Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I make a one of a kind creation that I`ve never seen before on any of the other crafter websites. But I can`t seem to sell anything. I made changes to it that were suggested to me by a member. I worked the bugs out of my paypal buttons. I made business cards and handed them out to all my friends and relatives. I get people to look at my site, but no sells or even a feedback message. Also how do I get Mcafee Site advisor green check mark. I applied to them to check my site, I also logged into thier site and submitted a website owners critique.  Thanks........www.rusticcreationsbyrandy.com

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Randy, I remember your old site and this is much improved.  But I still think you have a ways to go.  I do think the layout and copy needs more work.

But I think Stan makes the best point.  It sounds like you are relying too much on your website to make sales.  Don`t put all your eggs in one basket.  I`m an artist too and I make some sales from my site but it`s not the only avenue.

For a fantastic product like you have, you need to be selling at craft fairs and festivals.  And you should have your products in retail stores that specialize in the rustic style (often found in tourist towns).  Those would be great main outlets for sales for you.  Having a website is then a great supporting source for more sales and buzz.  Pass out business cards at festivals.  Have your website on product tags in stores.  This is a great way to generate interest in your site.  Your products will sell better where people can see and touch them.  Your website will do better to be a supporting player in that strategy.

(By the way, now is the time to start signing up for local fairs in spring and summer.  They usually take applications this time of year to set things up ahead of time.  I think your product is a shoe-in for a well-attended festival.)

Hi Randy :-)
I remember this site, and like the changes. It`d definitely easier to understand. There are a couple of things that come to mind. The first, and perhaps most important, is that a business does take awhile to get going. It`s not easy having a unique product, because nobody`s searching for it---they simply don`t know it exists.

To that end, you have to "relate" your product to something that does exist, that people do search for, but that isn`t your product. For example, you should have a relationship (in SEO, articles, or blog posts), to the term "birdhouse" and "bird house."

LOTS of people search for stuff on bird houses, because they know about them. Your little birds in their *bird houses* do indeed relate, they`re small, they make a great decoration, and likely could even be used outside, right? In a sense, they`re "pets" of the virtual kind, and so you might relate to bird-lovers, parakeet owners, and other people searching for pet products.

One way to do that is to use content explaining what your product is "Not." So for example, you could say, "Our exquisite carved birds don`t need any pet supplies, bird seed, suet, or pet grooming. They`re Butternut Birds, and they`re always beautiful, healthy, and happy!"

The result is that you include searchable key phrases, which don`t actually have anything to do with your product, but are *related* to your product.

I`d also suggest developing a page that shows these birds in decorative home settings. I love the idea of having them peeking out of their bird houses, in the wooded backgrounds. But you`re trying to sell an interior decoration. So you could have a page showing them on glass shelves, corner shelves, bookshelves, in kitchens, dens, on desks, and near windows. Just to give people a visual idea of how to use and enjoy the product as a craft item.

I agree you need to get out and sell these things in person ... craft shows, art and wine festivals, etc. The summer season is coming up, take that show on the road!

The site is not doing much for me either, all on one page like that, and the navigation buttons are displaying funny in Firefox/Mac.

How can you change your intro to be more "me"-focused?
Instead of "Handmade, 100% natural, one-of-a-kind wood art", be specific and focused.

"Our handmade Butternut Birds will liven up any backyard party and give your home personality for years to come."

(Okay, that`s bad, but I`m running on 4 hours of sleep ... you get the drift. Narrow the pitch and make it specific to your reader.)

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Colleen Dougherty Bronstein Designs
Sun Safe Designer Clothing
http://www.sunsafedesignerclothing.com
http://www.bronsteinartwork.com

Nowhere on the homepage do you even mention that you *sell* these things. Or that the visitor can *buy* them. And all the copy is `below the fold`... that is, I have to scroll to read what it is you do.

I would actually make your homepage more like your product page:

http://www.rusticcreationsbyrandy.com/RusticCreationsbyRANDY.html

where users can buy in two clicks. Get those products on the hompage and get them up `above the fold`. I bet that would help.

Everyone has made valid points but... I can`t order more then one item. I get taken to the PayPal page and can`t go back and put something else in my cart without loosing my first item. Think about getting a real cart which will allow you to showcase your products and look more professional as well as allow people to order different items without doing it one at a time.

We use perlshop, x-cart and osCommerce for our clients, fairly easy to install and run.

I also have a pet peeve about not using your domain in your Email. How can you promote RusticCreationsByRandy by using a comcast Email account?

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Regards,

Dan

"I get up in the morning with nothing to do, and I go to bed at night with it half done."