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Access eCommerce for Native American Artisans

Access eCommerce for Native American Artisans. Objectives. The Internet is a tool that small businesses can use to build an existing business, reach distant markets, and offer innovative products. During this hands-on workshop you will:

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Access eCommerce for Native American Artisans

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  1. Access eCommercefor Native American Artisans

  2. Objectives The Internet is a tool that small businesses can use to build an existing business, reach distant markets, and offer innovative products. During this hands-on workshop you will: • explore what businesses similar to yours are doing online • learn some ways to bring your business online • discover online resources your business can use.

  3. What is Electronic Commerce? E-commerce is more than selling online. It is: • Using online resources and tools to do business better • Making money and saving money online

  4. Activity: Critique Sites www.chipotle.com www.cheesylights.com www.drango.com

  5. Websites Should Be… • Informative • Fast • Easy to navigate • Tidy • Accessible • Credible

  6. www.angeliquesnativeart.com

  7. Website Credibility • The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 • Read the “About Us” • Tribal affiliation identified? • Does the seller tell you about how the item was acquired or created? • Are sacred objects, ways, knowledge, or other forms of Native spirituality being offered for sale? • Does anything make you feel uncomfortable? Source: www.u.arizona.edu/~ecubbins/webcrit.html

  8. Activity: Evaluate artisan websites • www.SouthwestIndian.com • www.WesstArtisans.com • www.NativeCraftsOnline.com • http://PuebloDirect.com • www.HopiMarket.com • www.AllNative.com • www.NativeMall.com • http://Native-Craft.com • www.GuthrieStudios.com

  9. Searching for Information • Use a directory • Example: Yahoo or Google Directory • Use a search engine • Use a site that indexes websites on specific topics

  10. Top 5 Search Engines: • Google • Yahoo! Search • MSN Search • AOL Search • Ask Jeeves Source: Nielsen//NetRatings January 2004

  11. Searching With • Be specific turquoise and coral bracelet = 61,700 results • put phrases in quotes "turquoise and coral bracelet“ = 381 results • Use the NOT symbol - "turquoise and coral bracelet“ –silver = 50 results • Combine symbols www.google.com

  12. Research Doing Business Online • Search for: • New suppliers • Product ideas • Marketing ideas • Better prices

  13. Searching for Products for Sale www.froogle.com

  14. Research Your Competition • Is your competition across the world or next door? • Search engines are the key to finding your online competition • What can you do better, or different?

  15. How to Find Your Competition • Make a list of your competitors. • Use a search engine to expand the list. • Search using keywords that describe your products or services.

  16. Evaluate Your Competition • Visit their websites. • What are they trying to do online? • What do you like or dislike? • What can your company do better? • Find out how popular these sites are • Google using: link:www.company.com

  17. Activity Search for your competition or suppliers.

  18. Tips for Shopping Online • Trust your instincts • Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions • Double check pricing • Read the privacy policy • Review return and shipping policies • Check for secure Internet connections • Pay with a credit card Source: American Bar Association www.safeshopping.org

  19. How do you know a website is secure? • Closed lock symbol • The web address begins with https:// instead of http://

  20. Options for Doing Business Online • Do you really need a website? Consider: • Auction Websites • Malls or Cooperatives • Develop your own website • Virtual stores • Template-based storefronts • Hire a developer • Do it yourself • Combine several options

  21. Auction Websites

  22. Malls or Coops http://store.yahoo.net/navajoco-op

  23. Malls or Coops www.indigenous-art.com/26.html

  24. Choose Locations Carefully

  25. Activity: Explore Auctions, Malls Auctions: • www.ebay.com Malls: • www.geezer.com • www.boundlessgallery.com

  26. Virtual Storefront http://shop.store.yahoo.com/bctc

  27. Website Templates Templates and hosting: • www.NetSol.com (Click on Create a Website) • Test Drive BigStep at: http://go.bigstep.com/tour/tour.htm • Free for Nonprofit organizations: www.orgsites.com Template kits only (no hosting): • http://desktoppublishing.com/template/web/sitekits.html

  28. Activity: See How to Build a Store www.indianvillage.com

  29. www.mycompany.com Domain names • What is a domain name? • Why do you need one? • What makes a good domain name? .com .org .net .biz .info • How much does it cost? • How do you find a domain name? • www.betterwhois.com • www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html

  30. Developing Your Own Site • Hire a web designer • Learn HTML • Create graphics • Find a web host • Determine budget • Check site for errors

  31. Consider Hiring a Website Developer Give your business a professional appearance. To find a developer: • Interview customers • Evaluate web sites • Compare services • Ask about site maintenance services

  32. Learn HTML: Web Authoring Tools • Free HTML Tutorials • www.w3schools.com/html • Authoring Software (e.g: Dreamweaver, FrontPage, GoLive, HomeSite)

  33. Tools to Create Graphics Create a banner, logo or button with free or fee online graphics generators • 3DTextMaker.com • CoolText.com • QuickBanner.com

  34. Find a Web Host • Local internet service providers • Domain name providers • Ask others for recommendations • www.webhostlist.com • www.hostsearch.com

  35. Website Costs Setup Costs • Web page design $150-$450 / page • Web host setup fee $0 - $50+ Ongoing Costs • Web hosting fees $0 – 100+ / month • Domain name up to $35/year • Web page content updating up to $30/hour

  36. eCommerce Transactions • Merchant accounts • monthly fee: $15-50 / month • discount rate: 2-5% of amount • transaction fee: 15-.30 / transaction • PayPal • No monthly fee • Transaction fee: 2.2% .30 /transaction

  37. Tools to Check Your Site • Page errors: www.netmechanic.com/toolbox/html-code.htm • Load speed: www.optiview.com (Click on Cool Tools lower left) • Accessibility: www.cast.org/bobby

  38. Promoting Your Website • Tell everyone about it • Help search engines find you • Use traditional media

  39. Viral Marketing “Any advertising that propagates itself the way viruses do.” • Friends and relatives • Customers • Website visitors

  40. Blog • Short for Weblog • Web page that serves as a publicly-accessible personal journal for an individual • Typically updated daily • A soapbox of sorts • Put a link to your blog page on your website

  41. Activity: Blogging Browse the blogs at: • www.blogarama.com Or look at creating your own at: • www.blogger.com

  42. Deal with Business Email • Use email to draw attention to your website • Start your own email newsletter • Create an email signature for marketing • Spam? Ignore it or filter it • Don’t open email attachments from unknown sources • Install anti-virus software

  43. Activity: www.CafePress.com

  44. Summary • Become comfortable with the Internet • Decide if you really need a website • Explore web hosts, online malls, auctions for features and costs • Decide which services are right for your business to meet your customer needs • Promote to every living being on the planet, and then promote some more

  45. Resources Online guide: www.access-ecom.info

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