How to create an online eCommerce catalog
Do you want to know how to create an online eCommerce catalog? Here are some tips for creating your own catalog:
1.Begin by deciding how much you need to invest in product listings and what level of compression is necessary, as these things can both affect your bottom line.
2.Consider the type of HTML editor you will use to create your site. It is important that the editor be compatible with the software that will generate .jpg or .gif files from uploaded graphics so that they may be easily integrated into a web page when it is saved as HTML code.
3.Decide what products you will sell and which of them will be on your site for an extended period.
4.Get the rights to use photos that are unique to your company from stock photo libraries: iStockPhoto, Shutterstock or Getty Images. Also consider creating some photos that not only look attractive but can serve as call-to-actions as well as special sales techniques to help increase conversions.
5.Look into buying stock items so that you can have more control over pricing as well as creating lines of merchandise than if you were listing everything out individually.
6.Listing unique items will require a more hands on approach. Take your time and be sure to use appropriate titles, descriptions and tags as well as optimize your listing for search engines.
7.Make sure you have links within your product descriptions to other pages within your site as well as to eCommerce sites like Amazon or eBay, where you can sell the products you do not wish to keep in stock on your site.
8.Remember that any product image will need a name and a price, but you can add anything else in its place (such as a short description) by using alt tags if it is an image that is not directly related to the product's title or description – for example: "Product XYZ".
9.Be sure to visit Google Analytics frequently to make sure your site is up-to-date and the right type of keywords are being used in your product titles, descriptions and tags to increase the likelihood of turning a new customer into a repeat one.
10.If you find yourself needing some editorial help with content, people can outsource this work on websites like Upwork or Freelancer.com, which allow freelancers from all over the world to bid on jobs and offer their services for whatever price is agreed upon between buyer and seller.
11.Finally, I would recommend that you take a look at the eCommerce site A:M Economics, Inc. to see how an eCommerce catalog can be created. You can contact them at [email protected] with any questions or comments.
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I am not sure what the answer to this is for me, as I am new to freelancing and so far have been finding it much harder than I expected.
Some of it is lifestyle related and other stuff I have found out since starting up:
1) The majority of work I get is on a "flat rate" basis which seems to mean that there should be a base fee but then another monthly billing, where the fee can vary depending on time spent.
2) Many of the jobs I have been getting are "add-ons" to things I have already done or am in the middle of doing.
3) The people on Upwork want to hire "full-time" people, even if they only need a few hours a month, and will pay huge sums for that time, but then not accept my suggestion that they pay me by the hour since I currently work full time and cannot devote more than a few hours a week to what they want.
4) With some of the projects I have spent more time on than others because of various grading issues (which is part of why my hourly rate is so low).
5) There are no complaints, just silence from them and no more work.
After an initial flurry of activity I have had nothing for several weeks. :-( It is not fun when you are thinking about how you should be working instead of playing games or watching TV in your free time. I am going to keep at it, but I also have to start exploring other options (which means taking a marketing class or two).
Anyway, thanks for all the advice in comments. This is what the Internet can be good for - allowing people from different walks of life to suggest solutions and help each other out.
When I first posted this, I was worried no one would even read it or that if they did there would be no response. I am pleased to say that this is not the case.
I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and that 2016 brings you all you wish for. Be good to each other, please.
Sincerely,
Dena Garson - Queen of Swords (writing as) [email protected] Author of The Expats ( US UK CANADA ) A charming page-turner of a novel about what happens when two women leave their husbands and children behind in order to move to another country together. Who will be the winner in the battle of the sexes? What will these two households look like? Which culture will dominate? As you read, you'll find yourself cheering for both sides. A simply wonderful book!
Hey everyone! I thought I would do a quick follow-up to my post from yesterday. In regards to any advice people had on freelancing, there were a lot of comments with some really great advice and links to websites that I hadn't yet explored ( Upwork is an example ).
I am going to be taking everything into consideration and deciding which path (or paths) to take based on which opportunities seem most promising at this time. I really appreciate all the help. Thanks again!
Did you know that there is a way to guarantee a steady stream of work? Freelance writers can make $100+ per hour on Upwork.com . It's possible through learning and using a simple system that I am going to teach you, step-by-step, in this FREE video training. Click here for more information ...
Welcome to part 2 of my series about becoming a full time writer from home. I've had lots of questions from my readers wanting to know what the next step would be and so I decided to do a little follow up.
And that next step is marketing. Without marketing, you won't be able to generate any income whatsoever. You need to find a way to market your stories online in some way shape or form. You have a choice of either publishing them on Amazon and using their KDP program or self publishing them with Smashwords . It's really up to you which one you want to go with, it's going to come down to personal preference at this point.
Conclusion
Legally, you have to register your business with your state's chamber of commerce in order to make it legal. There are a bunch of other little things you need to do, but the information is available online and you will figure it out as you go. It's really just a matter of knowing where to look for that information and how to put it all together. What I would recommend doing is finding someone who started a freelancing business like yourself or someplace that has had success with this venture (like eCommerce site A:M Economics, Inc.) and asking them what they did from the start. If you work with someone long enough, they'll usually let slip one or two secrets about their successes.