Tips and Hints

Recently I visited a forum. There someone had asked for feedback for their website. When you do this you have to be well prepared. In the WAHM community there are a lot of women with very strong opinions about how a website should be and how it should not be. They will give you their honest opinion, though they probably won’t all agree with each other.

The one thing pointed out was that she was using a free webhost. When you are starting your own online business this is a big stumbling block for some. The beginner seems resistant to buying a domain and monthly hosting. At first glance this is a big expense. If you are running a site that deals with being frugal maybe you can avoid this, but it really is an expense you should take.

You get what you pay for and free is free. When you are running an online business and a new customer comes to your website, that is their first impression of you. A glaring banner at the top of your website is not the impression that you want to give. It gives the impression that you are cheap. It may also give the impression that you are new. If they are looking for someone with experience, you have just lost a potential client.

Free websites and hosting are filled with advertising and pop-ups. This is how they make their money. They have links that lead away from your site. This isn’t what you want either. You want your customer to stay focused on your message and what you have to offer. Not a possible competitor or banner ad.

Don’t be fooled, a client is going to be looking at what your URL also. If you are using a free site, there name will be after the www not yours. This can also leave a bad impression on a potential client. One that can be easily remedied.
Buying a domain name isn’t that difficult. It is no longer expensive either. You can purchase a domain name for about $10 a year. I recommend GoDaddy. They have service that is easy and affordable.

Hosting is another story. In the past 10 years website hosting has really changed and grown. There are many different options available now. There are even many WAHM who provide great website services. I highly recommend MomWebs. They have great service and unbeatable prices. You can purchase a package for as low as $15 a quarter. That is only $5 a month. Their features are numerous, but the ones that concern me are WordPress, unlimited email address and custom error pages. Where ever you host make sure that they fit what you need.

Another free option is email. Now I will tell you I am guilty of using a free email. I use gmail. Now I have my reasons for this, but there are a few basic rules you should follow when using a free email, or a paid one for that matter.

Pick a profession email. hotmomma@hotmail.com is not going to make it in the online business world. Your name, nickname, or even initials are a great idea. I use judithldavis@gmail.com this suits my needs and still gives a tie to my website and that professional appearance.

To wrap it up, think about the image that you want to portray. Another point you may be thinking is I will start out with the free site and when I make enough money move to my own. Remember that your customers are going to have you bookmarked and saved to that free site. Start where you need to be. It is an investment in your business’ future. You are worth it. Get rid of those banners and ads. Let your site and your content shine through!

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I have been making soap and bath products for over ten years. During that time I have seen many soap makers come and go.

They come online with big plans and goals. Unfortunately a lot of these small home business don’t last very long.

Now don’t get me wrong, these people make the very best product. They have the skills to produce wonderful handcrafted personal care products. They have put in the time and training to learn their business. But sometimes this is not enough. They lack the skills to sell products online. They also may lack the ability to focus their business.

Having an online business is different. It takes different techniques and skills. In other words it takes a whole different approach.

I have to admit that when I first started making soap, I very easily lost my focus. I would see what these other great soap makers were doing, scents and recipes they were doing and I would say to myself, wouldn’t that be great to try.

I got lost in all the extras. I didn’t stay focused. This is really easy to do, especially when you are first starting out. Your wonderful product isn’t selling well, so you think I will try adding this and that, and soon you are all over the place.

Learning to focus your business first is essential. Making goals and a business plan that states what your goals are and how you are going to accomplish them are essential.

Learn what it takes to make an online business work. Find great resources and use them. Find a mentor that is willing to show you the ropes.

But most of all stay focused on your goal. Define that goal. And work to obtain that goal. Focus on that goal as if it were the brass ring.

A great resource for Staying focused for online WAHMs is The Power of a Focused Business. When ever I feel like I am getting a bit cloudy I go back to this resource.

Another great resource for learning to become productive in an online business, any online business, is Mom Masterminds. A group of online entrepreneurs willing to be your mentor. Great concept.

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Making a website is not as easy as sitting down, throwing words and graphics up on your screen and calling it done. I wish it was! But it is just not so there are a lot of things to take into consideration.

First you have to consider where you are going to put up your site. There are tons of places to get free web hosting. I say this because it is true. But after saying that, I really want to say, if you can avoid the free hosting, please do it! There is nothing more annoying than seeing that banner or pop up on an otherwise great site. Especially if you have a business site. There are so many options available out there for affordable hosting. I host with Mom Webs. They are affordable and reliable. They have plans that are as low as $15 a quarter. And finding someone reliable is a plus.

Next you have your name. Names are important. You want something easy to remember and easy to spell. For personal sites I suggest that you use your name. Now I have a pretty common name, so it affords me some privacy. Maybe a combination of your first and middle name, if it is easy to spell. You need to make sure that name is available also. Go Daddy is a good place to look and see if the name is available and if it is, to buy your new domain name.

Once you have secured your domain name and have hosting, often times your host will help you set up your domain. They will help you make sure that your domain name is set to the correct name servers point to their servers. The first time you do this the task can be a bit daunting, but if you have a great host the process is very easy.

The one thing I really want to stress is to stick to it. Don’t give up. As Scarlet O’Hara said, in Gone With the Wind, “Tomorrow is another day!” Even if you have been disappointed with your website, personal or professional, you can always start again. Find a coach or a mentor, and jump right back on that horse!

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