I should have a web presence soon

Oldman · 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.

Smoking Duck · December 07, 2007, 09:51:59 AM

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

Tiny Tim · December 07, 2007, 11:36:09 AM

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.

Oldman · December 07, 2007, 04:37:04 PM

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.

Wildcat · December 07, 2007, 05:02:06 PM

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.

Oldman · December 07, 2007, 05:03:49 PM

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..

La Quinta · December 07, 2007, 05:40:39 PM

Hey Tiny...I think the color ROCKS!!! :)

Habanero Smoker · December 08, 2007, 02:51:14 AM

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.

LilSmoker · December 08, 2007, 05:50:01 AM

Hey TT, the site is looking very nice, well done to you

LilSmoker

3rensho · December 08, 2007, 05:53:50 AM

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

Tiny Tim · December 08, 2007, 07:29:32 AM

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.