Category talk:How tos

Did you know over 2,000,000,000 searches are performed everyday? That is why it is important more then ever to get your site online.

1. We need to think of a name for your website so we can create a domain. You always want to include a keyword like www.suesflowershop.com. Notice that I included Flower Shop into the domain? This will make it easy for people to find you on the search engine.

2. Now we need to register that domain before someone else takes it! Domains a unique and no one can have the same name. You can check to see if your domain is available and register it at several website like: http://client.madcowhost.com/domainchecker.php http://www.godaddy.com/default.aspx http://www.websitespot.com/

Once you register the domain and pay for it you are one step closer to having your website online!

3. Now that we are all registered with a domain, we need to get web hosting. Web Hosting is provided by web hosting company that offers a certain amount of space on their server for you. There are several company's that offer web hosting and domains combo. Here is a list of trusted web hosting company's: http://www.madcowhost.com/ http://www.hostgator.com http://www.rackspace.com/ http://www.godaddy.com/default.aspx

We recommend that you buy both the domain and the hosting at the same time. That way it will all be processed at once and the domain name servers will be pointed at the right place.

4. Now that our hosting is all linked up and everything seems to be working. We need to make a website! There are several content management systems that allow you to do it yourself and use templates like joomla or wordpress, but what if you want something unique? Something that referents your company? Something professional? or maybe you do not have the time to do it yourself. There is a solution! You can get custom web design from the following company's: http://www.madcowhost.com/ www.crea7ive.com/ www.solarvelocity.com

Once your website is create, you are ready to upload it to your hosting account! You can ask the web hosting or web design company to do this for you if you do not know how.

I have been selling Avon out of my home for almost five years now, and the biggest expense I have is stationary. We all know marketing can be the difference between a good business and a popular business, no matter what the size. Business cards, mailing labels, coupon cards and giveaway calendars can be the face of your business for potential and existing customers. I started out printing labels and business cards at home, but it proved too time consuming and expensive. A package of 350 Avery labels is $30, plus ink and the time you spend formatting your template. I got 420 labels for $24. The design was much better than anything I could have achieved on my own, allowing my professionalism to shine through to my customers. I had matching business cards made up and it only cost me $30 for 500 cards. Avery wanted $33 for only 400, and again I would have to fight with the printer. I sent Christmas cards to all 200 clients last year, and it only cost me $50 to have them all printed up with envelopes! My advice to those of you who want to streamline your paper-marketing needs is to use Vistaprint. You can order online and have your order shipped anywhere in the world. I know this sounds like I have shares in Vistaprint, but I dont! I just really like the ease of it all. Anyway, give it a try.

How To Save Money When You Open a Candy Store

These days, nearly everyone’s feeling the pinch of today’s economy, and this pinch has many aspiring entrepreneurs – such as new candy shop owners – wondering whether or not they should move forward with their new business ideas.

Fortunately, there are ways to pinch pennies and still get quality results. Listed below are five ways to save money when you open a candy store.

1. Buy your candy in bulk.

For businesses that sell a lot of one kind of product (such as candy), it only make financial sense to buy in bulk and save money.

Keep in mind that it’s important to have a plan for your candy before you actually order it. How many display fixtures will you have? Where will they be located? What special considerations should you make for the candy (unwrapped candy needs more protection than wrapped candy)? These are the kinds of questions you should know the answers to before you purchase bulk candy.

2. Buy versatile display fixtures in bulk.

As mentioned above, buying in bulk helps you save money; however, buying versatile display fixtures – those that you can use for a variety of purposes – in bulk helps you save even more money.

For example, jumbo mini bins – which are already fairly inexpensive – are fantastic acrylic bins for showcasing a variety of items.

3. Sometimes, secondhand display fixtures are your friends.

Generally, the best way to get your hands on secondhand display fixtures is to keep your eyes open for owners of similar businesses who might be relocating and looking to lighten their loads or who are redecorating and need to get rid of their old, but useable, display fixtures.

Keep in mind that “inexpensive” doesn’t always mean “good deal.” You’re trying to save money, but you’re also trying to make a good impression. If the display fixtures are noticeably worn (for example, the clear plastic containers have so many scratches you can’t really describe them as “clear” anymore) or not easily repairable (for example, the rolling display racks are missing wheels you’d have to spend a significant amount of time hunting for before you could replace them), you’d be better off paying for new fixtures.

4. Look for wholesalers offering special start up deals.

Many companies that sell bulk candy and bulk display tools also offer special deals for owners of new candy stores. Talk with owners of similar businesses as well as search the Internet to gather a list of such companies, and then compare their start up specials and prices.

5. Don’t go overboard with advertising.

Adverting is crucial, and it’s especially important when you’re first getting started; however, many new candy shop owners discover that when they’re first getting started is when their budgets are the tightest.

Instead of sinking money into several different advertising areas, consider just a few big hitters. For example:

•Newspaper advertisements and radio mentions (as opposed to separate, lengthy radio commercials) are often fairly inexpensive and reach a broad audience. •If you create your own graphics and write your own copy, as well as shop around for printing services that offer the best prices, you’ll find that fliers can be quite inexpensive forms of advertising. •Many community news stations and newspapers provide a community events feature to their viewers and readers. Oftentimes, getting your announcement (in this case, your candy store opening) listed in these segments or sections is completely free. You might even want to talk with reporters about a brief feature announcing the upcoming opening of your new candy store.

NOTE: These days, it’s almost unheard of for a business to lack a website. Not only are websites constant forms of advertisement, but they’re also incredibly convenient for your customers. You might think it’d be best for you to wait until your new candy store has been up and running for a while before you create a website, but it’s actually ideal to have a website up and running BEFORE your store opens – that way, when customers see and hear your advertisements for the shop’s opening day, they can visit your website to check out your store!