How to start an online business?

[edith]

I want to start an online store but combine it with a blog for vintage goods and other 'finds'. I'm not sure where to start. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm sort of overwhelmed by all the information out there and need some filtering out to find the right answer.

I've thought of selling on ebay or etsy - and that might be what I do initially - but what really has me going is thinking of having a blog where I can also sell things. It's not like high volume or anything. I don't even expect to make that much - it's more of a project where I can express my ideas and offer goods that I think are special and are worth passing on (since they are mostly used, er, I mean, vintage).

Is it possible to combine a blog and online store? Are there any venues for doing this? I know that on ebay you can have you're own "store" but I really want to customize mine and make it mine (plus ebay is so huge and well, ebay-ish). I'll probably add some ad space and book suggestions (with amazon link). It's a hodge-podge and I'm not sure how to start!

I've never done this kind of thing before but I keep thinking of what Steve said - creating value and providing delivery - and that is my driving force. It's a way of doing something that might lead to other ideas and so forth.

Any suggestions would be most welcome! Thanks!

[JackSkelton]

Hello,

Starting an online business is actually not to hard. Your going to want a website of course so think of something that would be catchy... (whatever.com) Then your going to want to chose a web hosting company (They make the website viewable to the world) that offers free one-click install shopping cart systems. I recommend Best Web Hosting, Website Hosting, Reliable Web Hosting, cPanel Web Hosting: Host Quack << I have no idea why it looks like that << they offer everything you would need for that and they will help you install the shopping cart program for free. Then have someone design a website for you. It doesnt sound like you need anything complicated and I can refer you to some forums where you could find a developer for a good deal.

I have had a business selling tangible goods and have plenty of experience with eBay. I would definitely recommend eBay because its a pretty cheap service and can get you alot of buyers potentially. If no buyer then in your ebay listings you should place links to your website so that you at least get some traffic there of people that are interested in that type of thing. I would also try etsy as well.

Depending on what kind of money would want to invest and also what kind of money you would like to make I would suggest hiring someone for marketing which would cost about $250 USD a month but would get you in the top ranks of Google and potentially allow you to earn alot more. I will refer you to someone if you would like that as well but this would depend on what your goals are for the business.

I hope this helps. No matter what happens or others tell you you MUST "TAKE ACTION." So many people have a "great idea" but hardly anyone implements it.

--
Jack

[Cyllya]

I think you can have a site with both a blog and a store more easily than you could combine the two. If that makes any sense.

[JackSkelton]

Originally Posted by Cyllya

I think you can have a site with both a blog and a store more easily than you could combine the two. If that makes any sense.

This is true. Its much easier to just link the two instead of integrating them together.

--
Jack

[Rebecca800]

If you are a complete beginner I would recommend Site Build it (of course )

This is my SBI story: Site Build It Review

Steve also wrote a detailed article about SBI: Site Build It

It is basically a 10-step guide... from choosing your perfect domain name... to building a site with templates... to writing content that sells your products... to building free traffic. Like I say, it's for complete beginners and also for people who have tried to make money online in the past and failed but not sure why.

For $299 you get the hand-holding and tutorials which to me are more than worth it. You also get the domain, hosting, email, etc.

Both of my websites in my signature were made with Site Build It. There are also other threads in this forum that discuss it in depth. You can add a blog / store front / ebay and plenty of other income streams as you go.

Good luck with your business!

[rosesmith]

The first you may have to do is advertising.
People have to know that you are able to do the circuit boards in the first hand. Actually, many customer are looking for some customized products and in the most times, they just find it difficult to locate the right people who can help them. How sad !

B2B website will be helpful to you. Also can use ebay to sell.
The way to advertise varies. Wish you prosper.

[edith]

Wow! Thanks guyses! That's was awesome and I am ever so grateful for the info.

Sometimes it's just hard to get started until someone takes you by the hand. Now I need to digest this info and see where to go from there. I may be back with more questions. Wait. I'll probably be back with more questions!

I think you can have a site with both a blog and a store more easily than you could combine the two. If that makes any sense.

I think it makes sense. Like you mean one site with links to the store, the blog, etc. etc. instead of blogging about something and including a product (though it seems you could talk about a product then link to the storefront). Is that what you meant?

Regarding ebay....so let's say I throw some products up on ebay to sell - could I also have them in my online store? What if someone buys it on ebay but someone else wants it from my store? Is there a way of making sure I'm not selling one product twice?? (This is optimistically assuming that I'll have lots of people wanting my stuff!) Or should I have ebay stuff and my store stuff? (I've looked at other people's ebay stores, but never paid attention to this.)

Anyway, I'll look at all the ideas here and report back. Thanks for the encouragement!

[JackSkelton]

Originally Posted by edith

I think it makes sense. Like you mean one site with links to the store, the blog, etc. etc. instead of blogging about something and including a product (though it seems you could talk about a product then link to the storefront). Is that what you meant?

You can talk about an item and link to it in your blog but to have the item be displayed under your blog post and have them be able to add it to a shopping cart would be more difficult. You would want to just place a link to the item anywhere in your post so when they click the link it takes them to the page with all the details about the item.

Originally Posted by edith

Regarding ebay....so let's say I throw some products up on ebay to sell - could I also have them in my online store? What if someone buys it on ebay but someone else wants it from my store? Is there a way of making sure I'm not selling one product twice?? (This is optimistically assuming that I'll have lots of people wanting my stuff!) Or should I have ebay stuff and my store stuff? (I've looked at other people's ebay stores, but never paid attention to this.)

You can sell items on ebay and your personal store at the same time. you have the ability to cancel the ebay item at anytime and there will be an option that says something like "This item has been sold outside of ebay" but you will have to manage this manually. So if the item sells on ebay you will need to manually remove it from your online store and vice versa.

Hope this information helps!

--
Jack