Small Business: Industry: E-commerce
Sales don't just wander in your front door. Here's how to cultivate up a steady stream of shoppers.
Sanjay, Huntington, N.Y.
We have a retail shop of clothing and jewelry. I sit all day waiting for the customers. How can I utilize that time on my computer, and do something that will generate extra cash for my business?
For retailers that don't want the overhead of stockpiling merchandise, drop shipping can be a cost-saving option.
Mike, Queens, NY
I started a home-based wholesaling business six months ago and got four credit cards totaling $18,000. I was scammed out of $10,000 and invested another $4,000 into a Web site and advertising. Now my cards are almost maxed out, and I need the cash or credit to purchase merchandise. Business people tell me it takes a few years before turning a profit, but I've worked like the devil these past six months to finally get the contacts and deals I've been searching for, only now I don't have the cash or the credit. Is there anything I can do?
How to avoid Website trademark disputes, and where to turn when you run in to one.
Phil Schmidt, President, Capital Medical, Sacramento
I created a Web site in 2004 to help me sell medical equipment for a third-party manufacturer. Two years later a competitor trademarked [sic] my domain name. Recently the competitor threatened to sue me unless I shut down my Web site. They claim they have used my domain name since the 1990s to help them sell their product. They offered to pay me a nominal amount for the URL. Do I have to stop using my URL?
Hone in on your ideal customer and practice cost-effective marketing.
Tom Dunlap, La Verne, Calif.
I own a five-year-old Internet business that sells about $100,000 worth of printer toner a year. Our clients stick around due to the savings we provide – they typically cut 30% to 50% in costs – and our customer service. We’d like to stay small, but we also want to attract more customers. How can we accomplish this without spending much money? Advertising doesn’t seem to be cost-effective, and hiring salespeople hasn’t worked in the past. Read more…
Rodrigo, RNJ Fragrances, Miami
I started an e-commerce website. I have little knowledge of SEO and promoting my site. Where can I get some insight?
To reach a targeted demographic, try driving traffic through portals rather than through search engines.
Claudio Batista, Raztro.com, Washington, D.C.
I launched an auction site in Spanish a couple of years ago, and it hasn't had much traffic. I tried sending e-mails to a Hispanic mailing list to make people aware of the site, but got no results. What do you suggest?
Hone in on your ideal customer and practice cost-effective marketing to draw more clients to your business.
Tom Dunlap, La Verne, Calif.
I own a five-year-old Internet business that sells about $100,000 worth of printer toner a year. Our clients stick around due to the savings we provide – they typically cut 30% to 50% in costs – and our customer service. We'd like to stay small, but we also want to attract more customers. How can we accomplish this without spending much money? Advertising doesn't seem to be cost-effective, and hiring salespeople hasn't worked in the past.
Jeanette Vallejo, Montclair, Calif.
My boyfriend and I started a small business on eBay using his credit. I developed all the forms, sent invoices, and kept logs of the people who purchased from us since we started this business. My e-mail address has been used for all PayPal transactions and questions from customers. I have never been paid for this service. He is now making $2,000 a weekend. I suspect that he is cheating on me. If we split up, what can I do? I would like to know if I can get at least half of what he has made. Is that possible?
The government can help you get cash with the SBA's 7(a) program, but banks still hold the purse strings.
Chris Holm, LUK Industries, Chandler, Ariz.
I run an Internet retail store that has been in business for just over a year. The business is running in the black, so I want to move some of our start-up costs to a fixed-rate loan. Is an SBA 7(a) loan the right choice for us? Read more…
Open-source e-commerce solutions are plentiful, but don't put your wallet away just yet.
Kenneth C. Fletcher, Oakland, Calif.
What are the best, free open-source solutions for e-commerce? My needs include robust international transactional functionality, a shopping-cart mechanism, and something that can be easily customized to handle products and Web content on a global scale, from Japan to Brazil.
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