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