Ladydebs New Web Site Venture

[LADYDEB]

Hi There Again,

I am in the process of starting a new web based small business venture. I have a very kind friend of my sons devising a web site for me, however, I don't have much of a clue about hosting the site.

The site will be selling all types of ladies lingerie items. I have seen various 'deals' such as £1.00 a month for the first six months then the fee increases. But I have never ventured into this side of things before and am (as is usual for me) clueless about what to expect in return for the fee paid.

Could someone give me a very brief rundown on what would be a basic package that will fulfil the needs of a fledgling web business??

I think that without a degree of input from someone with web hosting experience, I will be floundering around in the dark, signing up for web hosting that is not of any particular use to me.

I will be very grateful if anyone could help!! :flowers:

Kindest regards

Debbie

[Chris]

Depends on how much you are willing to send per month.

Your site will get very little traffic and more than likely you'll have very little things [get it? ;) ] for sale at first. So you wouldn't need anything to fancy.

Unless you want a Windows hosting package or Linux hosting package specifically then you're free to use whatever you want. I'd go for Linux as they tend to be cheaper.

For Example: 1&1

Do you have a domain name?

[LADYDEB]

Hi There Powerless, :)

Thanks for responding so quickly.

I took a quick look at the Linux 1&1 business package and that seems fairly appropriate for what I need. Would this be able to grow with the business if it began to take off significantly?

I feel pretty vulnerable at the moment :unsure: because I feel I don't have the experience or knowledge to make decisions which could have a major bearing on the future of the venture - if I make bad decisions at the start, it could make things a whole lot more difficult later on!

I am currently selling lingerie on Ebay, but the fees are crippling me - and I'm getting pretty fed up with lining the Ebay money making machines pockets so generously. So, the sooner I can sort out a decent web page - the better!

Thanks for a great start to my search Powerless.

Take care.

Debbie

:flowers:

[LADYDEB]

Sorry! I meant to mention that I don't as yet have a domain name - I'm not even sure how to register one!!

[Chris]

I'd get yourself a domain name first.

Very easy to do with 1&1 Domains

Then look at hosting in more depth.

[Chris]

Oh do you know what your son's friend is doing?

[LADYDEB]

I think he has a fair amount of previous experience in web site building.

He's only a youngster, but seems to know what he's doing. My son sent him a basic outline of how I wanted the web site and a few pictures of (not too naughty) lingerie items, so he could include some pictures on the home page.

I haven't seen anything he's completed so far though, so can't give you many details as of yet.

Could there be a problem with the way he's built the web site, and getting the site hosted? :unsure:

I will check out the domain name thing on 1&1 - thanks Powerless! :D

[LADYDEB]

I meant to ask Powerless,

Will my choice of domain name affect anything - ie. could it help people find the web site. I know it has to be relevant to the type of business, but does the domain name have any other relevance or use?

Probably seems a silly question to you, but honestly I really want to get it right 1st time - to save having to redo things later!

Oh!!!

Didn't realise the time - have to be up in the morning at 7am.

If you have any more suggestions Powerless, I will be back tomorrow.

Many thanks for now and wishing you a :D very goodnight!

Debbie :flowers:

[Chris]

I think he has a fair amount of previous experience in web site building.

He's only a youngster, but seems to know what he's doing. My son sent him a basic outline of how I wanted the web site and a few pictures of (not too naughty) lingerie items, so he could include some pictures on the home page.

I haven't seen anything he's completed so far though,  so can't give you many details as of yet.

Could there be a problem with the way he's built the web site, and getting the site hosted?  :unsure:

I will check out the domain name thing on 1&1 - thanks Powerless!  :D

No.

:D

[unless he's built it using some high tech, web designer tools for example asp.net. Then you would have to have Microsoft hosting]

I meant to ask Powerless,

Will my choice of domain name affect anything - ie. could it help people find the web site. I know it has to be relevant to the type of business, but does the domain name have any other relevance or use?

Probably seems a silly question to you, but honestly I really want to get it right 1st time - to save having to redo things later!

Oh!!!

Didn't realise the time - have to be up in the morning at 7am.

If you have any more suggestions Powerless, I will be back tomorrow.

Many thanks for now and wishing you a  :D  very goodnight!

Debbie  :flowers:

1Q. Will my choice of domain name affect anything - ie. could it help people find the web site.

1A. Yes your domain name is the key. That is the first thing you should get right. For example if you're selling lingerie :blush: don't call it LADYDEB as the two names are meaningless to each other. :blink:

Calling it womanslingerie would be more obvious to people! Just experiment with some names and see if thier taken. Your best bet is to concentrate on .com names [see the end of my reply for more info]*.

Probably seems a silly question to you, but honestly I really want to get it right 1st time - to save having to redo things later!

More than likely you won't. You'll find things that don't work because either people tell you or nobody is buying. All you can do is make sure everything is first in place, all pages have content that people will understand. Make sure that you get all spelling and puncuation checked. It some ways it's trial and error. But when you get to the point where you no longer can improve then you might have just achecived the perfect selling window for your lingerie :blush: website.

If you have any more suggestions Powerless

Product pages, whislt I don't wear any lingerie :blush: try and include information about the product, sizes, colours etc that people need to know. Pictures are perfect but they don't give all the info that a person may want.

*From the point of making money over a website, I do not have any idea of the legal side of things. The Tax man etc so you're best trying to find that out yourself or maybe someone on here will be able to tell you. For payment you could go the Credit Card way or through Payapl which will charge you!

[andsome]

Can't offer any help as such, just my best wishes when you get it going. All the best.

[-pops-]

Not directly connected with setting your site up but, have at least two interchangeable computers that both contain ALL the details of your venture.

Running a business, you cannot afford to rely on one machine to keep all of your dealings in order because, one day, the unthinkable will happen and it will die on you, or at least become very sick, - which will not inspire confidence in your customers.

You also need a comprehensive backup of all of your work.

Best of luck with it :)

[expertec]

Keep selling on eBay for a bit even when you've got the site going, and put a link to it in all your listings. :)

Best of luck with it!

[LADYDEB]

Hi There All,

Many thanks for all your encouraging words.

You really are a great bunch - top bananas!! LOL Just joking! :P

I will follow up all your suggestions.

A question I just thought of - we now have three computers at home, and although two are linked through the router (hats off to Scuzzman) I wondered if it was a good idea to buy an external hard drive to store information, solely to be used with my computer?

I'm not sure if there would be any point though, as I just purchased a new system which is being used by someone else which has a 160Gb hard drive - and I wondered if my relevant info could be stored there?

I know you have told me before pops that I need to keep backing up info, but I still get a little lost in the where, when, hows, etc. I guess I am SO busy with everything I have to do all the time - there just doesn't seem time to keep backing everything up. I mean, do you do it every day, every week, I'm unsure.

This is all ABC stuff to you guys but to me its a very slippery learning curve - I am learning new pooter info all the time. Hoping to ward off the old alzheimers by keeping my brain chugging!

Anyway, if anyone else can think of any suggestions to set me off on the right foot - they will be much appreciated.

Oh, nearly forgot, how do you add an internet site link to your ebay listings? Super idea expertec!!

Big smiles! :D

Debbie

[LADYDEB]

Hi,

That last question made me look like a real dumbo!!

I meant, how do you add a hyper-link to the ebay listing.

I already know how to type a web site address!!

Even I am not that dorky!!

Debbie the dork.

[-pops-]

If you prepare your script in Word, that will automatically create a hyperlink. All you do then is copy and paste into the eBay description panel.

This only works if you are doing the eBay thing in I.E. It gets a bit complicated if you're writing your own HTML in other browsers.

[LADYDEB]

Hi There pops,

I do all my ebay descriptions in Macromedia Dreamweaver as I get to choose which fonts and colours I want - which enables me to create different looks for different listings. If I typed the hyper-link in Word then copy and pasted it into my Dreamweaver template, would that work?

I can't actually try it yet as I don't have the web site address as yet. :)

Another thing I would like to mention - if any of you guys or gals would like any lingerie, I will do you a special discount - dependent on the item ( as some items I make minimal profit on anyway) - just because you have all been so good to me and I really would like to show my appreciation!! :flowers:

As soon as the site is up and running I will let you know!

Debbie

[-pops-]

I've never used Dreamweaver so I really can't answer that but, the Word method certainly does work as I've used it myself but I only do fairly basic eBay selling.

[LADYDEB]

Hi There pops,

Did you watch the Money programme about ebay on BBC2 tonight??

It is unbelievable how much money they are making. Ebay are the richest economy after Kuwait!!!!!!!!!

That is totally absurd!

Would this make a good discussion in 'The Lounge' forum??

It's time someone set up a comparative auction site which cost its loyal customers less to list!!! :(

Anyway pops, thanks for your help and speak to you again soon.

Regards

Debbie

[-pops-]

Not watched it yet. Recorded it though :)