I started creating a website for my Bradley Products and Accessories, as well as the other related stuff from other vendors, today. I'll keep ya'll informed and post a link when I'm happy with the way it looks and information on it. May take a little time, as I'm creating it myself, using only the online tools from the yahoo/geocities people.
If it goes well, and I can afford to upgrade, I'll add a complete, secure online shopping cart, in addition to a professional designer, but for now it'll be e-mail orders and paypal or money order payments.
Thank you everybody for your words of support and encouragement that have spurred me to taking this first, small step to increased business.
Good job Tiny! ;)
Keep us posted for sure!
Mike
Good luck TT!! :)
Well, it's not completely done yet, there are a few tweaks to be made. Check it out, link is in my signature. Open to any and all opinions and ideas on how to make it better...there is a pic coming for the accessory and cure section, just haven't decided how to take that picture yet.
Hey Tiny it looks good!
I did find one error. I put it in bold for you below.
"Perfect for entertaining, creating gourmet foods in your own home, or just enjoying the flavor that smoking brings, the new Bradley Digital Smokers offer an easier and better way to automatically roast, smoke, and bargecue in the outdoors."
Mike
Looks good TT. However, I got just one question: pink? It's a good thing you're a big guy ;D. I'm just kidding about the color......I wish you much success.
Just a couple of other thoughts for you Tiny.
You could directly link to any of the .pdf files that you choose to be usefull from the Bradley site. Of course you would want to get their permission first but I doubt it would be a problem. You caould also put up a link to this great forum and Olds recipe site.
Just a couple of thoughts for ya.
Mike
Thanks guys. Gonna go correct that spelling error right now. *sigh* it's a work in progress... :D ;D
Quote from: Tiny Tim on December 06, 2007, 02:26:05 PM
*sigh* it's a work in progress... :D ;D
And it never ends ;D ;D
Looks good Tiny. Let me know if you need any help with anything or need to get pointed in the right direction for any resources.
Bryan
When you get it worked out and 8 or 10 regular members here say that doing business with you is good I will then add your site to the vendors list on the recipe site.
Looks good Tiny.
Olds; you can put me down as a very satisfied customer. I bought the Propane smoker covers from him and was very happy with the transaction.
Hey TT - the page looks good.
I found another mispelling "The new 4 rack and 6 rack Digital Smokers include all the features of the Original Bradley Smoker, alnog with the benefits of digital technology."
The only other suggestion I can add is to create a link within the body for ordering instead of simply stating the e-mail address.
Rick
Perhaps an area with contact information would be an asset.......address, phone, email etc.
Thanks guys...the live link for the e-mail was coming, I just forgot how to write that part of the code. Completely forgot about info for our physical location...that would probably help with getting people to trust me a little more.
Thank you Olds...I'll get as many here hooked up as I can. And Bryan..thank you for the offer of help.
Ah heck...thank you everybody. All of you are the reason I'm doing this.
Just finished the corrections and updates.
Not that I feel a need to defend the background color, but I chose that color after Dad's comment about the previous color being hard to read anything on. I know the full red and full blue are hard on my eyes (as well as black), so I kinda chose a toned down red. I may play around with other colors yet, as I said earlier, this is a work in progress. :D
IMPORTANT
You have listed your raw E-mail address twice. Sooner or later a bot is going to pick it up and then God help you. Once that happens you will be spammed to death. 1000 plus per week.
May I suggest that you use this HTML coding: <a href="mailto:
[email protected]">Contact me!</a>
The only thing that will show is "Contact me!"
"[email protected]" is where you place your E-mail address. Copy / Paste this whole code into where you currently are showing your raw E-mail address.
Quote from: Tiny Tim on December 07, 2007, 07:40:04 AM
Just finished the corrections and updates.
Not that I feel a need to defend the background color, but I chose that color after Dad's comment about the previous color being hard to read anything on. I know the full red and full blue are hard on my eyes (as well as black), so I kinda chose a toned down red. I may play around with other colors yet, as I said earlier, this is a work in progress. :D
TT, I was just kidding :). No defense is necessary. It's the content on the page, rather than the page that'll make you successful. Again, best of luck on your new venture.
Marc
Quote from: Oldman on December 07, 2007, 09:43:11 AM
IMPORTANT
You have listed your raw E-mail address twice. Sooner or later a bot is going to pick it up and then God help you. Once that happens you will be spammed to death. 1000 plus per week.
May I suggest that you use this HTML coding: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Contact me!</a>
The only thing that will show is "Contact me!" "[email protected]" is where you place your E-mail address. Copy / Paste this whole code into where you currently are showing your raw E-mail address.
Thanks...gonna go change that right now.
Very good... I just checked. Now that will be $5.00 please ;D
Next I take it you have you looked into using PayPal. The payment method you offer with them is different and it might turn off some folks. Have you talked with "Master Merchant" via your bank? You will need a commercial account of course. Next I suggest you becoming an S corporation. That opens up a whole world of benefits and protections. For example our Corp pays for our cars, car insurance, gas, car washes, health insurance, computer, compter connection to the net, printer, printer ink, meals when we take a customer out etc., etc,. & etc.. Come tax time items like these are nice write offs.
The one thing I strongly suggest you do not do is if your office is in your home that you deduct anything for your office space. You write off part of your home and when you go to sell your home it will come back to bite you in the shorts -- IRS will want its part.
Olds is right on regarding the IRS issue. S Corp could be a good approach depending on your overall situation. There are a lot of good tax and liability issues that can be circumvented if your income and net worth are at a high enough level to make it worthwhile. Another factor that could have a bearing is whether or not you are a sole proprieter.
Oh one more thing. While we don't do E-commerce I would think that you would need to be off of that shared server your site is currently on before you can do credit cards. (I might be wrong so you will need to check.)
Remember that shared server you currently are on can have hundred(s) other web sites on it. If one of them does not keep their site up to date, and if it gets hacked the whole server including your site will be compromised. Do not purchase a "V-dedicated server." While they are more secured, they are still shared.
Once this moves on beyond being a "side hobby" let me know and I will see what I can do to help you in the area of a dedicated server; at least until you can purchase your own. I will not charge you for space on my server, but only CyberDude and myself have access. Later should you want to go this directioon I would expect you to pay CyberDude something (monthly) to maintain your site.
FYI: My dedicated cost me around $3,400.00 per year. There are ones that cost a lot more and some less. It all will depend upon your need(s)...storage space, speed of system etc..
Hey Tiny...I think the color ROCKS!!! :)
I use to have a commercial website. Most merchant accounts give you the ability to use their secure servers during the checkout process. The monthly fees can kill you.
I am beginning to notice that Google is beginning to provide a pay service. You may want to check into that. I was purchasing something on Buy.com, and it gave me the choice of using their merchant account, PayPal or my existing Google Account. I chose checking out on my Google account for an extra $10 off.
Hey TT, the site is looking very nice, well done to you (http://www.freewebby.com/sign-smilies/sign_respect1.gif) (http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/Gitster59/eusa_clap.gif)
LilSmoker (http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/Gitster59/Tip-Hat.gif)
The color is great. I've got a bicycle with an even louder pink - yes I do get some looks.
Another typo "The Brdley Stainless Steel Smoker comes as a result ....."
Best of luck.
Tom
I guess I should clarify...this isn't a side hobby for me...it's actually a part of our existing 30-plus year old business. The website is just there for convenience for you guys and gals to see what I offer and how much I charge, as well as how to get in touch with me.
Our store(s) recently started accepting Credit and Debit Cards, but we can only do them in a "Face To Face" transaction, that's why I prefer Paypal for the orders I'll be shipping to you fine people (plus it's a lower percentage of the sale than we have on the card contract).
As I've said before, as this part of the business expands, we'll adapt (by making it easier for the customer) to keep it going.
Also going to fix another typo............thank you.