Savvy Shopping 'n More Blog July Archive

Holiday Treasures

Your name?

Brenda Prevost

Your Location (city, etc)

Debary

When did you start your website and why?

I lost my dad on Christmas Day, 2001. I've always loved the holidays and so did he. Instead of Christmas being a sad reminder I decided to make it an all year celebration. That turned into a store for all the holidays which opened in August of 2005.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We sell seasonal decorations, lights and costumes for all the major holidays. Things like Christmas tree lights, displays, adult and kids costumes, inflatables ,etc. Many of our products are for both residential or commercial use.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Creating it was fun, with the help of an excellent web developer! Running the site effectively is a bit challenging. The constant updating of new products, checking for any errors or functionally problems and the like is a bit mundane, but very necessary.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

I love the marketing side of things. Finding new ways to promote the site is something I truly enjoy. Also, being able to shop all year for the latest holiday products is great. No matter what time of year it is, its a holiday for me!

What was your biggest mistake?

I made some bad decisions early on trying to promote my site. It cost me a fair amount of money but I've learned alot since then. I also lost a lot of money to the click fraud problem when doing paid search advertising.

Who maintains your website and why?

I do most of the upkeep. If it is something technical, my web developer handles it. I prefer to handle myself because I'm a real "nit picker" when it comes to accuracy. I did hire someone once to help and I'm still spotting mistakes of theirs.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My store is online only for now. I do hope to have a brick and mortar in the near future.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

New regulations like PCI compliance are imminent. This should weed out alot of dishonesty on the internet and entice more online purchasing. Right now the internet is like the "Wild West" and consumers don't feel safe. The future of the internet will be a much more regulated world than it is now.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is one of several important features to a site's success. Organic search is still the top traffic source. Consumers are "trained" to look at the left side of their screen first so you need those search engines to rank you well. Also, consumers tend to trust sites that are found organically verses an advertisement.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

They have definately helped. I have more than tripled my business from last year after having optimized my site.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Other than effective SEO I'd have to say writing and submitting articles. The internet is a great source for information and when my articles get published on newsletters, etc. I see a great increase in visits.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Paid search advertising. With a small budget, I can't afford the problem with click fraud. I once went through $100 in 30 minutes with no orders. I think the search engines need to do more to stop this problem but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

Making it a safer place for consumers to shop. Less threat for identify and credit card theft. Also, a place where children can surf without becoming victims of so many terrible crimes.

What is your website address?

Holiday Treasures

Topasio.com the #1 Web Jewelry Store

Your name?

Chaim Seper

Your Location (city, etc)

New York

When did you start your website and why?

8 month ago, we started to retail jewelry

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Provide our customers a large variety of Diamond Jewelry, Gemstone Jewelry, Masonic Rings, Gemstone Globes Wedding Bands at discount prices and we are giving exceptional Customer Service.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Find the right Shopping cart and Team around to get the project of the ground.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

nothing comes easy, at least not when you start

What was your biggest mistake?

Don't trust everybody their is gazillions of people designing and doing web jobs, I would say a lot of hem have no clue. Pretty much a no mens land in terms of pricing.

Who maintains your website and why?

Volusion.com is a robust Shopping cart and gives a lot of features and is easy to handle.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

we are starting up just an online business. we will see about that.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

It is the Future

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Another nobodys land, nobody will give yo guarantees but everybody will take your money. You have to learn and understand SEO.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

no comment

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Affiliate program

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

google adwords

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I wish it would be easier administrations for Websites out their.

You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:

Thank You

What is your website address?

Topasio.com the #1 Web Jewelry Store

My Power Mall

Your name?

bill chasen

Your Location (city, etc)

ny

07/08/07 I started my free mall to shop online at major stores and earn rebates on all purchases and build a solid business by just giving these malls away, free.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

My website is my own personal shopping mall. No one else uses it except me. I earn rebates on all merchandise that I buy from my site.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

None, it was created for me.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Shopping.

What was your biggest mistake?

Wasting my time, energy, and money on all the nonsense programs on the internet.

Who maintains your website and why?

It was developed by Webtastic Inc., it is maintained by My Power Mall

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

As I have only started, the benfits have yet to be realized, however, I have already accumulated a small amount of rebates from purchase I have made.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

Ecommerce is the future, and once we get rid of all the scam artists, I believe business in the future will be conducted on the internet, on a much larger scale.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Great, but too costly.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Unless you employ SEO, you don't stand too much of a chance of your site being seen.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Safelists, classifieds both free and paid, website submitters, email (but taking the proper precautions to comply with the CAN-SPAM ACT).

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Search engines, FFA's.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

In my opinion, I would like to see the internet split into two groups. One an all business internet where people who want to do business or join opportunities must pay a monthly or anuall fee and need to be registed. This would hopefully blow-off the scammers. The second internet would be for all general, non-business use, this I would make free, but to use it, everyone would have to register themselves, so if anyone start any nonsense they can be easily identified and dealt with.

What is your website address?

My Power Mall

Good Tidings nautical Gifts

Your name?

Jim Truckey

Your Location (city, etc)

Algoma

When did you start your website and why?

I launched the website in October 2006 as a means to enhance our existing retail business.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

My website is a small arm of the retail store, I never really had a business model, it's been more learn as I go.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Being creative and thinking my web designer is able to read my mind, I would think one thing but not convey it properly.I have a sales and promotion background and my web designer has a design background. They compliment each other nicely when all is working in harmony.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

I have not found anything to be easy, it is much more time consuming than I had imagined.

What was your biggest mistake?

Not giving clear concise instruction to the web designer and expecting things to be done at the drop of a hat, not knowing what goes into a website.

Who maintains your website and why?

Algoma web design, they are the creators and I don't know how.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

In creased sales.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

I like e commerce, I am sure it will continue to grow, the future of the internet is that it will continue to grow.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

I am still trying to figure that one out.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

they have helped my website, except google has not really helped.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

I am still in the learning stages, I have tried myspace, in store, print. I believe search engines have been the biggest factor.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Still too early to tell.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I would like to see my web page at the top of google and every other search engine, make a ton of money and have my internet connection on a tropical isle, yes moving my internet connection to a tropical climate would be the biggest change I would like to see!

What is your website address?

Good Tidings nautical Gifts

www.ezwebbuy.com

Your name?

Ilian

Your Location (city, etc)

Aurora

When did you start your website and why?

This website was ready February 2007 and up and runing by the end of the month. I wanted to do something myself and since my primary job is develop web applications I wanted to build website for myself not for other people and for my company.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

I was interested in jewelry business a long time ago and I am able to buy large quantities from manufacturte companies and sell to cusomers ant cometative prices.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

promote the web site is the most diffiult part.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

develop the website was the easiest part

What was your biggest mistake?

put the unfinished site online

Who maintains your website and why?

Me because I like it

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Good

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

Bright

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Helps to promote web the site

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Still waiting tehm to help

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Submit to directories, google, yahoo and free submition

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

do nothing

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

Search engines should be more friendly to the good websites

What is your website address?

www.ezwebbuy.com

SuppliesBuyer.com

Your name?

Pat Leonard

Your Location (city, etc)

Cedar Springs

When did you start your website and why?

I started in June, 2007. I wanted to create a business that I could do at home and that would help people. A good friend suggested that I use my love of online shopping to help other people shop.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

SuppliesBuyer.com helps online shoppers get great bargains on supplies for their home and office. We provide information, tips, secrets, coupon codes and a forum where people can post their hot deals too. Visitors have the option of using the handy affiliate links to the websites that give them the best deals.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

I have a satellite internet connection but it is still slow. I can only edit my pages in the morning (eastern time) because either my host site or the connection itself is too busy when the rest of the U.S. wakes up.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

The easiest part is not having to leave my home to get everything done.

What was your biggest mistake?

I knew it would be a learning experience, but wish I had taken some website building classes first.

Who maintains your website and why?

I maintain my website. I am on a low budget.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My business IS my website.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

The future is wide open! It is exciting to be a part of it!

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Since I also work part time as a consultant for an SEO business, www.topofthelist.net, I am all for it. I think search engine optimization helps the search engines, and thus the Internet users, find what they are looking for. But websites must use keywords that are relevant to their sites. SEO also includes getting people to come to your site through directories, blogs, forums and other inbound links.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

My site is so new that Search Engines haven't helped much yet. But I was thrilled when my query for "Hot Deals Forum" come up as number 90 on Google!

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

I believe directories to be the most helpful resource for site promotion--ouch!

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Today I joined an affiliate forum and posted a question, also inviting users to my forum. Minutes later, someone posted p*rn, which I immediately deleted. I quickly learned that there is good promotion and not so good promotion. Does that answer your question?

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

What I don't want to see change is the freedom that we have. So, even though I don't like the fact that people do mean things to each other, I don't want it regulated. It would be nice if all the mean people would just get their own Internet and leave us alone.

Do you think the Internet has more good users or bad?

I definately think more good people are online. Maybe I am naive, but I see people sending money to charities electronically, instantly. Internet communication can inspire people to help each other. Emails can be uplifting or nasty grams, but I also believe what goes around comes around, and nobody's perfect.

What is your website address?

SuppliesBuyer.com

MyLeatherBag.co.uk

Your name?

S Ghai

Your Location (city, etc)

London

When did you start your website and why?

Finding good quality leather bags at great prices was very difficult so we decided to change this and MyLeatherBag.co.uk was born.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We have a vast range of leather bags ranging from Briefcases to Laptop cases to urban messengers. We work hard with our suppliers to offer the customer a great range at very competitive prices. Our rule is simple, we want every customer experience to be great so they can recommend us to others - we want to build a relationship with our customers and dont want it to be a one off event

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Listing items is very time consuming

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Nothing has been easy

What was your biggest mistake?

We didn't do this 4 years ago

Who maintains your website and why?

We have a webmaster

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

We are getting exposure and sales that we would not get otherwise

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

ITs going to overtake everything

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Its the key and is very important

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

We hope that it will help

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Word of mouth and SEO

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Nothing so far - may be malicious competitors

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

More regulation and assurance

You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:

How will the internet be impacted with more content going through broadband, such as on demand TV ?

What is your website address?

MyLeatherBag.co.uk

Freetimeaction

Your name?

Emma Watson

Your Location (city, etc)

York

When did you start your website and why?

2006 to supply reasonably priced sports equipment. We set up the site to offer value for money goods in activities you carry out in your free time.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Value for money goods for golf, poker, hockey, music, vinyl and surf gear. All our goods are of the highest quality, with a no quibble money back guarantee.

Who maintains your website and why?

Maintained in-house by Webdesigner

What is your website address?

Freetimeaction

Quality Silk Plants

Your name?

Chad Young

Your Location (city, etc)

Corona

When did you start your website and why?

I started my website back in 2004 after noticing there was not much selection of good quality artificial plants and flowers available to the internet shopping community.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

My website carries a full line of silk flower arrangements, trees, plants, artificial cactus and topiaries at pricing that is at or below most wholesale companies. We wanted to make these products available to the general public for a price that you can't find anywhere else.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

I would have to say the most difficult part of creating an running our website is keeping up on all of the advertising, such as what is working and what isn't. You constantly need to keep track of every type of promotion to see what is giving you a return and what isn't.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

The easiest part is adding new products to our line, it is not onl easy but it is fun to contact our customer base to let them know about the new items we have just added.

What was your biggest mistake?

My biggest mistake when starting out was entering into pay per click thinking that if I bid high enough to be #1 that the money would just roll in. My conversion ratio was not at the level it needed to be and I wasted a lot of money.

Who maintains your website and why?

As of now I maintain my website and the reason I do this is because I feel no one can do it the way I would like it to be done.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My business was strictly internet based up until about January of this year when we opened a Store fron and the website has enhanced the business we get in the store because people can view our products prior to coming in.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

I feel e-commerce is going to be the way people shop in the future. Every year the shopping online is increasing and if you do not have a website for your business then you are giving money to your competitors.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is definately the key to a successful web site due to the fact that most internet users will not go past the first 2 pages of results for their searches.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Search engines have helped my web site grow tremendously and if you are not on the first 3 pages of a search then you don't exist in the eyes of consumers.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

SEO and e-mail have been the most successful for promoting my website and coming in second is Pay Per Click.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Least successful means of promoting my web site has been links on non related web sites.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I would like to see some more personalized search results also I would like to see them remove sites that have more than one page in the top ten results of a search.

How has owning a website changed your life?

It has changed my life by allowing me to quit my 70 hr a week job to spend more time with my family all at the same time making more money than I ever had.

What is your website address?

Quality Silk Plants

GoodDeals.com

Your name?

Heather

Your Location (city, etc)

Tampa

When did you start your website and why?

GoodDeals.com was created in 2003 to help consumers easily find household items that aren't always available at most major retail stores.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

GoodDeals.com strives to provide the best possible price for unique gadgets, gizmos and home supplies. We want every consumer to have access to these necessary, but usually hard to find products. We also understand the value of customer service and have hard working representatives who will answer your call, return your message and respond to your e-mail in a timely manner.

GoodDeals.com ensures an easy ordering process with unlimited customer support and a money back guarantee. Our same day shipping policy allows us to meet your needs in a timely manner that's hard to beat. We are in business to improve the quality of your life by offering affordable solutions quickly and securely.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Since we strive to get our solutions to customers as quickly as possible with our same day shipping policy, we have had to keep a tight operation that allows us to hold inventory of our products and efficiently ship them out. Florida residents often receive their order the day after their order is placed with ground shipping.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Working with our customers to ensure they find the right solution at the best price.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Our website allows us to reach our customers through many online channels. We are also able to run a smooth process that helps keep our prices low and our delivery time exceptional.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

I have been working with SEO for quite some time and I always find that if you optimize your website for usability (while taking advantage of opportunities to optimize for SEO) your website will do well in search engines.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Both. Search engines are the gateway to the internet and they are extremely important for helping shoppers find what they need quickly. Given the quantity of information on the internet, search engines do a great job of getting the people to it.

What is your website address?

GoodDeals.com