Ask me anything about eCommerce (2012)

[susanyang]

For drop shipping, do we contact suppliers first before setting a website? What do we do when they ask for website URL? If I were to have several suppliers for one type of product (let's say bags), do we use one website or different ones? It's the same niche, but do suppliers mind that we have different brands in one site?
Thanks all! I wish I had find you guys years ago!
By the way, why am I still PARKED?

 

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[wade1mil]

For drop shipping, do we contact suppliers first before setting a website? What do we do when they ask for website URL? If I were to have several suppliers for one type of product (let's say bags), do we use one website or different ones? It's the same niche, but do suppliers mind that we have different brands in one site?
Thanks all! I wish I had find you guys years ago!
By the way, why am I still PARKED?

I believe Bio said that dropshippers will sometimes ask you for your website or even a business license. If they ask for a website, put one up with products found on the internet. Just show a web presence. If they ask for a business license, go down and get a business license or find someone that doesn't require it. If they require it, you gotta have it so do what you gotta do. I think his response to that is in this thread somewhere.

You get out of PARKED by contributing a post that other members of the forum really value. They will click the SPEED POST below your post and it could either keep you at PARKED or catapult you to 10 mph depending on who liked your post. For instance, Biophase has probably got 200 SPEED POST's on this thread alone because of the value he's providing other members. A good way to get SPEED without having experience, not saying that you don't, is to show people that you are taking action toward something fastlane. Not like, "I read a book about ecommerce," but more like, "I built my purse website and added some products from the dropshipper. Can you critique it for me?"

Good luck!

 

[biophase]

For drop shipping, do we contact suppliers first before setting a website? What do we do when they ask for website URL? If I were to have several suppliers for one type of product (let's say bags), do we use one website or different ones? It's the same niche, but do suppliers mind that we have different brands in one site?
Thanks all! I wish I had find you guys years ago!
By the way, why am I still PARKED?

This is a chicken or egg question. Most suppliers probably won't care, but some will ask to see your store or want an established business.

You can just tell them the site is in development. You want only one URL for your store.

Suppliers don't care, does Footlocker only sell Nike?

 

[dv1041]

Are you opening up the webstore with the same name as the B&M store? The important thing these days is branding. I would set up one store and price it competitively. Problem is that walk-ins would probably want the same price as the web.

For marketing, I would start with Facebook, getting likes and people talking about wheels. Then move onto SEO for profitable, hopefully easy long tail terms. Then I would do the same with PPC.

Thanks Biophase,

Yeah I am going to use the same name for the online store "space city wheels" but I am not sure if that is a wise decision. Should I just open a new store on big commerce and or shopify with a different domain and start from scratch? Also, how do you decide your layouts of your pages to optimize sales and or conversion? That alone I'm sure is a book in itself but any advice would be extremely appreciated.

 

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[Ãœbertreffen]

Yes, definitely. When you start out you don't have the funds or traffic to be holding inventory. Dropshipping is a great way to start.

100% agree on this. Unless, you have good contacts and they can work something out with you such as pay per sale or on a term basis.


Distribution/Middle Man vs. Direct - What's better?

Sometimes there are brands where it doesn't make sense to go direct. For example there's a brand where we get 53% off jobber from distribution and if we go direct we have to hold inventory and we only get an extra 2% off (55% off jobber). It's not worth the hassle when the distribution is top 3 largest in the industry and always stock the product anyhow. The brand is very seasonal and large catalog so it's very sporadic and less desirable to hold inventory anyway.

On the other side of it, if you have distributors or those that are authorized dealers for a brand it can be easier for some brands to go with these guys. While the discounts may not be as large as going direct with the brand in itself it can get you started with little to no capital to begin with. Even if you have the capital, we may go with a brand that were getting mixed results on. The method of just taking action and selling the product is going to give you real results. If we easily meet the requirements that some manufacturers require after testing the waters then we will go direct. If it's not panning out we'll stay or drop the brand completely and focus on the brands that have been working over and over again.

You'll find that many brands are easy to get into with if you have a business license. If you don't have a business license and are first starting out there are still ways to connect with people. We had a customer who started buying off us, built himself and got his company established. He's now the largest distributor in Australia. Everyone has to start somewhere and many overlook these very people.

Some industries are harder to get into than others. Some brands are more lenient than the next. Some will ask you for photos of your establishment and warehouse. There are still ways in but don't jump sail because some brand you wanted passed on you the first time around. If they have a distributor list or authorized dealer list, start connecting with those people. Some have wholesale programs to get you going.

Either way, neither one is better. Do what you need to do to get your feet wet. If the water is deep, DIVE IN!



- Devin

 

[comment]

Hey everyone, my design is about 95% finished for my website. I'm selling aftermarket parts for late model M-series BMW's. What do you guys think of maybe the concept or design? Basically looking for feedback.. :smxB: A real domain is coming
http://amfez.wbgun.servertrust.com/

 

[andviv]

What do you guys think of maybe the concept or design?

I like it... nice colors, clearly identify with BMW.

 

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[Ambition]

Hey everyone, my design is about 95% finished for my website. I'm selling aftermarket parts for late model M-series BMW's. What do you guys think of maybe the concept or design? Basically looking for feedback.. :smxB: A real domain is coming
http://amfez.wbgun.servertrust.com/

Are you able to update the theme / CSS so that the background to the main shopping areas & the featured items area (where the shoes & chair etc are) is the same pale blue as the exploded engine parts in your home page banner? This is an appearance issue only, to make it look slightly more coordinated and therefore professional. I would then use the same colour palette for everything to print, publish, adverts etc so that you get brand recognition.

I get the same site on phone and PC, which I like. I wish more people would make the same site layout navigable on both. If I know where to find the link I need from when I viewed a site on a PC, I don't want to visit a different site when I use my phone.

Don't forget to make a good "about" page. People will want to feel you are a real person behind the site, and know that you have the credentials of the B&M business to back up your stock levels etc, and to know you will not be gone by next week!

Great site.

 

[comment]

Thanks for the feedback, guys! The blue engine part image you're talking about is not going to be permanent, it's just there for now until I find something else. I'm hoping to use an image of three BMWS lined up and then caption it, or maybe a picture of a BMW meetup. I want to use a picture of real-life so my website does exactly what you said and shows that there's a real person behind it. Pictures of the real world on your website gives it a more personal feeling, i think. It shows that the product is real and there's really a human working behind the scenes, and you arent just ordering from a php form and some style sheets.

Unlike other websites I've built, I've really enjoyed building this one. With the Gryphon Performance business, I'm going to have to get on some bmw forums and get involved in the community, but hopefully if this takes off it will give me enough experience to start more ecommerce stores. I never thought I'd be dabbling in ecommerce, but hey, it works.

I'm a little worried about rather it will be successful or not, since I have yet to contact manufacturers (finishing website, getting licenses, then ill contact them). I feel it's important I get the website completed first because with a store like this I have to be involved deeply with the community and I want to start off 100%. I want everything to work. Now, I'm not going to waste hours on little tiny widgety things on my website, but I want it to be done and look good before I contact anyone. I guess I'm worried about if aftermarket companies drop ship, and if they dont, I'll either have to buy at retail or scrap the idea. I'm glad I've put so much work into the store template though, if I scrap the idea or hold off untill i can afford to stock, I still have a template for the next store I start

 

[TK1]

Hey Kenric, if I may ask: Did you ever finish your ebook?

More about the Ebook » Live Learn Invest

Nevermind - Answered my own question: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/in...8312-ask-me-about-ecommerce-3.html#post202112

 

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[TK1]

What's your take on this ebook:

[[Mod Note: Please do not use this link]]
http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j...lIJN6ubDEB_jCOWzw&sig2=O27w3wECQqhul6f-C9EcCg

[[Mod Note: Please use this link instead. The author has contacted us and offered this link instead. It is free but requires you to provide your email address.]]
http://www.ecommercefuel.com/profitable-ecommerce-ebook/

?

 

[comment]

What's your take on this ebook:

[[Mod Note: Please do not use this link]]
Weiterleitungshinweis

[[Mod Note: Please use this link instead. The author has contacted us and offered this link instead. It is free but requires you to provide your email address.]]
How to Create an Online Store That's Successful | eCommerceFuel

?

I'm on chapter two and I really like it. The end of Chapter one gave me a good idea with the consumable product section. I think I may be able to incorporate something like that.

 

[biophase]

Hey guys, just checking in for a quick second. I am currently in Zanzibar and have not had internet for the past 4 days and probably won't for the next week. So I won't be on this forum until later in the month when I get back to the states.

Interesting things for you guys to ponder while I'm here in Africa...
Most people make $150 a month, $500 a month is a great salary
Interest rates are 25% on home loans
Most people pay cash for land, then buy materials as they save money. It could take them 10 years to build a house, but they have no loans on them

 

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[nzerinto]

This thread is absolutely killer....thanks Biophase! Learned a TON reading your responses. Now for the fun action part!

 

[comment]

What's a good page rank to look for in your competition? I found a few niches that SEEM good, here's an outlay of one of them:

Local monthly: 6,600
CPC: 1.11
OCI: 0.95
#1 result on google for this keyword has 4,700 root domain links, and a PR of 5.
#2 result on google for this keyword has 271 root domain links, and a PR of 3.'
#2 result has the keyword as their domain. Not just in the name, but the actual domain is the entire keyword

It seems to me like getting into #1 is near impossible, but #2 is within reach. I'm just not sure if it's worth it. All the items I'd be selling are in the 100-250 dollar price point. I have another niche thats even better. All the competitors are a PR of 2-3, and it has 2x the monthly searches. Only problem is the #1 competitor is amazon, and the products only sell for 20-30 dollars each..

 

[clarkster009]

A lot of good information in here. I am a programmer by trade but have a side e-commerce business. I actually researched for months on what solution I wanted to proceed with, before settling on Big Commerce. I was fluctuating back and forth between OpenCommerce and Big Commerce, or Volusion. There were also a good deal of other ones I considered. I considered OC, VirtueMart, Shopify, X-Cart, Magento, Tienda, ZenCart, UberCart, RedShop, AlegroCart, Alfresco, Freeway, Flying Cart, ProStores, Yahoo, Amazon, Able Commerce, 1ShoppingCart, Foxy Cart, Product Cart, 3D Cart, Nexternal, Ultra Cart, Pinnacle Cart, Core Commerce. Obviously one problem I have is that I overstudy/overanalyze everything. Need to work on that.

It would take me a while but here are some of the major ones I considered with their highlights:

3DCart pros: youtube integration, product reviews, wish list, drop shipping, shipment tracking
Nexternal: apparently PCI-compliant
Ultra Cart pros: none I could really see, expensive starting at $50 mo
Pinnacle Cart pros: drop ship feature, pci compliant...main con was $195 to just use their API!
Shopify pros: No setup fee, no bandwith fee...Cons: their basic plan doesn't allow for coupon codes, proprietary coding language (I don't want to have to learn ANOTHER programming language!), doesn't have a built in merchant/gateway, API is confusing
Pro Stores pros: can manage ebay listings through the storefront, offer recurring billing (for services), promotions, coupon codes, wishlists Cons: separate MA and PG
Flying Store: Instantly ruled out as this is for beginners and doesn't allow a lot of customization, only accepts PayPal and Google Checkout, and has no API. This would be good for selling just a few products
Core Commerce: This one was right up there, PCI Compliant, wish list, REWARD POINTS (I really like this...can reward customers and they can spend their points), sell on Facebook, coupons, reviews, gift certificates, affiliate program, product bundling, color swatch tool (for items that are colored), fancy product options, and dropship where can automatically email appropriate drop shipper...this was a close second or third in my decision. Main reason I did not go with is because API access was an additional $199 fee
Able Commerce: I ruled this out at the time because it is in ASP.NET (I guess C# but haven't looked). This is an entire package (I guess like a .NET package that you pay upwards of $1000+ for) So you pretty much buy the source.
Product Cart: Also in ASP.NET, plus $700 for a license
Volusion: This was also right up there. Pros are the Daily Deals, $0 setup fee, 0% transaction fee, sell on Facebook, YouTube integration, Product Comparison, Search with AutoComplete, Color Swatch. Think came in second or third. But the API was in Javascript (which I am not as familiar with) and is only available if paying $99 a mo or more.
Big Commerce: API is written in PHP, which I know, $0 setup, 0% transaction fees (doesn't mean free CC processing though btw!!), reasonable MA/PG fees, Ebay integration, Facebook store, Auto Complete. I chose this one because of the API and because it had a very user friendly "back-end".

I was pretty much deadset on OC before I read some things where people who had overly customized their site were having issues when updates were issued. Since it is open source, it is pretty much up to the store owner to figure out the fixes, although from what I understand the user community is pretty helpful. Since I am a developer, I probably would have been fine using OC, but to avoid headaches I went with the Big Commerce. Obviously the negative about BC is the monthly fee...$15- 200 a month can begin to add up quick. However, BC has a lot of cool features, and seemed pretty user friendly. Most of the pay-per-month ones have a free monthly trial as well, to give you a chance to explore the interface.

I wanted the ability to have an API to pull information from my store's DB programmatically...if you don't need that then either Core Commerce or Volusion may be a better option. If you don't want to customize too much, Open Commerce may work, as you only have to pay your regular web hosting fees.

So here is my site, let me know what you think: Performance Rush - Your Source For Automotive Racing & Performance Parts

Well, that was a long first post but hopefully it helps some people out. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

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[nzerinto]

A lot of good information in here. I am a programmer by trade but have a side e-commerce business. I actually researched for months on what solution I wanted to proceed with, before settling on Big Commerce. I was fluctuating back and forth between OpenCommerce and Big Commerce, or Volusion. There were also a good deal of other ones I considered. I considered OC, VirtueMart, Shopify, X-Cart, Magento, Tienda, ZenCart, UberCart, RedShop, AlegroCart, Alfresco, Freeway, Flying Cart, ProStores, Yahoo, Amazon, Able Commerce, 1ShoppingCart, Foxy Cart, Product Cart, 3D Cart, Nexternal, Ultra Cart, Pinnacle Cart, Core Commerce. Obviously one problem I have is that I overstudy/overanalyze everything. Need to work on that.

It would take me a while but here are some of the major ones I considered with their highlights:

3DCart pros: youtube integration, product reviews, wish list, drop shipping, shipment tracking
Nexternal: apparently PCI-compliant
Ultra Cart pros: none I could really see, expensive starting at $50 mo
Pinnacle Cart pros: drop ship feature, pci compliant...main con was $195 to just use their API!
Shopify pros: No setup fee, no bandwith fee...Cons: their basic plan doesn't allow for coupon codes, proprietary coding language (I don't want to have to learn ANOTHER programming language!), doesn't have a built in merchant/gateway, API is confusing
Pro Stores pros: can manage ebay listings through the storefront, offer recurring billing (for services), promotions, coupon codes, wishlists Cons: separate MA and PG
Flying Store: Instantly ruled out as this is for beginners and doesn't allow a lot of customization, only accepts PayPal and Google Checkout, and has no API. This would be good for selling just a few products
Core Commerce: This one was right up there, PCI Compliant, wish list, REWARD POINTS (I really like this...can reward customers and they can spend their points), sell on Facebook, coupons, reviews, gift certificates, affiliate program, product bundling, color swatch tool (for items that are colored), fancy product options, and dropship where can automatically email appropriate drop shipper...this was a close second or third in my decision. Main reason I did not go with is because API access was an additional $199 fee
Able Commerce: I ruled this out at the time because it is in ASP.NET (I guess C# but haven't looked). This is an entire package (I guess like a .NET package that you pay upwards of $1000+ for) So you pretty much buy the source.
Product Cart: Also in ASP.NET, plus $700 for a license
Volusion: This was also right up there. Pros are the Daily Deals, $0 setup fee, 0% transaction fee, sell on Facebook, YouTube integration, Product Comparison, Search with AutoComplete, Color Swatch. Think came in second or third. But the API was in Javascript (which I am not as familiar with) and is only available if paying $99 a mo or more.
Big Commerce: API is written in PHP, which I know, $0 setup, 0% transaction fees (doesn't mean free CC processing though btw!!), reasonable MA/PG fees, Ebay integration, Facebook store, Auto Complete. I chose this one because of the API and because it had a very user friendly "back-end".

I was pretty much deadset on OC before I read some things where people who had overly customized their site were having issues when updates were issued. Since it is open source, it is pretty much up to the store owner to figure out the fixes, although from what I understand the user community is pretty helpful. Since I am a developer, I probably would have been fine using OC, but to avoid headaches I went with the Big Commerce. Obviously the negative about BC is the monthly fee...$15- 200 a month can begin to add up quick. However, BC has a lot of cool features, and seemed pretty user friendly. Most of the pay-per-month ones have a free monthly trial as well, to give you a chance to explore the interface.

I wanted the ability to have an API to pull information from my store's DB programmatically...if you don't need that then either Core Commerce or Volusion may be a better option. If you don't want to customize too much, Open Commerce may work, as you only have to pay your regular web hosting fees.

So here is my site, let me know what you think: Performance Rush - Your Source For Automotive Racing & Performance Parts

Well, that was a long first post but hopefully it helps some people out. Let me know if you have more questions.

Nice! Very useful info - although I didn't see your review of Magento...?

Just a quick question though, from a non programmer - why is API access so important for your shopping cart software - how would you use it? To update the listings/products? Or something else?

 

[clarkster009]

Nice! Very useful info - although I didn't see your review of Magento...?

Just a quick question though, from a non programmer - why is API access so important for your shopping cart software - how would you use it? To update the listings/products? Or something else?

I looked at Magento briefly, but Magento is a plugin for the Joomla! CMS, and I didn't really want to have to learn Joomla, and then learn how to customize Magento. I just wanted to customize the CSS and be good to go.

API access is important for another idea I have so I can incorporate my eCommerce listings...working on it now and then I'll post more when it's done But basically, for people who don't know, API stands for Application Program(ming) Interface...it is just a way of bridging my ecommerce site with another site. You can do a few things with it...update a product, retrieve a product, retrieve a list of products, delete a product, retrieve orders, etc.

 

[JasonR]

What? Magento is NOT a plug in for Joomla, period.

 

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[nzerinto]

What? Magento is NOT a plug in for Joomla, period.

Agreed. There are bridges to integrate Magento into a Joomla site, but it actually is a standalone system. I'm curious to know how it stacks up in comparison with Big Commerce, which appears to be a favorite on this forum.

 

[PatrickP]

I know zero about this stuff but I know Magento is not like that with Joomla.

 

[clarkster009]

Oops it was over a year ago and I think I was also looking at Joomla at the same time. Anyway, I think I just decided Magento was too much to get up and running...BC had a lot of free out of the box skins and an easy system for customizing the design.

 

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[DetailsDave]

This is my first post. I have been following this thread for quite some time as I gather the knowledge and encouragement needed to execute my own endeavor. One of the biggest takeaways I have absorbed is the benefit of running multiple niche storefronts vs. a single one based on a larger theme. This talk about shopping carts has really intrigued me because that is an area that I have been researching lately. Does anybody have any experience with Americommerce? While I am not a developer, I do have a technical background and their ability to offer multiple Storefronts from a single back-end really intrigues me given the change in strategy that I have adopted.

My biggest concerns are 1) Does it offer the proper compliment of features necessary to be successful (from what I can tell they appear to).
2) Given that it is less popular than some of the others BC, Volusion, CC, etc. is the risk of lack of community support greater than the potential benefits and 3) Not being an expert in SEO, are there downsides to the multiple storefront/single back-end model?

This is a great thread. Without it I am sure I would still be on the couch. Thanks Biophase and everyone else that has contributed!

 

[e_fastlane]

Great tips throughout the thread.

I wanted to know if you had any recommendations on who to hire for SEO on my ecommerce website. I know all the basics, but at this point I have other 'fires' to put out and I am at a point where I need someone that can take care of it for me.

I have a thread here that goes into a little more detail about what I need.

Seems like there are alot of veterans in this thread, so hopefully someone can help out.

Thanks

 

[JamesS88]

Sorry, not gonna answer that.

Kenric-1
James-0

 

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[comment]

So lets say I'm trying to rank for #1, and currently the #1 domain name IS the keyword (dishwashersoap.com) would it be better If I tried to rank dishwashersoap.org or .net, or would it be better to rank as cheapdishwashersoap.com

 

[biophase]

So lets say I'm trying to rank for #1, and currently the #1 domain name IS the keyword (dishwashersoap.com) would it be better If I tried to rank dishwashersoap.org or .net, or would it be better to rank as cheapdishwashersoap.com

The ways things are going now, it would be better to go:

Bluesuds.com - the online leader in dishwasher soaps

 

[SeekingValue]

Originally Posted by comment
So lets say I'm trying to rank for #1, and currently the #1 domain name IS the keyword (dishwashersoap.com) would it be better If I tried to rank dishwashersoap.org or .net, or would it be better to rank as cheapdishwashersoap.com
The ways things are going now, it would be better to go:

Bluesuds.com - the online leader in dishwasher soaps

Agree with that. Get a brand name and dont mess with exact match domain as I can see that Google might eventually monitor those very closely as they are used by many SEOs to rank fast. A good onpage SEO should do the trick, dont focus on the domain name stuffed with kws.

 

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[JAJT]

The ways things are going now, it would be better to go:

Bluesuds.com - the online leader in dishwasher soaps

I still need to catch up on SEO but most of what I read up to now said "put keywords in your domain name". So it's better now to go more indirect and brand-y?

 

[SeekingValue]

I still need to catch up on SEO but most of what I read up to now said "put keywords in your domain name". So it's better now to go more indirect and brand-y?

It is. Sadly, Google did give some "boost" to these domains a couple of months/years back as they seem to be more relevant, but thousands of spammy EMD later, they now give less credit to them. I can see why Google would eventually watch them VERY closely in the future and they are probably doing this right now. Not necessarily giving them penalties but you get the point, spammers did get Google's attention on this SEO strategy. Now, there is much more "authority" website ranking and brand website are stronger then ever.

So with that said, I would strongly suggest you, if you want to build up and asset for the LONG TERM to brand yourself. Get your onpage right and you'll eventually enjoy SEO benefits from people typing in your brand name (trust/authority).