...thoughts on communities and networking and other website aggravation

I've only recently begun networking via communities such as AdlandPro and StartUp Nation - both of which are more business affiliated (you'll notice their banners on this blog site, actually - I am indeed a loyal promoter, I suppose). I've had my difficulties with these, as one needs to be a paying member in order to reap the major benefits. I've posted my ads as directed, issued friend invitations, and been invited. Started a forum or two. And been completely flummoxed when attempting to reach members for feedback on my site or any "offers" I myself may actually be promoting. (Yeah, I succumbed to that hype, too) Salespider is pretty cool - I seem to be able to get the feedback I am looking for over there. And, really, the few people I've "met" at each community are pretty nice and very helpful. At StartUp Nation, I've actually entered my business/website in a competiton: Homebased 100 2008... I've no idea how I will do, but any votes would be appreciated! StartUp Nation HomeBased 100

At the (really good!) suggestions of a couple of Adlanders, and after much consideration and back-and-forth debates with my own good sense, I finally relented and started this blog (after several attempts directly on my website - dismal failures, each). Blogging is interesting - though, I tend to get carried away with nonsensical writing rants. I am learning as I go; I like to check out other blogs and have even found a few of my community friends. It'd be very cool to actually end up with a blog that has grown as popular as, say, oh, I don't know... (the oft radically opinionated) maddox.com (a favorite of my son, I have to admit - and, though it isn't necessarily a favorite of mine, the guy is an interesting writer - if radically opinionated :-). Of course, I realize that would take years.

And, now I have again taken good advice (relented) and started pages with both Hover Spot and MySpace communities - to start (haha). I succumbed after noting a few of my own favorite businesses with pages of their own over there. I admired them (check out Mountain Rose Herbs MySpace page) and figured, okay, if it's working for them (and it seems to be, judging from both's number of "friends") it might work for me. Also family members are convinced that it will bring attention to SweetPea & Violets. Which is want I want! Have a look and maybe even join yourself! http://www.HoverSpot.com/parriaza and http://www.Myspace.com/sweetpeaandviolets

Sometimes I feel I have no idea what I am doing, while my entire goal is to promote my online business - SweetPea & Violets - which is a retail venture, not an "opportunity" such as those promoted on both AdlandPro, SaleSpider and even StartUp Nation - all of which I do belong to and from which I have made a few decent contacts. Not enough sales, as of yet. But the contacts are there. It's all about the "friendships" fostered and the contacts made, after all.

And, of course, the whole idea of promotion is to make sales (much needed sales!!!) that will indeed validate my staunch belief in a tangible brick-n-mortar store front. My goal, my dream, my ultimate achievement - a store of my own. Maybe two or three, even. Who knows? If I am gonna dream, might as well dream big - right?

In any case, I am working, it feels, around the clock on maintaining these pages, these sites, these blogs (one can blog on every one of these communities - there's even blog access at my Etsy site!). My hands hurt, my eyes burn, my head aches. And, I am never finished! There's always something new to add, some adjustment that needs to be made...

So, I have started the new pages on Hover Spot and MySpace. Added a few images of my work (myself and SweetPea & Violets logo, too) - but, no candles or aromatherapy images, although I do make mention of my services in the way of spiritual guidance, if one so needs... I have sent out a few invites (and had a few responded to favorably, yay!) So, now, what - I sit back and wait for results? For potentially thousands reading my/SweetPea's info and flocking to my website to buy a candle or two, maybe an essential oil, or (yikes!) maybe even one of my beloved hand crafted knitted/crocheted sets???? If only.

Unlike those articles (and I have read HUNDREDS) that promise the world and the moon in immediate financial success, I have found that all of this business promoting does indeed take work and more work, commitment, and time!!! The one thing I don't always have a ready supply of. You need to understand how to build a website (or have the money to pay someone else to do it for you), you need to understand a myriad number of techniques of selling - and there are all sorts of techniques of selling, believe me, most of which I do not get, personally - and then, there's ad/copy writing which is a major pain in the butt. I don't require convincing when I have made up my mind to purchase something, so it is hard for me to not only be motivated but to understand the necessity of creating a convincing reason for someone else to want to buy from me!

Though I rant, though I become mightily annoyed, disappointed, discouraged, I never lose sight of the goal - to promote my business and make it grow. I want people to look at my sites and think "wow, I like that..." I want them to look at what I offer and want to buy it for themselves or for a loved one, as the case may be. I work hard to make my sites user-friendly

-- though I do honestly wonder at my success at that, as feedback has not been what I would prefer. I receive several "Your site is so pretty..." but, that doesn't help, if all its prettiness doesn't sell the product I am offering. I ask for input, I'd rather have the sale - I'll be honest.

That said, I will keep up the work, the never-ending promotion, the commitment to create a successful business enterprise: SweetPea & Violets.



Onward. For any interested, I am working on a really late newsletter - had a few problems with my email provider and lost my entire email contact list... I won't go into that. I am working on it and all should be good-to-go shortly. I'll keep all interested posted, and with that -

'til next time...