E-Bay Shop or Own Web-Site

[Tinkabell]

Hi ladies

I am hoping you can give me some advice/steer me in the right direction. I started my new business a few weeks ago trading on e-bay after about 6 months of getting the nerve to start it. I am also advertising locally and receiving orders via both areas.

I don't know wether to trade for 6 months just on e-bay and see how that goes then think about taking the next step for a e-bay shop/web site, or to take the plunge straight away.

I do not know which is best an ebay shop or my own site. I really dont know the costs involved in having a web site, i have my domain name sorted but am unsure how to set up a e-bay shop or web-site and the cost is one of the bigger issues as I do not have that much spare monies at the moment.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I feel as though my head is going to explode soon as I have that many thoughts/ideas running around in it at the moment.

[Ravenfire]

If you contact Alison at http://www.daffodil-design.co.uk then she can give you a quote for a website that way you can then be in a better position to compare it to an ebay website.

I personally think you will always do far better with a proper website than an ebay site purely because the look is so much more professional.

HTH

[Sarah]

Hi,
I've been selling through my ebay shop for the last year and doing really really well, the trouble is - the fees. It costs me an absolute fortune. I've just opened my first website today! The lady that did the website is the same lady in the link that Toni gave you.
The beauty of ebay is the members, there are over 10 million members in this country and websites can be a lot slower to start with. If you've kept all your paypal receipts then you can let all your ebay customers know.
I will still keep ebay going to try and direct some business to my website but will see how it goes.
I've already had 3 sales through my website, not bad for the first few hours. If you want to chat anymore give me a shout.
Sarah xx

[Tinkabell]

Thanks Raven and Sarah

Have cut the cost of website as dh has offered to do my website for me, as he has designed his own. But may contact Alison if he gets too busy with work. Think I will keep trading on e-bay but get the website up and running and direct people to it.

Will let you know how I get on.

[Dino]

Hi,

I'm Karen at www.dorsetwebdesign.net (http://www.dorsetwebdesign.net). You are welcome to contact me if you need any advice, even if your dh is designing the site for you.

I have a couple of customers who have an Ebay shop and an online store of their own. Using Ebay is a great way of driving traffic to your own store. You are not allowed to put a direct link in your auctions but you can put a link to your store in your About Me page. Then people looking at the auctions may click through to your web site and buy.

In time, your own web store should attract traffic from search engine results and links from other sources.

Good luck

Karen

[Tinkabell]

Thank you Karen if need advice regarding the site will contact you. Also thanks for the info about e-bay and using my web address will make sure I put it in my about me page when i get sorted.

[Sarah]

I'm going to add my website to the 'about me' page too. As for not putting them on the listings, I know that ebay don't like it but lots of ebayers do it, I'm not recommending it as I don't want anyone to get 'kicked off' ;)

[Netty]

I think your ebay user name can also reflect your website? (in a subtle way, of course!)

A friend has an e-bay shop selling craft materials (for cards etc) and he says the fees are extortionate.

Only trouble with doing your own site is sorting out the e-commerce part of it.

[Sarah]

Netty the fees are astronomical.
Alison has sorted all of my website out, the e-commerce and everything. I'm so impressed and her rates are amazing and I get a year's free maintenance and by then I should hopefully know what I'm doing!
I couldn't buy my own webspace for anywhere near the price that Alison is charging me monthly for doing everything! :D

[Daffs]

Hi Kerrimouse,

As others have said I do offer e-commerce website packages and anyone is very welcome to email me if they want a chat about cost, etc :happy72:

I think Ebay shops are great in that the traffic is there and so you are searchable for any product that you have in your store. It is much harder to drive traffic to your own store but can be done with some work. I've had many clients tell me that they feature well in a Google or MSN search and have had orders from people searching that way. So, it's a balance really. I think own websites look much nicer than an ebay shop but you do have to get traffic to it.

Good luck and please email if you feel you'd like a chat anytime! :)