Supporting and promoting the best UK artists, designers and makers

Anyone use Weebly?

As sales have been so slow on folksy for me (:() I have decided to try and start a website and sell my cards through there. The plan is to run folksy and the web shop side by side for a while and then gradually drop folksy as the shop picks up (or is that wishful thinking?).

Anyway, I've chosen to use Weebly as they offer a free service and have started to create my site. A quick question though, before I go 'live'. Has anyone else used Weebly as a selling platform? Could you tell me good points and bad points please? Maybe I'm using the wrong site altogether?

Does anyone have any advice for running, maintaining, promoting a website in general please?

Many many thanks

Ally

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maureen Gilbertson on October 19, 2012 at 13:44

Hi Ally

I was in the same situation as you, although I am on Etsy not Folksy, and after reading through UKHandmae I saw the advert for Create - website building and hosting. I am new to website building and they have been absolutely wonderful, answering all my queries promptly and efficiently - I've even had my first sale too! I look forward to any replies you get, just to see what others think :)

Hope it all goes well for you.

Maureen

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rose Glen on October 20, 2012 at 18:29

I have a weebly site, I created this as I found after attending craft fairs returning customers from the fairs would get seduced by the competitors price on Etsy and I would lose these customers.

Although I have not had any sale, I have had several request for custom orders and even without having to promote my site, I get far more view that I would get through Etsy which I have to promote constantly to get regular views. I love that its free and there is so much information to tap into that has help me configure my site. I have just finished updating my site and would like to know what you think. Would also love to see your sites.

http://cheekyrosestudio.weebly.com/

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rachael on October 21, 2012 at 9:06

Hi Ally,

I have just started up my business and created a webite and Etsy Page. I set up my website through Microsoft 365, and so far I have no complaints. I have never used weebly though.

It's www.ringoandlola.co.uk

Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/RingoandLola

At the moment I am just trying to get my name out there. I have recieved alot of advise of forums such as UK Handmade and as advised I am listing as many free classified online ad's as I can, and tryng to make connections and networking circles by regularly blogging and work and new creations.

So far I haven't recieved any online sales, but it is still early days. I will be interested to see other peoples advise though, people have been really helpful on here and I have really apreciated it.

Hope it all works out for you :)

Rachael xxx

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rose Glen on October 21, 2012 at 10:26

H Rachael

Good luck on your new venture, it quite competitive on Etsy and from what I have learnt tags and titles are great at being found. You could add a few of these tags to your items

baby burp cloths, burp rags, personalized burp cloth, baby bibs, embroidered burp cloth, monogrammed burp clothes, baby boy burp cloth, red burp cloth, white, polka dot baby shower gift, baby and toddler and you should think like the customer when setting your titles. http://www.etsy.com/listing/112105672/ringo-and-lola-handmade-red-p... they will not necessarily be looking for your shop name as a way to burp cloth. I hope this helps

Rachael Kellett said:

Hi Ally,

I have just started up my business and created a webite and Etsy Page. I set up my website through Microsoft 365, and so far I have no complaints. I have never used weebly though.

It's www.ringoandlola.co.uk

Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/RingoandLola

At the moment I am just trying to get my name out there. I have recieved alot of advise of forums such as UK Handmade and as advised I am listing as many free classified online ad's as I can, and tryng to make connections and networking circles by regularly blogging and work and new creations.

So far I haven't recieved any online sales, but it is still early days. I will be interested to see other peoples advise though, people have been really helpful on here and I have really apreciated it.

Hope it all works out for you :)

Rachael xxx

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Allison Hazel on October 21, 2012 at 11:48

Hi everyone,

Such great advice.

I have set up my own website with weebly. http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/ I'd really like to know what you think.

Rachael, how do I find out about free onlione classified ads?

I use twitter to advertise but am worried that people will think I'm spamming. I also have a facebook page. How else can I promote my business?

Ally

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Emma Jones on October 21, 2012 at 18:32

I have a site on Weebly, but to be honest I don't like the selling side of it on there. I have just put a page link to my Folksy shop and another to my blog, so it feels like everything is in one place.

Your site is really eye-catching, Ally and I like the way you can just go to the type of card you want, eg. seasonal, birthday, etc.

I think you will probably need to add terms and conditions as one of your pages as I think it is a legal requirement of distance selling. Another thing to check, is whether Paypal will add on your postage charge for you (you can set this up on Paypal).

Good luck.

Emma

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Allison Hazel on October 21, 2012 at 20:56

Ah ok Emma. That's really useful info.

Thank you

Ally

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rachael on October 22, 2012 at 7:37

Hi Ally,

I just googled "free Classifed Ad's", a few I can think of are Gumtree, UK Classified, and free ad's. You can just put a description and photo's. Most charge you extra for putting a link to your website, but you can still write it in the description as long as it isn't a link.

That's a good point Emma, I didn't think of adding terms and conditions to my site. I will have to add that to my to-do list.

Rachael xxx

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Allison Hazel on October 23, 2012 at 20:21

Thanks Rachael,

I've put postage rates and what to do if the customer wants to return something. Does that not count as terms and conditions?

Ally

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Emma Jones on October 23, 2012 at 20:54

I can't remember it all - but if you google Distance Selling Regulations, you should be able to find out if you have missed anything.

Emma

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by tina tang on November 4, 2012 at 0:57

hi ally,

i found your website is wonderful . I just start set up a free weebly but it seems quite a lot of things i need to learn. this is my first time to make a website. I hope i can make it as good as like you .

could you pls teach me how to add a cart in the website? do i need to pay?

tks

tina

http://tinachihome.weebly.com/

Allison Hazel said:

Hi everyone,

Such great advice.

I have set up my own website with weebly. http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/ I'd really like to know what you think.

Rachael, how do I find out about free onlione classified ads?

I use twitter to advertise but am worried that people will think I'm spamming. I also have a facebook page. How else can I promote my business?

Ally

xx

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Allison Hazel on November 4, 2012 at 10:13

Hi Tina,

I love your felted animals!

On a new page, over on the left hand side is the word 'revenue'. Click on that and then you just pull down the one you want, add a description and price and add to cart appears automatically.

Hope that helps.

If not please message me and I'll try again.

Ally