How to build your own website, have it hosted, and drive traffic to your site. Like I did.

Do your research:

Recently, I expanded my online businesses. I have been in business for myself for over 20 years and I am very involved in all that I do. When I decided to have a website built for me to sell some of the different products that I have been selling over the years, I did my research. Don't just take the first advise you see or hear.

What I found:

I contacted 3 web designers in my area to create for my a personalized site to offer a simple ecommerce of sales. I own a hobby farm and grow perrenials. (Note: This was done in 2002) I wanted to increase my sales but decrease my travel to sell. You see, I have travelled as far as 2 ¹/₂ hours to sell my perrenials at market. While the trip is a nice drive and usually the day is fun. The work that goes into it cuts into the profits. I decided that I could continue to grow my wide range of perrenials and bulb plants and sell the root systems earlier in the year. Just dig pack and ship. I will be working for the orders that already are coming in saving time and money. I can still make a few trips to market in the peak 3 weeks.

These three designers (who are supposed to do all the creating,hosting, and editing of your website including uploading pictures,adding sellable items,and all of your online ecommerce transactions) had a bit different views of what I would need. All in all, the price seemed to be so large. First, $3500 to build, host and upkeep seemed to be steep. The lowest quote I had was $2800. Now you still have to add in the hosting every year there after. I just thought that there must be a better way.

Over the winter, two years ago, I researched the net for ways to build my own website. I found a very simple and easy to use editor and hosting site called Easy Site Build . com. Now I did't have very much html experience nor had I ever really built a web page. I decided after reading the information FAQs and other information about building a web page at Easy Site Build.com that I would risk the whopping $14.95/month Ecommerce Package.

I needed a photo album to show off the blooms and root systems. A blog sounded great but I didn't start that right away. A shopping cart with payment was very important. The Ecommerce package was my best choice and since they offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee my decision was made.

I signed up:

I signed up with Easy Site Build and began learning the ' how to's ' of building my own web site. It took a bit of time for this 42 year old but I finally had a working web site that could offer ecommerce and payments. I had photo albums and could edit easily. I could advertise with adsense and create another possible income. I didn't start a blog right away. I wanted the actual shopping cart accept payment and email accounts working. Finally, I was ready. I did a few tests ( You see, I am a very independant business man. I have to test everything to ensure quality. ) and I was very satisfied.

To date:

To date, I have made 63 sales this year. The largest sale was $431.73. (Taxes & Shipping Incl.) I only sell in Ontario Canada for now. Shipping plants over borders is a bit of an issue.

Where NOT to find your traffic;

Ok, the next thing I had to do was to get traffic to my site. I was pretty unsure of how to do that. I tried some of these advertisements that I have seen online but I received hits but not one order. In fact, I had over 3000 hits in the first month without a sale. Nothing. I was very unsure of what was going on.

Where TO find your traffic;

I contacted my nephew who has been a great influence on me to even go online. He showed me how to lauch my site into google for their web crawler to crawl. He told me about beginning the google adsense program. So I did. I added the ads to my site. He told me about beginning a blog, writing on others blogs. Paid advertising, banners etc. and then he told me about these social sites that I can inform others of my site. He told me how I can join other sites and advertise with them. Become an affiliate with these other sites to gain word of mouth. He showed me a free to use web tracking system to see where my traffic comes from what keywords they use and so much more information that I may never use.

My Sales;

I only sell to Canada right now as I need to learn more about sending plants across the borders. This year I have recieved 63 sales so far. I can only expect that this will rise.

My suggestion to you;

If you want to build a web page or site then using templates is the easyiest way. I can change around my site at any time. I really enjoyed using Easy Site Build.com and I am sure you would be too.