| Opening your own store as a WAHM is so easy | | | | Whatever your choice, whether handmade or |
| when you take your business online. Online | | | | store bought, there are many options for |
| shopping is becoming a mainstay of American | | | | hosting your online store. These options |
| commerce and more people are comfortable with | | | | depend on how comfortable you are with web |
| making purchases from Internet stores. If you | | | | design. Many companies, like Yahoo, offer |
| have something that you are passionate about | | | | store websites that are very user friendly |
| selling, consider opening an online store. | | | | and simple to set up. They can cost anywhere |
| | | | from $30 to $200 per month for the storefront |
| Before you start an online store, do some | | | | services, but for a start up store you could |
| research online and check out your potential | | | | consider becoming an affiliate which now |
| competition. If you have a business idea in | | | | offers it's own store, or you could use fr*ee |
| mind, it is worth the time and effort to see | | | | services such as a blog or hosting. Many |
| what else is being sold in your category of | | | | WAHM's also find success with the eBay stores |
| products. If you have no idea what you want | | | | concept, which allow them to sell their wares |
| to sell, you'll also want to head online to | | | | in auctions or in a fixed price format. |
| search out what would be most profitable to | | | | |
| sell. | | | | Look at all of your options before you choose |
| | | | your online store hosting. Remember that the |
| When you make the selection of what you are | | | | quality of your hosting will reflect the |
| going to sell, remember to think "niche." A | | | | quality of your business. The last thing you |
| niche is a small category of products that | | | | need is your entire website going down due to |
| meet the needs of a specific group of people. | | | | cheap hosting. The best choice is to find a |
| Your online store shouldn't have a "Wal-mart" | | | | reputable host that will provide you with a |
| approach where there is a little bit of | | | | storefront and hosting for a reasonable price |
| everything for everyone. Online commerce is | | | | or even nothing at all. Don't try to pinch |
| all about small categories of interest. There | | | | too many pennies on this aspect of your |
| are so many things to choose from, you have | | | | business however as you could end up out of |
| more success when you cater to a small and | | | | business in no time. |
| specific group of people. | | | | |
| | | | Once you've found a place to host your store, |
| The best place to start with finding a niche | | | | you'll need to drive internet traffic to the |
| is thinking about your own interests. When | | | | store. One of the easiest ways is to trade |
| you sell to a niche that you know well, you | | | | banners with other Wahm online stores. Many |
| are more likely to know what products will be | | | | Wahms support each other in their online |
| of interest to those people. You can sell to | | | | efforts. This form of networking is a great |
| your clientele based on your own experience. | | | | way to introduce your products to customers |
| | | | who already look to support Wahms. You can |
| Many WAHM's start an online store because | | | | also advertise using pay per click |
| they have homemade products to offer. One | | | | advertising and work on your website so that |
| example is handmade baby clothes and cloth | | | | it increases in page ranking for certain |
| diapers. Many WAHM's have found success with | | | | search terms. |
| putting their sewing skills to work and | | | | |
| selling their wares online. Other popular | | | | Keep your customers coming back with an easy |
| handmade online stores include bath and body | | | | to navigate website, simple ordering |
| products, candles and gift baskets. | | | | techniques and good customer service. Even |
| | | | though most of your business will be done |
| This does not mean that you can't have online | | | | online, it's a good idea to get a business |
| store success if you don't make your own | | | | phone line and put that number on your |
| products. There are hundreds (if not | | | | website. This way customers can feel |
| thousands) of WAHM's who have success by | | | | confident in purchasing from you because they |
| opening stores stocked with store-bought | | | | know they can speak to a real person if there |
| inventory or from a virtual store front where | | | | is a problem with their order. |
| no actual stock is ever needed by you. Often | | | | |
| called a virtual store where you share a % or | | | | Regardless of what type of online WAHM store |
| commission through an affiliate type of set | | | | you choose to open, following these tips will |
| up. | | | | help guide your business to success. |
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