Thursday, March 31, 2011

Did that ad read easy to create web page design , not , and now YES

I am the average middle age forever young person with average knowledge of the computer.
I have been selling on line since 1997.
I made sure I had my domain name as soon as I learned what it meant. In those days , domains were a huge issue...and I think anyone that has a business on line should have one.
Anyway , finally this year , I decided to create my web page or site. It was time to branch out , add another notch to the RC Antiques machine.
Easier said than done.
Although I create videos , and have the know how to create unusual photos of the items I sell , creating a web page was an absolute horror.
Many headaches...many times calling myself dummy dummy, hopefully , some of you that read my blogs will understand my frustration.
Yes, I tried those user friendly web site designers and flunked the course on each one till I happened upon Weebly , thanks to The Vintage Village site recommending it to me.
This is not a paid ad.
Remember , anytime I recommend something , I do it , to share what I have found , in the hopes of helping you avoid the headaches of trying things over and over again :-)
I still have my shops on Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza , but , I wanted that third branch , a trio.
And now, I proudly present to you, my web site.
I will add items a little at a time. I have items for sale there now.
But, believe it or not, this blog is not to get you to buy something ( well, if you do, I will truly appreciate it ) , no , instead , this blog is to assure you , that if I can do it, you can too.
Weebly is free too , with an optional up grade.
So, without further ado , here is the link,
http://www.rcantiques.com/

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Tips to market yourself without the shock image

I surf the Internet everyday.
My computer is my ship, I travel the huge Internet galaxy in search of treasures , fabulous shops, and new ideas.
I've been surfing since 1997 and have learned a lot without sitting in a school room waiting for the class to be over so I can escape to the real world.
In the old days, promoting was the term, in the computer age, it's marketing.
That means, to make it, you have to show the world the image you want to project.
Here's an example of excellent marketing.
Remember the  7 - 11 stores. They were the place to be, but, they never changed...along comes Sheetz, and whammo...the retro look, the drive through appeal, and well, I think there's a Sheetz on the East Coast just about everywhere.
Another Success story is Target. They have the very best commercials... it was not the merchandise that made you want to go, or the prices, it was those fabulous commercials.
While hunting the net for vintage costume jewelry, I happened upon Glamtown Vintage on Etsy.  I noticed she has a video channel. I subscribed because I really enjoyed the format.
The video you see below this blog is her latest video. I think it is fantastic. It's happy, fun, good ole USA American cars, and cheesecake sexy too...and I LOVE the photo that shows those tattoos are from a magic marker....whoever the person is that posed for this video is a natural....and if it is the shop owner herself , I say, make what you have work for you, and you do :-)
Marketing yourself is marketing your shop or, your business...be it even just making videos , a shop to sell things, or a services business.
Find your image that fits what you do, and you will have a hit
I do not personally know Glamtown Vintage ...I do frequent her shop,
http://www.etsy.com/shop/glamtownvintage?ref=pr_shop_more
She gets my vote today as knowing how to put people on the road to her shop.