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Entrepreneurship:  Using a blog as a storefront?  |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 07:19:34 AM
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Hi Gals, wondering if anyone can explain to me the particulars about selling stuff off of a freebie blog like blogger or wordpress, etc. I had a notion there were rules about this (with the blog company folks) but I see tons of people with paypal buttons and items on their blogs and such. I'm just curious the experience of others. Thanks.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
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Daisydu
Farmgirl in Training
40 Posts
Becky
Rock Hill
South Carolina
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 07:49:29 AM
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Hi Jami,
I'm not sure about the others, but I know that on Freewebs blogs, they encourage you to sell from your blog. Check them out at...
www.freewebs.com
Loving a simple life in the country!
www.twistedfencepost.wordpress.com |
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Daisydu
Farmgirl in Training
40 Posts
Becky
Rock Hill
South Carolina
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 07:50:56 AM
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Oh, you can also check out the other blog site's forum pages and see if there is anything there to help you.
Loving a simple life in the country!
www.twistedfencepost.wordpress.com |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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queenofdreamsz4u
True Blue Farmgirl
3845 Posts
Stephanie Suzanne
Smoky Mountains Tennessee
USA
3845 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 8:02:04 PM
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With Blogger (blogspot) just remember to offer some freebies, tutorials, articles, etc. and include the personal happenings in your life that also happen to include the things you sell. You won't have any problem that way. Folks enjoy knowing the person they are buying from so it really is a benefit to blend the personal with the biz.
Best of luck to you…
Stephanie
www.queenofdreamsz.blogspot.com ~~~Crochet, Sewing, Life Collections & Recollections Blog
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.blogspot.com Vintage & Modern Fabric, Fiber & Yarn Blog
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com ~~~~~Go Shopping at my Website Catalog!! |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 06:55:06 AM
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Thanks Stephanie. I see you have a dedicated website for your business as well. That's what I was wondering about is how folks do selling straight from a blog instead of linking to a business site? I just find it interesting that I've seen it a lot (using the blog as a storefront) and wondered about it.
I cannot keep up with my business site and my blog so well and would like to simplify into one online spot...and it would be nice if it were free like a blog is.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 10:19:46 AM
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I know several people who use their blog to 'sell' their products and creations. I am not sure how it all works for them and the customer, though. Lots of times I see things like, "email me for pricing", etc. But I don't know how easy it would be to accept credit orders from people without a shopping cart program. I haven't looked into it, though, so if you figure it out please share! I am sure there are many farmgirls who would be interested.
The Biz www.tvalahandmade.com
The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 11:47:28 AM
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Brew Crew, I think you could just use paypal, for Credit cards. You can send a paypal bill to any one, with a email address.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 5:00:32 PM
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Welcome, just know there is fees that PP will take out of their CC, and you will get a reduced amount (I don't know what percentage it is, but I know PP takes a percent for CC's). So just read all the fine print.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 05:55:31 AM
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I sell from my freewebs site and don't use paypal. At first, I didn't know how to add it, but then after learning all about it, I decided not to use it. I have to keep costs down as much for me as for my customers and it just seemed like a hassle. I like simple, simple, simple. I just have folks email me with their request to purchase (all prices are listed for customer ease). I email them back with the info on where to send the check or m.o. and pull the item off the "boutique" page and list it as sold on the "portfolio" page. I don't really know if I have lost any customers with this method as no one has ever left a comment saying so. But I do get some wonderful customers.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
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countrygal56
True Blue Farmgirl
221 Posts
Barbara
Dickson
Tennessee
USA
221 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 3:11:01 PM
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Lisa, How successful has your business been, since you don't use Paypal? I used Paypal for awhile and found that it wasn't worth it. Paypal charges too much to use it, at least that's how I feel about it. I want to have my own website to sell my wreaths, jewelry, etc. But I don't want to use Paypal, if I can keep from it.
Barb |
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queenofdreamsz4u
True Blue Farmgirl
3845 Posts
Stephanie Suzanne
Smoky Mountains Tennessee
USA
3845 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 12:19:13 PM
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Let's see you can upgrade to a Premier account at Paypal to pull in the use of credit cards for your customers..and since most use their "checkcard" or "debitcard" this is important since it's all thrown under the credit area...don't know why..just is. So you'll offer paypal funds, echecks, debit or credit cards at that membership status.
Anyhow, I've been using, buying and recieving money for 9 years and have never had a customer conflict nor problem. The seller pays 2.9% plus a 30 cent or 35 cent transaction fee. If you are using your blog to sell from you can integrate the "buy it now" paypal buttons into your blog beside all the items you want to sell or you can use their express checkout method. So "free blog" and normally less than 3% cost to you on Paypal..it's one of the best deals for you and easy to use.
I've had my website for quite a while. The main reason I invest in my own website each month is that I can do anything I want without the host telling me NO...LOL And I enjoy the freedom to learn more html code using the editor...
Well, of course, I'm a family friendly site..ya know what I mean..if someone was selling weapons and had a hate tabloid going on they'd put a stop to it but otherwise I have freedom to do what I wish. But it does have a monthly fee. I view it as a small investment for having my freedom to play and to sell online.
But selling from a blog is very popular and can be very appealing with the right design that reflects the quality of your goods. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about getting started. I'll be happy to help where I can. There's just so many different angles to getting yourself out there!
Have fun!
Stephanie
www.queenofdreamsz.blogspot.com ~~~Crochet, Sewing, Life Collections & Recollections Blog
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.blogspot.com Vintage & Modern Fabric, Fiber & Yarn Blog
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com ~~~~~Go Shopping at my Website Catalog!! |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 12:45:09 PM
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You can also do all the HTML stuff on blogger.com if you switch the html editor to the "classic" version. The newer version doesn't allow as much. But, I've had my blog with them, since they first opened. (years ago). And got used to doing all my own HTML stuff. lol haha
Having my own website (which I still do, but this is my last year, I'm switching every thing to the free blogger) has gotten more expensive every year. Till this year it was over the top of what I wanted to pay. OTOH, you could have the spiffiest website on the block for a heck of a lot cheaper then "renting/buying" a IRL (in real life) brick and mortor store!
I should of switched last year, but it was too sentimental for me to let go-I've had my pay for site for over 15 years! Has a lot of memories, etc there! But, it is time for me to move on from it. To tell the truth, when I first got it was free (as was all their sites from that host). Then about 9 years ago they started charging, it was pretty low at first, especially for members who had already been with them before the y2k internet crash! lol (the internet didn't crash, but all those free businesses online that I used to get, free phone calls, free checks for being online! ect) All went down the tubes after that. lol Any way, they were pretty cheap for us at first, but last year and this year, they just went up to much for me to justify keeping it, when blogger is free.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
Edited by - MagnoliaWhisper on Sep 07 2008 12:49:05 PM |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 06:11:47 AM
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Barbara, I only just started it last year. And I suppose, like most businesses, it started off slow. Then when the economy started going downhill, it got even slower. I'm not exactly offering something that folks "need" so I understand that I won't sell a lot right now. But since I'm not paying for a website, it's ok. I'll just keep hanging in there and when things get better, so will my business.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
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Entrepreneurship: Using a blog as a storefront? |
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Using a blog as a storefront?
