Turning customers into repeat buyers

• How to get inventory when you're low on cash

  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 MORE

  Mar 27, 2009 11:11 AM ET

• When a rival comes after your Web site domain

  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 MORE

  Jan 13, 2009 2:05 PM ET

• Inexpensive marketing moves for hard times

  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 MORE

  Oct 16, 2008 9:17 AM ET

• What SEO resources do you recommend?

  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?

  Oct 16, 2008 9:13 AM ET

• How can I get more Hispanic customers to use my website?

  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?

  Sep 16, 2008 9:14 AM ET

• Low-cost marketing moves

  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 MORE

  Sep 2, 2008 10:18 AM ET

• Recovering income earned on eBay

  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 MORE

  Jul 25, 2008 10:42 AM ET

• Business loans from Uncle Sam

  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 MORE

  Jun 27, 2008 10:03 AM ET

• Free software doesn't come cheap

  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.

  Jun 26, 2008 2:08 PM ET