One of the first things you need to do after your Web Mama E-cart is installed is to plug it into Mals and Paypal so you can accept and process payments for orders.

1.) Lets start with Mals. First you will need to visit http://mals-e.com and sign up for an account. The basic account is free and probably all you will need. If you want to use the advanced features or a 3rd party credit card merchant than you will want to sign up for the premium account. Check over the features matrix page to decide which one is best for you. Read More…

Technorati Tags: Web Mama E-cart, Mals, Paypal

I always tell people that one of the first things you need to do when you set up your web store or website is to determine who your target market is. You want to set up a website with them in mind. What do your visitors want to see on your home page? What is their purpose for visiting your site? Does your target market have a specific style or feel about them? You aren’t going to design a website consisting of victorian flowered wallpaper motif for a store that is trying to draw in the 20-something trend setters.

This also is true in other areas of your web presence. How about marketing? Where are you going to place your ads? Whether they are online or off line you want to spend your time placing ads where your target market is. Don’t exchange links just to exchange them. Don’t place an ad just because its cheap. Do your homework and find out where your customers hang out. Are your customers moms? Find parenting groups and other parenting websites that you can advertise on. How a bout a specific type of mom? Then refine your ad placement even further. You want to get the most bang for your buck.

What I said should be common sense, but I’m finding that more and more people are not researching their potential customers ahead of time. Why this little note today? I had an experience yesterday that really illustrated how many companies are detached from their clients. I’ll share for your entertainment.

I’m out with my kids taking a break from the day and I receive a call on my cell.
Caller: “Is this Kristine D?”
Me: “Yes”
Caller: “Hi Kristine, I’m x-y-z from a-b-c. (I was only half paying attention, lol) I offer web design and hosting services. Are you going to be doing any web development soon?”
Me: I’m very surprised at where this conversation is going and manage to say “Uh, No”
Caller: “So you won’t be redesigning your website anytime soon?” (So she knows I have a website, did she READ my website? lol)
Me: “Well, I AM a web designer.”
Caller: “So you won’t be redesigning your site?”
Me: “I design websites for a living.”
Caller: “So you don’t need web services?”
Me: “Uh… no.” It was incredibly hard not to burst out laughing.

I can only imagine that the caller did not do any customer research before making the call. My point is: don’t try to sell ice to the Eskimos.

Technorati Tags: website, design, web, web design

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