It explains
what steps YOU need to do and which you can delegate. It identifies
the Web site elements that are needed to reach BOTH important online
audiences. NOTE - This is a course on how to get a Web site
online…NOT how to put up a Blog!
Thursday, May 31, 2007 · 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday, June 1, 2007 · 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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The Issues Involved in Choosing Shopping Cart Software
Description:
This course is designed to explain in broad terms how shopping cart
software works and what is needed to implement it on a Web site. The
issues of inventory keeping, payment options and shipping issues are
also discussed. The purpose of this course is to provide the structure
for each retailer to choose the shopping cart software that is best
for their shop.
Saturday, June 2, 2007 · 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
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Questions and Answers With Tink
Description:
An opportunity to answer the many questions that retailers have
regarding the internet, especially those that don’t fit within a class
topic.
NOTE: This class is limited to 25 participants
Sunday, June 3, 2007 · 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
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I am REALLY looking forward to this, but be prepared to see me
swilling Diet Dr. Pepper all four days! Where would I be without my
caffeine! LOL
I am quite excited because I am seeing more and more folks using blogging in new and creative ways to promote their businesses. Here are TWO innovative and engaging examples:
Example ONE
This weekend, I discovered a new author, Vivki Petersson. I read her first novel, The Scent of Shadows and enjoyed it thoroughly. The opening scene involves a blind date from H**L… to raise interest, Vicki had a Blind Date from H**L contest on her blog:
http://vpettersson.livejournal.com/
What works - Her publisher is bringing out the frst and second book (a series) backto back in successive months… I am already waiting breathlessly for the second book. If there had been a long wait between the two, I would not have been nearly as involved. As it is, I plan to play hooky for the afternoon it will take to read the next one! 
What doesn’t work - She needs her own blog with her name in the domain, hosted with her own hosting company… she needs complete control and needs a WordPress blog that has been tweaked for the search engines. As it stands now, I found her blog by following a reference to her in another blog… NOT good!
Example TWO
Joan Hawley, of Lazy Girl Designs, a friend of mine, has just started a 12 day event called the Day Z Dozen Blog Hop. Here is the event, described in Joan’s own words.
http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/
What is the Day Z Dozen blog hop? It’s a ’show’ of new projects from a number of designers. ’Hop’ online each day to see a new project and hear the story of the design, as told by the designer.
Is there a theme for the Day Z Dozen blog hop? Yes! A few months ago I had the chance to play with the new ‘DayZ Deux’ fabric collection from LakeHouse Dry Goods (floral fabric shown below).That was before the fabric was widely available. Now, however, it is available. The fabric is shipping to stores or already in stock. So Holly (LakeHouse) and I called the girls (see below) and told them we would like to have a little show of the projects we made a few months ago.
How does the Day Z Dozen blog hop work? ’Hop’ online and visit our blog each day from March 5 - 16, 2007, as we share a new project as told by the designer.
What projects are in the Day Z Dozen blog hop? Hey, that’s a secret! You’ll have to tune in each day to see what’s new.
Who is participating? We have dubbed ourselves the ‘Day Z Dozen’, and you’ll have a chance to meet all of these fabulous Lazies, oops - DayZies, and hear the story behind their beautiful creations.
I am sooo excited to see these creative thinkers using blogs in new and different ways!
Sharing the Road to Success!
Tink
Cricket Bailey offers the BEST SEO classes online thru Yahooo Groups and adds value by providing an excellent Marketing class, as well.
The NEW session starts March 9, 2007. It will be an Intensive Full Month Long Training Session March 9th through April 8th.
For more information, go here:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/SEO_Techniques/
Due to the more general nature of Cricket’s approach, there are nuances and adjustments that need to be made for the Needlework and Quilting Industries.
For YarnAndThreadDesigners.com Members
and
YarnAndThreadRetailers.com ONLY!
I am happy to announce that we are starting a long term Study Hall in the Members Only Forums to work on these classes in depth.
We WILL NOT be posting any of Cricket’s class materials so you need to join her classes and participate in them. I also recommend purchasing her eBook, which is excellent, but it is not necessary.
We WILL be discussing each class as it applies to Needlework and Quilting!
What we are offering is an adjunct to Cricket’s classes! For the best possible outcome, I recommend that you actively participate in both Cricket’s classes and in the Members Only Forums on the Yarn And Thread Membership sites.
I hope that you will sign up for Cricket’s classes and then join us in the Members ONLY Forums!
Sharing the Road to Success!
Tink
Cheat Sheets for Busy Business Owners
Cheat Sheets provide useful, GOTTA HAVE Info in a fast, easy to read (and implement) format.
Click on the title to get the Cheat Sheet!
Here is the first one!
3 NEW Survival Guides for Putting YOUR Offline Business Online!
Click on any Title for more information.
Survival
Guide to Putting Your Offline Business Online, Step By Step
Survival
Guide to Choosing Shopping Cart Software
Survival
Guide to Search, Search Engines, and Web Site Statistics