You raise a good point about approaching your sites from an ecommerce perspective. But this can work with static html sites as well. I've had incredible conversions on sites with about ten pages promoting the same product, each with about 300 words of keyword optimized text, with lots of links leading out to the vendor's site for the person to complete the purchase. There are many sites like these that are created as hybrids - neither a pure content site nor a pure ecommerce site - that can be created even by folks who aren't very technically inclined. These work especially well, I've found, when promoting physical goods vs. downloadable goods.
I'm not saying that there is only one way to be successful, but I think that people have tried the content method you are saying and not everyone has had success with it. I think just a professional retail outlet, with multiple products is the way to go, so that you can provide a great shopping experience, and encourage repeat business. One time sales are nice, but they don't help you grow. And if you're just promoting one product, then how many times can the same customer purchase with you? See what I'm saying. Also, the key is not to send the visitor away from your site if you don't have to. You can sell Amazon products and not send every visitor away from your site, in this way, you establish your own customer relationships, build your own contact lists, send newsletters, and encourage repeat business, and repeat visits to you, not just Amazon. I think my approach to this is good, but of course, there are many ways to catch a fish, and mine is just one. Thank you for your feedback , I enjoy dialog about retail. Happy Selling!, PuReWebDev
just saw ur storefront solution, and also found another thread talkign about Associate-O-Matic... how do you compare your solution to Associate-O-Matic?
Even though we both offer Amazon retail services, our services are very different. I don't think you can rightly compare the two, but I've had a few people ask so here's my view. So that I'm clear, I'm NOT bashing, I'm only pointing out a few differences because it was requested. 1. One is a script, the second is an actual service. 2. One has staff and a toll free number, one has an email address 3. One can provide you custom work, one doesn't 4. One gives you a script and your on your own, the other provides you a service, phone consultation and helps you through your path to success. 5. One has been around for years and isn't exactly innovative or awe inspiring, the other is a newer service and focuses on innovation, like social networking integration, video product reviews etc. 6. One you need to pay for a separate host, the other hosts everything for you. 7. One service offers awesome custom graphics, the other doesn't 8. One provides marketing service to drive you the traffic that you need, the other doesn't 9. Our worse looking sites blows their best showcase sites away. Below I've listed 10 examples of E4E sites and 10 example of AOM sites. Examples to look at: the ecommerceforeveryone (E4E) stuff 75direct.com everydaybeautysupply.com insideandouthomedecor.com paradisebeautysupply.com elephantmall.com sportsdirectmegastore.com planetmusicandbooks.com orderitontheweb.com bigamericansavings.com planetmusicandbooks.com the AOM stuff: kidviduk.com juniortoons.com/shop.php fleeceblankets.net usmilitaryrecruiting.com/asvab.php shop.gadgetmadness.com pspstuff.co.uk/shop.php gyrofly.com/home shop.christianbooknet.com groocery.com offersindex.com I think that's probably all that I want to say about our differences, but I would probably also add that: 1. both should pay for themselves, I know ours does 2. both exist to help Amazon Associates I wasn't gonna say nothing because I don't think I need to bash anyone to make a point or anything, but they did copy my homepage layout. Look at this: associate-o-matic.com/demo/mall/shop.php and then look at my homepage www.orderitontheweb.com , now I know for sure he copied me cause his stuffs been around for a few years, and none of those old sites have a homepage like that, he didn't have a homepage like that until my stuff came out (don't take my word for it, view an archived page to confirm). So I'm not saying nothing, but I think you get the gist of what I'm not saying, lol. In any case, we're not enemies we just compete in different spaces is all. I hope I answered your question fully. thanks, PuReWebDev
sweet...thanks for the prompt reply this line cracked me up lol : "7. One service offers awesome custom graphics, the other doesn't" btw, i like your solution but prefer to host things myself actually. In any case, could you elaborate more about this "5. One has been around for years and isn't exactly innovative or awe inspiring, the other is a newer service and focuses on innovation, like social networking integration, video product reviews etc." (i suppose your solutoin is the more innovative one lol) cos the marketing aspects are the main draw for me to choose your service, but i coudln't find any info on that on your website (i read through your main page and features page)
lol. Well, I guess what I meant regarding #5 is that they've been around for like 3-4 years, and they are still just basically doing retail, not being modern and tying in the retail with the social networking sites, and enhancing the marketing for the clients. We offer blogs, forums and all of the modern methods for people to drive traffic into their sites. I was one of the first to offer video product reviews, I create a find it local feature, etc. I guess the point being, is that we're beyond just retail, we're trying to cover a full range of solutions. I know that some people like to host on they're own, but we offer traditional web hosting as well, and our platform is integrated with the same cpanel that most folks are already used to, so when they use our service, alot of people are right at home. thanks, PuReWebDev
ahh...okay i just found your page about the marketing services that you provide. turns out it's in the drop-down menu that i missed out completely on my first visit to your site. so this is an additional fee on top of the storefront right? i have a couple of questions: 1.) i have existing websites that i'd like to integrate a store into (hence the preference for my own hosted solution)...do you have a recommednation for that? 2.) Related to the 1st question, i have several stores that i'd like to have (around 3), and from your solution, it looks like i'll need to subscribe for mutliple accounts...correct? Or can i service all my sites with just one plan? appreciate your help!
I'll be happy to answer your questions here, but for anyone else, please do contact us on our site or even just pm me, I post here for the enjoyment of discussing retail with you all, but i don't want to be mis-understood as trying to promote my stuff. 1. yes, we recommend a subdomain, like store.yourdomain.com and you can host yourdomain.com and we just host the store portion, giving each party the control they need. 2. you can have one main account with us, but yeah we do charge per site like everyone else, but we do offer a free site if you purchase 4. So, buy 4 get 1 free. Anyone who wants to discuss retail, is free to call me up too. I'm not a sales person, i'm a developer, but I love to talk about retail, marketing, web technology and related topics. So, feel free to hit me up, if you like. thanks, PuReWebDev
ahhhh......okay man. ive gotta think about if htat's the case. okie dokies thanks a lot for your help so far!
I purchased my domain name www.easyshopforeverything.com back late 2007, tried a free script and did some light marketing and didn't sell anything. I signed up with eCommerce for Everyone in January 2008 and have had an awesome experience! Last month 5198 visits! rlhanson-online.com/easy/visits.jpg You'll have to visit these manually as I can't place live links (or maybe PureWebDev could post them for me!) My earnings: rlhanson-online.com/easy/earnings.jpg I'm very pleased with the site. I haven't purchased any additional site customization or marketing (though I do intend to in the future!) and have already seen results. I received my first customer inquiry the day before yesterday and was pleased to correspond and help my site visitor with a purchase. I am so looking forward to the future with this ecommerce solution! I have to tell everybody to, my favorite one thing about the site is the ease in which it was implemented. I didn't have to copy and paste all the different links or build my own store. It came with everything in place. That was awesome for me as I own a business which already requires most of my time. Thanks for letting me post about my success!
Can I develop an e-commerce store associated with Amazon on my own? I mean can it be done totally free of cost? I know some people who can develop a professional-looking e-comm site for me, so I don't think I need to pay $10 a month...
You mean in February you got 5198 visitors? How did it happen? I mean it's a big jump! Your search engine ranking improved? What exactly happened? I would really like to know.
Well, I'd say another developer can make the same thing, but they better be prepared to put in months of work, and ongoing maintenance. It's not your casual basic application to build. Don't try to do that to save $10, the same $10 you want to avoid spending is actually paid for by the revenue your site makes for you. thanks, PuReWebDev
Okay that's quite convincing. And I saw another fellow here who posted their success by using your services. How do you guarantee that my site (developed by you) will start earning in its first month? And also: how long would I have to pay you? The entire lifetime of the site?
I never claim to make guarantees, but the system does in fact work. Your maintenance fee is something that needs to be paid for the lifetime of your service, just like any other service, however unlike other services, this one actually pays for itself. That being said, once you start driving traffic into the site and make your first few sales, it easily covers the cost of your maintenance. Your maintenance provides you toll free phone consultation, hosting, ongoing updates. thank you, PuReWebDev