Independent Website workshop, What Issues do you want to Discuss?

[The Tavern Wench]

What does ECA mean?

ECommerce Arena -  It's another online seller's forum.  You can find it HERE

[QUILT]

Is it safe?

[Baysbeauty]

You bet it is safe!  I have been a member there for a year and I just love it there.

Lot's of information and helpful people there.  As a matter of fact I had started a
Boot Camp/Workshop for Zen Cart users over there last month.  Come on by and
say hi! 

[SusieTFTF]

I'm definitely up for this guys! I may have a website, but as I'm a numpty I have someone who 'does' for me
I want to learn all the ins and outs to enable me to take complete control over my business and move it forward in the way I want to...

Great idea folks
Susie x

[QUILT]

I'm definitely up for this guys! I may have a website, but as I'm a numpty I have someone who 'does' for me
I want to learn all the ins and outs to enable me to take complete control over my business and move it forward in the way I want to...

Great idea folks
Susie x

  YOU GO GIRL! 

[Alana]

You know this workshop is going to be really nice for those of us who really do want to run our own sites.  It seems like a never ending learning experience.  I am currently re-writing all my content on my pages, and as I work on my about me page, I am asking myself all kinds of questions.

Like do I want to tell my buyers how many parrots I have or kids or about my husbands job or do I want to make my about me page about my passion and experience of collecting vintage collectibles?

So I would add on this workshop or other upcoming workshops information on effective content pages. FTP accounts too.

How to make effective listing pages that tell your buyer about the product that is interesting. 

For example, I have been buying Zupreem parrot food from a website that sells that product for over 6 years.  Recently they added a content page about a new Harrison product, talked a great deal about the nutrition, and long term care of parrot diet and what Harrison offers that other products don't offer.  The owner of that site, sold me on buying the more expensive brand to try it out on my parrots.

That was totally based on his content writing on that new product.

[2boysandtoys]

Alana:

I agree that there is so much to digest about the web!  Content writing is a make it or break it -  .

While I know many do not read all the descriptions and content, I am one that does!  If there is detail, I appreciate that.  I do like to be left with no questions, if possible.  There are times when the content is so skimpy - I have more questions than the original person wrote, and really don't want to take the time to write them up, then wait for a response.

In other words - I often move on - even if it's the bestest price!! 

I have so much to learn....it's early and my head is already spinning!! 

[Alana]

I do not know how they are going to break this workshop up, but with so much information sharing, I would suggest it be really broken down to a few things at once. 

I think the scariest thing for people looking to open their own sites, is too much info at one time.

I know my brain goes on overload quickly.

Maybe there might even be some volunteers who can share a lot about a specific topic for example:
How to write good content.

How to use an FTP account and why you would want to use it, over Cpanel.

Just would be way too much to process everything in one place on the general subject of websites.

I like forums that have individual threads on various aspects of a website.

Crabby forum is good at breaking up sections on their forums about distinctive subjects, easily available to find.





Jus

[The Bar Keep]

Loads of information going on in this thread and I am very happy to see that. Just wanted to get in here and set a date for our first workshop, which will be a ground up build. So, we will be building a site live during the workshop so everyone can get a feel of the basics. This will take place the first week of January. I would like to offer this site out for someone who is interested in owning a Zen Cart site, the end results would apply to all cart systems but Deb and I are more comfortable in building a site in the cart we know the best.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing already online we feel the workshop would be best suited to start the first week in January as we are all busy filling orders at this time. If you are thinking of building a new site through Zen Cart please PM myself or Deb with details of what you are planning for product, colors and domain name. We will announce the site to be built on December 15th as hosting and the domain name will need to be in place before the workshop. Please note all applicants are responsible for there own hosting and domain name. Estimated length of this workshop is 3 weeks as this will be a beginner's workshop that the advanced will enjoy.

To followup with more workshops we will be planning a more advanced workshop for the end of February.

Keep the discussion going as all subsequent workshops will be based off of this thread.


Joe - The Bar Keep

[Alana]

WOW! this is so cool.  I am also very glad that it won't be right now. LOL.  I am busy with holiday season filling orders as well.  This would be a difficult time to concentrate on the workshop.  Or even do anything else to my sites.


Thanks for the update.