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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Top # 10 Tips to Sell Online
When you first start selling your own items online, you have so many questions on what you are doing correctly and what you are not doing correctly. Many times you find yourself needing to ask questions ,but lost on who to ask. I know when I first began a little over a year ago I was completely lost and afraid that every move I was making was not the best thing today.
Today, I want to focus on How to Sell Online and how to better approach selling online. These tips are here to help guide you in any way. If you do have questions, please do not hesitate to fill out the contact us form and I will be sure to get back to each and every one of you.
We will be going over the basics on how to decide if you should start selling items, to how to get you moving in the first few months of beginning your business online.
Tip #1
Deciding if an online business is for you. Now, this one varies from person to person and by all means give it a try, who knows you may be really successful. Some people begin a business with little to no experience on how to run a business. I will tell you as I have had many years experience in running a business, that without some type of background knowledge you will be pulling your hair out of your scalp. Starting a business should not be taken lightly. This mean’s don’t just think “Hey everyone else is doing it so can I”. Do your research.
Tip #2
Know your area and your market. Before starting a business you should always do research to learn how many people do the same as you, who offers similar items, and so forth. Learn everything you can possibly think of before beginning a business. Never jump in head first because you have no background knowledge of this you should want to ask questions often. “Who offers similar items” “What prices seem fair” The more questions you come up with the better off you will be.
Tip #3
Etsy Store, Other, Or Website. I am asked on a regular basis what is better, selling on a site like Etsy or having my own website? To answer this question, you need to ask yourself this question, “Do I want to be professional and stand out? or “Make it easy and blend in” There are a multitude of Etsian’s online trying to sale 99% of the time you search for an item similar to your own you will find pages and pages of results. Your not standing out, which means all the more promoting, advertising, and money spent to be seen above the rest. Blending in is not always the “in” thing you want to do. When you choose a website you need to be willing to go every mile you can to get found easier, quicker, and actually compete against the bigger stores offering the same as you. A website allows you may aspects, one you will be seen as a professional not going anywhere, you will be taken seriously, your audience will jump from 20 views a day to 100s if your site is done properly. The next big one, never do your site by yourself. If you cannot afford to have a custom website coded for you, then always just see if you can hire someone for like 30 minutes to an hour to help you get a few aspects set up like SEO , etc. Make sure you always have a professional do this, it will better increase your views and the potential sales your looking for.
Tip #4
Your Products. Ask yourself, “What do people want to buy?” Know what people want, and try to provide it. If you think it will sell but not sure try it. Trying something different never hurts you, that is after all how we all learn. Trying something and if you do not succeed you know it will not work. Make sure what you do is something you enjoy. Don’t start something on a I think this would be interesting moment. Know you love it and do it. For example: I do web design/blog design, because I enjoy creating new looks, it brings me peace knowing I created something special for someone else, I find much joy in this. If you cannot honestly sit back and say “I love my job” then its not for you.
Tip #5
Pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Learn your way around a camera and know the ends and outs of photo editing. Photos are the only way you will be able to really show off your products. When they say a picture speaks a thousand words it needs to be true when your listing an item. Have a clear, clean, background. Use a whiteboard if need be, but always keep it clean. Lighting is everything, don’t shoot a picture in the darkest part of your home or office that is never going to get anywhere. If its fuzzy take it off and reshoot. Unfocused pictures will cause your views to decrease rapidly.
Tip #6
Creating a Price. Ask yourself this, “would I spend this for the item” if your answer is no you priced to high. Pricing should include, materials, time, labor, etc. Get your money back and earn some money in the process. Profit is a have to. If you do not profit immediately from a sale chances are you have prices too low. Need Pricing help? View It here!
Tip #7
Descriptions a Must! Provide high quality descriptions. Customers do not want to hear about how you decided to come up with the item, or why you chose that specific item. Actually doing a description like that is quite boring because we as customers want to know Facts! Always list facts first no matter what, then worry about a sincere message to the viewer.
Facts should include, dimensions, sizes, measurements, materials, care instructions, etc. Not this is such a cute bracelet because it looks gorgeous on you. Think of your descriptions like this, when you view Wal-Mart.com you see nothing said about its cuteness, or how pretty you will look, so why do it?
Tip #8
Excellent Customer Support. You remember that moment when you went into the store to return something because you just purchased it, opened it up, set it up, and guess what it doesn’t work. So you drive back to the store just to return it and give the return clerk an ear full and she never said a cross word to you? or the time when you wanted to scream someone’s head off because of a mistake or broken item and them giving you the run around in store? I know you do! As much as we do not want to admit it we all had those moments one time or another. Now as a business person yourself there are a few things you need to do that is very important that will honestly save you the hostile of mad, ready to scream their head off customers. Set Policies. Set your policies, what return policy do you have, exchange policy, shipping policy, etc. Make it plain and clear what you offer from the start. Even if you do not offer it state that because customers need to know this. Aim for high customer satisfaction from the support you give customers. This will better help your business in the long run. If you are like me you want customer feedback because customer feedback to me is critical for the growth of any business. Customer Feedback offers you the chance to know what you need to work on and improve, if a person doesn’t leave you feedback don’t worry about it typically you will have at least 1 or 2 people that will not do that.
Tip #9
Network and Promote. Now I do not mean post your items every hour on the hour that is absolutely annoying and will drive sales away. I also do not mean be a pushy salesperson, people pushy or seeming desperate for sales will never receive anything. You need to be all the time professional. So what do I mean? Network. Join Facebook add a Fan page, Join Twitter, Pinterest, Rebel mouse, Stumpleupon, tumblr, blogger, wordpress etc. Networking means you like, follow, share, etc. other people’s items as well not just your own. Okay so how will networking help my business? The goal to network is to help people out who will help you out. This means you favorite, like, repin, retweet, share an item. If these people do not return the favor well then you know not to help them out again. When you network, like with blogger how many people have blog hops, your sharing where you are and people come on in, like you, follow you, etc. This helps build your networking allowing you to reach more people. Promote. Promoting means you actually put your items online at as many places as you can. If you pin it once don’t pin it again and again, its crazy. Don’t use hootsuit to go insane on tweets really drives people nuts I know I learned. If you use Etsy you can use their Etsy FU app to promote items every so often. I know the name sounds odd and worse than it is but its honestly for promoting. I have mine set for every 4 hours honestly that is the closest you want it to be. Any closer and your pushing the problems of over promoting and driving people mad. We don’t want to drive anyone crazy rather drive for sales.
Tip #10
Know your financial status. Okay this is a big one here. Know what your putting into your business, keep every receipt, every record of purchase, every record of a sale. The IRS will need this if you get audited. Oh No I said the worse word possible I know. The truth is keep everything. Know what your spending to increase your business, keep track of sales. Know how often a sale comes in, how often you spend money, etc. The more you keep this straight the better off you will be. You can view some of the tutorials from previous as I offer some great tips on getting organized for your business. It also includes a tutorial on programs you can get for free. It’s a great way of increasing productivity time and decreasing how long you have to work to stay organized. Remember, your financial status and where your business goes is up to you.
I always tell people that the sky is the limit, that your business, prosperity, and growth depends on how much you really want to have. If you think small you will be small. Now that does not mean go out and get yourself a $10k loan from the bank to increase your business, but what it means is know where you want your business to go. Be determined, driven, and have a passion for what you do. Chances are you created the business or are thinking of creating a business because you need the income, your at home more than anywhere else, or you have no vehicle to get around so working from home is suitable for your needs. Remember that no matter where your working, working means you set hours, set times, set limits so you do not burn yourself out.
I hope you all enjoyed another series of our fine tutorials on how to sell online. Do you have any other tips you might like to add to this tutorial??? Comment below I love hearing from you all.
Thanks for stopping in. I hope to hear from you soon!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Top 10 Tips on How to Use Twitter for Business
Top 10 Tips for Twitter, how to Sale on Twitter, Engage Users, and be Successful with Twitter Marketing.
Just a few decades ago social media marketing and outlets where yet to make a forefront in our society. Today, social media outlets are tomorrow's future, bringing the world to your fingertips and making it much easier to get out there. People are evolving and adapting to the new world of modern internet and marketing skills like wildfire, but are you being left in the dust wondering what to do with your business?
If we call back even ten years ago, the online shopping was not really a big money maker for businesses like Walmart.com or lowes.com. Today, these companies thrive because online shopping is the new in store shopping. People no longer have to run to the store each week or take out of their busy schedule to find time to shop when needing to pick up the kids from school, husband at work, and work 8 to 12 hour days themselves. Everyone nearly everywhere can now buy everything from household items, toiletries, and even food directly online and many times save more when they do so.
Now, small businesses go up daily online, as a web designer I see the demand for a new website more often for a store or e-commerce site than just for a simple information site. This is something that has become increasingly popular and from the way the statistics look the demand will only increase. The catch is, How Do We Get Small Businesses To Strive and Survive????
Easily, Social Media Outlets. Today we are going to focus ONLY on Twitter and How you can better your Twitter account and turn your followers into customers.
Let us being with tips and tricks that will get you rolling in the box seat rather than the back seat.
Tip #1
Appearance is 99% the Law. This means if your a business you need to be professional, conduct business as such, and your twitter background, header, and profile picture need to state this loud and clear. Think of it like this: If you have a meeting downtown with a set of corporate share holders for a company are you going to walk into this business with sweatpants and a tank top??? Chances are NO! You were raised better than that. You know this means a suit and tie for a man, or a dress suit for a woman. You know that appearance is what will help sale you. The Same applies for online marketing if your twitter layout is horrible so will be everything else.
Tip #2
Conduct your tweets as professional not personal! Basically, don't be talking about your personal viewpoints on politics, laws, etc. This will not look good for your business. Do not talk about what you did that day UNLESS its business related. Do Not sit there talking about a vacation your and your family have planned to go on. Simply talk business. Let people know what is going on with your business. Business is Business, Personal is Personal. If you had to go into an office would your boss allow you to talk about your personal life all day every day? No! Social Media Outlets are not for this.
Tip #3
Commit yourself to it. Don't open a twitter account without the commitment of showing up to tweet and talk with people that are talking to you or about your business. Set aside at least 2 hours a day every day week to be on twitter. Let your followers know what time you will be on twitter to answer questions, reply to tweets immediately, chat with them, give out more information, and more. Make certain you are live on every single social media site every day that you use. If you do not, your not going to engage users, your not going to gain customers, and you are really going to give yourself a bad name and fast.
Tip #4
Conversations are the key! Never open a twitter account without first understanding you need to keep conversations rolling. This means, someone follows you thank them personally! Tell them who you are, introduce yourself, start up a conversation, or anything. Its just like if you meet someone in town, you typically say, Hi my name is(your name), and start a conversation immediately with them. Well the same is true for online, no conversations means no customers and no one wanting to know about you.
Tip #5
Positive tweets go a long way! Your followers do not want to hear about the downfalls or the hard times you are having, whether with your business or not. Actually, you should NEVER state something like this on social media outlet because chances are you will never be able to take it back. Talk about something positive, something that you accomplished today, Did you figure out something very difficult? Did you hit a milestone in your business? Did you create something awesome today? Don't try to be funny and post crazy jokes or something, be YOU because being you is what people will love not someone fake or someone acting like someone else.
Tip #6
Add something different to the mix! Did you do something funny while working today? Basically what this means is switch it up just every so often. Make a different post, talk about something different, a page you ran across and you thought it was awesome, something that happened to you today, but Don't Go Copying jokes because people know it. Keep it original and 100% you every time.
Tip #7
Follow people in your niche. This means if your a web designer follow people on twitter that are similar. Jewelry, find people that are the same, handcrafted, well find people from Etsy and follow them. Following them helps you increase your followers as well. As long as these people realize that following others is a great way to reach a higher audience a big plus side to marketing online.
Tip #8
Now the trends for the day! This is perhaps a huge aspect for you to consider. If you do not know what is "hot" "new" in the news, etc. well your never going to hit it big that day. Now what this means is find something that is trending for the day that relates to your post or something your going to post put an @ and the trend name to it, like @webdesign and so forth this will help you get seen by huge numbers. Learning more on trends is as simple as going on twitter and clicking the Discover button. Then add these trends to your post, BUT make sure they match what you are talking about.
Tip #9
Effective Links must be in first 25% of content. What this means is if you have 50 words on your tweet within the first 12 words your link should be added. Why? The easiest way of putting it the longer you keep waiting to add that link the less likely people will click over and see what you have to say. I know difficult but, it will benefit you down the road. Why not give it a try? What do you have to loose?
Tip #10
Use Hashtags on every single tweet you put on Twitter. Okay, now this is a tough one many people really do not understand hashtags or what they are for so I am going to try and break them down for you in a way you can fully understand what hashtags are and how to use them properly.
Hash tags are opened with the numbers symbol # and then all information is put in one long format like #blogchat or #blogger #webdesign, etc. These hashtags are used to make it easier on other twitters to find something they are looking for in these area's and faster. Hashtags work best if you use one's that are trending or popular for that day. To know which hashtags are trending just sign in to your account and scroll down a bit its to the left hand side under Trends not hard to miss.
NEVER use a hashtag that does not in some way link to that tag you used. Like I know many including myself at first made the mistake of thinking well if I use the hashtag #Celeb I will get found faster and easier. WRONG! Your not doing yourself any favors because the post is not related to the subject in question.
New one I just learned myself. Don't Use more Than 2 Hashtags in 1 Tweet. If you do you are spamming the content which is basically meaning your going to have a more difficult time at being found.
If you would like more tips on twitter please Click here.
As always Ashley Chapman Designs, thanks you for stopping bye and we Hope that you will Follow Our Blog for More Updates Like this one!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Organizing Your Business!
Recently, I have been thinking about organization and how to organize my business the way I need it. If your like me, organizing anything is a task within itself. Actually, it is more like a job that you should get paid for just because it takes so long to organize right? If your anything like me you want to have all your contacts where you can find then quickly and easily on your computer. Have all your business financial information in one place and heck if possible be ready for the tax season so everything takes you less time to get going.
Each business need is unique in which no 2 businesses will have the same way of organizing. Below I am going to give you some tips and tricks on how to organize your business and personally to save you loads of time. I typically do all of my organizing on a computer because its faster and easier for me to have it right at my fingertips when I'm speaking with prospects online.
I have a few tips and tricks for you on how to get fully organized both professionally and personally.
Tip #1
Find the Programs that work for you.
By this I mean, find programs that will help you get organized.
For example: I use one program for contacts its a free download and I absolutely love it. For programs containing contacts click here.
It does not have any viruses or any problems in using it. Very easy to use, add, change, edit, your contacts in a blink of an eye on the computer whether you have internet or not.
Tip #2
Financially I have 2 different programs I use one is available online the other is a simple ole spreadsheet form. I keep track of them in both places just to make sure there are no errors anywhere .Though while doing my search on organizing and business fiancial aspects I ran across a site you should know about. Its called Outright. Outright is amazing and works very great.
Outright allows you to connect your accounts such as Paypal, Etsy, Amazon, Credit Cards, Bank Accounts, and much more. It allows you to keep track of money coming and coming out which is absolutely great for businesses online. Really its one of those sites that you cannot live without. Its absolutely amazing and works so much easier than spreadsheets do.
Tip $3
If your like me I have to create invoices from everything for web hosting, web design, print design, services, and so much more. Having a program that helps me with invoices and keeps them in a specific file, printable, pdf format, and more is very important. Easy Invoice Creator does all that. Downfall to this its only available for Windows 8 users. I find paypal invoices are a pain, hard to keep straight, and honestly they do not offer pdf formats or another format other than online. Now Each Invoice Creator is available for Windows 8 for $1.49 very expensive right there right? It does the job and then some. It allows you to mark a payment as late, great for Web Hosting as my clients need to know when their payments are due and if they become late. This program is honestly a lifesaver for me.
Tip #4
Use a computer calendar or apple app to create appointments, reminders, and such for all your appointments, phone calls, etc. This makes it so much easier to remember when you need to do something. I personally, use the calendar on my computer as its windows 8 and works wonderfully for those things. Then, I also back it up with my iPhone as many times I want a reminder of these.
Remember what works great for one may not work great for you. I do not like a desk cluttered or full of things that really do not need to be. I really do use a computer for everything because its simple, easy, and I'm typically on the computer working anyways so making small changes, or adding new contacts is not a problem.
Remember to cover the basics for your business:
1. Client List
2. Prospects
3. Businesses/ Companies you deal with
4. Invoices
5. Tracking your Income and Expenses
6. Keeping track of appointments
Now those are just the basics as add many as you need to this list.
Don't forget to organize your computer as well:
Files such as these will help do that.
1. Business Income
2. Business Expenses
3. Invoices Sent
4. Invoices Received
5. Personal Fiances
6. Business Documents
7. Personal Documents
8. Payroll (if it applies)
9. Kids
10. Medial
Add as you need to.
Bottom line here is, the more organized you are the better off your business will run smoothly with less hiccups from misplacing a file or contact. I know if you saw my computer you would think, "Okay then what is wrong with her, does she have OCD obulsive cleaning disorder or something?". All of my files are labeled, business files, business contacts, prospects, business income in, business income out, invoices in, invoices out, and so many others the list would just keep going on.
You have to remember whether your running a business from home or at an office the point is this, if your unorganized chances are you have something under that pile of files on your desk that you really need, but totally forgot about.
Its like when we were children and our mom's would nag us for hours even weeks to keep our rooms and we continually refused because we did not want to. Then in the end it was down to the nail clean the room or be grounded. 99% of the time, when we cleaned our rooms we found a toy forgotten, a CD we forgot we had, or something that was like a new shiny toy to us. Same applies to your business life, if your not organized chances are your probably spending hours of work when it would take you 30 minutes for something.
Ask yourself this question, "If I take today to clean my office space, how much time during the rest of the week can I free up to get down to some real business?"
Think of it as a bonus for you really. If your clean and organized your one going to feel much better, two- have more time on your hands, three- save yourself the headache of doing it when it get's ten feet high, four-be able to do more with the time you would have spent going through that stack of papers.
To see more free downloads and softwares that will help you get organized click here.
What do you do to get organized???
Comment below! I want to hear from you all.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
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Wednesday, March 20, 2013
How to Add a Facebook Like Button to Your Website or Blog!
Have you ever asked yourself, "how do these websites have the facebook like button on them"? I know I have as a web designer this is one important aspect to have on a website because there's a multitude of uses for these buttons. Today I can going to share with you step by step how to add this button to your website or blog. We will start with how to add it to a site like Weebly and go into how to add it to Blogger as well. Please Follow this blog to get more updates!
Let's Begin:
I will be using my Facebook Fan Page for the example.
First, we need to open up this website into our browser:
Scroll down just a tad until you see this:
Step 1 - Get Like Button Code
Now we need to break down what each of these items on here mean:
URL to Like: If its an Image of an item: Right Click on Image, Click Copy Image URL and Paste it inside this box
Facebook Business Page: Open up Facebook, Click on your Business Page, Copy the Website Address from above, Paste it Inside the URL to Like box.
Once we have this general information in here we need to choose layout: Do you want a Send Button? Send Button Allows a Person to Privately Message someone on their friends list on Facebook. Yes, you really want this feature.
Layout Should be Stardard
Width: Change the width ALWAYS 450 px is too large for anything. I typically work with a 75 to 100 nothing bigger than this. It gives a nice size but not too large for people.
Show Faces: No! Definitely do not need this feature.
Now click on Get Code!
You are going to see something like this. Now Don't Get Overwhelmed the rest of this is very easy!
Now for Weebly We will grab the Custom HTML found at the top in the Elements
For Blogger We will add a Html Gadget and embed the code there.
Once you have either one of these set up . Place the first code first, and then the second code.
All you need to do is click in the #1 Top box Right Click and Click Copy or Control/Command C
Paste by right clicking and hitting Paste or Control/Command V
Do the same for the 2nd Part of the code.
You must have both to work correctly.
This is All you have to do now your finished this this one. Add more if you like.
To receive regular updates on new blog posts please follow this blog either by google or by e-mail.
Want to be the Next Featured Artist??? Contact us at info@ahsleychapmandesigns.com
For more information.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Interview with Glen's Workshop
1. Glen, can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started making handcrafted pens?
I have been a woodworker for many years having done much DIY work around my homes and handmade items for family members including cradles and high chairs for grandchildren, end grain cutting boards and other small household and kitchen items. In 2005 I purchased a handmade pen from a campground host in North Dakota which became my inspiration to become a pen turner. While preferring wood, I also make pens in acrylics and other materials. As a lover of wood my preference is for natural finishes but I will also be offering the more durable and high gloss finishes commonly found today.
My handmade pens and other wood crafts are a continuing development of my being inspired by a handmade pen purchased from a retired Navy member while camping several years ago. I was moved to try making pens and offering them for others to enjoy.
A number of my Army brothers and sisters supported my efforts by purchasing nearly 100 pens during the final year of my retiree recall tour at Ft. Knox, KY. This permitted the learning of new skills and exploration of new products and techniques.
2. Do you believe it was the craftsmanship of the first pen you purchased that caused you to want to learn? Or Where you drawn to learning because the person you purchased it was Retired Military?
It seemed like a route into turning that could be learned readily and I really like the walnut burl wood in that pen.
3.Can you run us through a basic on how you create a pen?
Select material (blank) and components (hardware). For some pens I create the pen through segmenting.
Size the blank to the components for length then drill through the center of the blank for the brass tube to be installed.
Drill the blank piece(s) for the tube.
Glue in the tube to the blank piece(s)
Square the ends of the blank to the brass tube.
Turn the blank to fit the component set getting to final dimensions via sanding.
Finish sand and apply the finish. I use either a hard water and oil based finish or a shellac based friction finish on wood blanks.
Synthetic blanks (acrylic, poly resin, tru stones, other) are wet sanded to a high gloss and then may be polished with a plastic polish.
Assemble the finished blank and the component pieces in to the final pen being careful to achieve correct alignment of blank grain or pattern.
4. Do you find making pen's enjoyable?
Yes; it's usually rewarding but sometimes frustrating.
5. Anything else you would like to share?
Not sure how to approach this.
6. Any words of wisdom for someone that might want to start crafting?
If you have a passion for creating something, just do it!
Where to Find Glen's Workshop:
Etsy Store Facebook
Pinterest
If you would like to become the next featured artist please contact us by e-mailing us at: ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com Subject Line: Featured Artist
If you would like to become the next featured artist please contact us by e-mailing us at: ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com Subject Line: Featured Artist
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