CobWebKnits

How you can set up an on-line business from home on your own having never run a business before.  Well, my theory is that ... if I can then you can too! 

I suppose the main reason I'm doing this blog is to help you go through the same process withouth having to jump through the same hoops I did in order to get my business set up and then to keep it running.  I'm not saying that any of the products or companies I have used are the best, but they have certainly allowed me to get started and, although I'll suggest what I've used, there's nothing to stop you looking around for other companies and products.  The internet's great for getting reviews.

I should probably introduce myself and my company first. 

My name is Su and a couple of years ago I reached a crossroads in my life. For fifteen years, I had happily fulfilled my life-long ambition, being a maths teacher and housemistress, but decided to give it all up to set up an online business selling baby hats.  I had decided that there was potential in turning a hobby into a business. In the boarding house I ran, I was always looking for projects or activities for the girls to enjoy; hence the creation of baby hats, an idea conjured up to teach the girls how to knit. I started making hats for friends’ babies and the feedback, even from strangers, suggesting I turn my passion into a business became too much to ignore. So, although by nature not a great risk taker, with encouragement from those around me I launched CobWebKnits.

 

First thing I would suggest you do if you live in England is to join Business Link.   It's totally free, they run some fantastic seminars (if you choose carefully) and it will give you plenty of ideas of how to try and move your business on. 

 

Having a great website is paramount to your success.  If, like me, you don't have any financial backing or abundant funding, you'll need to do it yourself and you can with very little money.  I started out with Serif's WebPlus 10, progressing onto x2 and currently x4 versions and I have no complaints with it.  In fact some friends were so impressed they asked me to build their website too - check out http://www.damoryvets.co.uk/. 

 

It's simple to follow their tutorials and soon you'll have set up your own site.  It takes time but it's got an e-commerce site (linked to PayPal amongst others) so you've got everything you need.  It will help you with Google Analytics, has some photo editing software (although I use Photoshop), and will pretty much do everything you need it to do to get started.  It does some whizz bangy graphics, but lots of people advise you to keep your site simple.  The 5 second first impression rule seems to ring true and if your site is still loading customers will leave it.  

 

 

But before you get too carried away - remember to have absolutely everything established before you even think of going live.  It took me a summer to get my website exactly how I wanted it to look and I've updated it a couple of times since. As soon as you want to start selling, you'll want to publicise the fact and there's nothing worse than not having a fully working website for people to look at.

 

Next time I'll tell you about what you need to consider when constructing your website.  Photos, text, T&Cs, distance selling rules, pricing, ..... etc.  Do feel free to ask questions.  I'll probably cover them in future blogs , but it's useful to know what you need answers to as well.

 

And above all, do have a go - you'll feel so thrilled that you've managed to create something yourself and it hasn't cost too much.