The Business end of Bella Dawns Doggy Designs / asking for feed back.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Thanks ladies. I really want to get business cards printed but before I do that I want to be sure that I have all of my venues established first so that they can be printed on the card also. I think eBay may be a good place to start and than try etsy later if my sales on ebay don't do well.

If I do etst Priscilla I may have to pick your brain about how those "treasuries" work.

Good new is since I posted this I have gotten 12 more likes on my BDDD page from inviting more of my friends on my other FB sites. Yay !!

Do the vista print. They have cute designs. And the first 250 is free, all you pay is shipping.

That's how we started with our business cards, but moved up to a local business when we designed our own logo. We got 90% of our business by word of mouth the first 2 years. Offer a referral discount or something. When a customer calls and says "I got your name from my friend, Xxxxx," I send Xxxxxx a small gift card to chilis or a restaurant in their area. 10.00 is money well spent as a thank you, and we have customers who refer 10-12 other customers a year!!

Social media is your friend. Facebook, twitter, Instagram.... The more things you have with your business name in it, the better off you'll be in searches. Get a DBA and register with the BBB. Look into Angie's list.

See if some of the local pet stores will let you put up flyers or business cards. Also the groomers, and sewing shoppes, alteration stores, etc. You never know.

Joann's gives out my business card when someone inquires about sewing or quilting. (Of course I work there)

[McheleM]

Also, utilize the.com, .net, etc.

Our website is a .net, however I own the .com domain, and well as 4 other dots I can't think of off the top of my head. All of them redirect to the .net, no matter what you type into the browser (w3mplumbing . com and w3mplumbing . Net both point to the same place, no matter what my customers type in). More traffic is driven in that way, because its hard to remember if its .com or .net or .biz.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Thanks ladies. I really want to get business cards printed but before I do that I want to be sure that I have all of my venues established first so that they can be printed on the card also. I think eBay may be a good place to start and than try etsy later if my sales on ebay don't do well.

If I do etst Priscilla I may have to pick your brain about how those "treasuries" work.

Good new is since I posted this I have gotten 12 more likes on my BDDD page from inviting more of my friends on my other FB sites. Yay !!

I think if you list on etsy it only charges you 0.10 per listing. Whereas ebay, if you're not careful can get much higher than that. I think etsy also gives the buyer more ways to pay, not just paypal. Bc ebay owns paypal, but not etsy, so etsy can have you get other forms of payment as well (if I remember correctly).

I would just at least set up your etsy shop now and start tinkering around with the storefront "look".

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by McheleM

Do the vista print. They have cute designs. And the first 250 is free, all you pay is shipping.

That's how we started with our business cards, but moved up to a local business when we designed our own logo. We got 90% of our business by word of mouth the first 2 years. Offer a referral discount or something. When a customer calls and says "I got your name from my friend, Xxxxx," I send Xxxxxx a small gift card to chilis or a restaurant in their area. 10.00 is money well spent as a thank you, and we have customers who refer 10-12 other customers a year!!

Social media is your friend. Facebook, twitter, Instagram.... The more things you have with your business name in it, the better off you'll be in searches. Get a DBA and register with the BBB. Look into Angie's list.

See if some of the local pet stores will let you put up flyers or business cards. Also the groomers, and sewing shoppes, alteration stores, etc. You never know.

Joann's gives out my business card when someone inquires about sewing or quilting. (Of course I work there)

I agree with the referrals, but I would not send a gift card to another business if it were me. I would send a gift certificate for your own business, that way it's no money out of pocket for you, and also, if they do use it, you get more orders. If you send a GC to say Chili's, you have to pay for it out of pocket, and when they use it, you get nothing. When we have repeat customers, we offer them a free gift. Since we buy our inventory at wholesale, we are actually paying less out of pocket, but the customer thinks what they are getting is valued at retail price.

Social media I also agree. Claim all the platforms with your business name. Have your Twitter set up so that whenever you post on Fb it goes automatically to Twitter. I did that. so I don't even have to use Twitter. I don't like it and frankly I don't really get it. It's like legal spam to me.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I agree with the referrals, but I would not send a gift card to another business if it were me. I would send a gift certificate for your own business, that way it's no money out of pocket for you, and also, if they do use it, you get more orders. If you send a GC to say Chili's, you have to pay for it out of pocket, and when they use it, you get nothing. When we have repeat customers, we offer them a free gift. Since we buy our inventory at wholesale, we are actually paying less out of pocket, but the customer thinks what they are getting is valued at retail price.

Social media I also agree. Claim all the platforms with your business name. Have your Twitter set up so that whenever you post on Fb it goes automatically to Twitter. I did that. so I don't even have to use Twitter. I don't like it and frankly I don't really get it. It's like legal spam to me.

We're a plumbing company..... We dont sell items, so a 10.00 gift card to us seems odd lol. We sell a service, and we still have to pay the workers, and the get paid by the job, regardless of the "coupon" so it's going to cost us 10.00 either way.... (Ie change a water heater pays xxx.xx to the worker, xxx.xx in supplies, and xxx.xx to us. If we take off 10.00, it would come off the xxx.xx that's going to us). But I do see your point, and for you, and her, it's a better idea!

And p.s., some restaurants do a bulk gift card bonus. If you buy 50.00 in gift cards you get 10.00 free... We utilize that knowing we can send them out to customers, and worse comes to worse, we eat out lol.

[dawn27]

You ladies Rock, with the Awesome advise ....

Originally Posted by McheleM

Do the vista print. They have cute designs. And the first 250 is free, all you pay is shipping.

That's how we started with our business cards, but moved up to a local business when we designed our own logo. We got 90% of our business by word of mouth the first 2 years. Offer a referral discount or something. When a customer calls and says "I got your name from my friend, Xxxxx," I send Xxxxxx a small gift card to chilis or a restaurant in their area. 10.00 is money well spent as a thank you, and we have customers who refer 10-12 other customers a year!!

Social media is your friend. Facebook, twitter, Instagram.... The more things you have with your business name in it, the better off you'll be in searches. Get a DBA and register with the BBB. Look into Angie's list.

See if some of the local pet stores will let you put up flyers or business cards. Also the groomers, and sewing shoppes, alteration stores, etc. You never know.

I actually already have a flyer/post card made up. Never though to put them up in the pet shops and local sewing shops around town, thanks. Plus yes I found the Vista print on line a few days ago. I already have my business card ready to go once I get all of my sites set up and the web addresses added.

Joann's gives out my business card when someone inquires about sewing or quilting. (Of course I work there)

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I think if you list on etsy it only charges you 0.10 per listing. Whereas ebay, if you're not careful can get much higher than that. I think etsy also gives the buyer more ways to pay, not just paypal. Bc ebay owns paypal, but not etsy, so etsy can have you get other forms of payment as well (if I remember correctly).

I would just at least set up your etsy shop now and start tinkering around with the storefront "look".

I changed my FB header to something more business like and much more appealing to the eye. I also see where I need to make some changes the post card. I made it before I decided to do custom orders and changes the colors on my fb header.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I agree with the referrals, but I would not send a gift card to another business if it were me. I would send a gift certificate for your own business, that way it's no money out of pocket for you, and also, if they do use it, you get more orders. If you send a GC to say Chili's, you have to pay for it out of pocket, and when they use it, you get nothing. When we have repeat customers, we offer them a free gift. Since we buy our inventory at wholesale, we are actually paying less out of pocket, but the customer thinks what they are getting is valued at retail price.

Social media I also agree. Claim all the platforms with your business name. Have your Twitter set up so that whenever you post on Fb it goes automatically to Twitter. I did that. so I don't even have to use Twitter. I don't like it and frankly I don't really get it. It's like legal spam to me.

No Twitter account but I'll need to check that our also., Thanks

Plus I just offered a 10% discount to anyone who "LIKES" my FB page and places an $35.00 order within the next 24 hours. We'll see how that goes. I can surely make those types of offer on a regular bases if it will get me orders.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by dawn27

You ladies Rock, with the Awesome advise ....





I changed my FB header to something more business like and much more appealing to the eye. I also see where I need to make some changes the post card. I made it before I decided to do custom orders and changes the colors on my fb header.

I like the FB header, looks nice! I would tweak the business card a bit (the one on the right). Take notice of the font size you use, and how many fonts you use. I think I count 6 different fonts. Keep one fancy one for logos and larger text and an easy to read one for more pertinent info. Also, the words you have in parenthesis should be smaller. Take note of the spacing between the lines also.
I used to do graphic design, so those little things that most people don't notice, I do. Sorry.

Originally Posted by dawn27

No Twitter account but I'll need to check that our also., Thanks

Plus I just offered a 10% discount to anyone who "LIKES" my FB page and places an $35.00 order within the next 24 hours. We'll see how that goes. I can surely make those types of offer on a regular bases if it will get me orders.

Good idea, but I think 24 hrs is too short. Those flash sale type offers are usually for huge corps that offer a crazy sale for a very short time. I don't think 10% off should be for only 24 hrs. Perhaps change it to 10% all the time but only for new customers. And of course, with a minimum order amount like you said.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I like the FB header, looks nice! I would tweak the business card a bit (the one on the right). Take notice of the font size you use, and how many fonts you use. I think I count 6 different fonts. Keep one fancy one for logos and larger text and an easy to read one for more pertinent info. Also, the words you have in parenthesis should be smaller. Take note of the spacing between the lines also.
I used to do graphic design, so those little things that most people don't notice, I do. Sorry.

No need to be sorry my dear, I really appreciate your input. I'll change those before I send them off to be printed!!


Good idea, but I think 24 hrs is too short. Those flash sale type offers are usually for huge corps that offer a crazy sale for a very short time. I don't think 10% off should be for only 24 hrs. Perhaps change it to 10% all the time but only for new customers. And of course, with a minimum order amount like you said.

I've already made some changes to the third one. It is a 4x6 photo card to use for bullion boards/ not a business card.

It was just a ploy to get people to like my page. Oh and what new customers Priscilla ? I have none . . . eventually I will offer the % off for a longer length of time Im thinking for a duration of time during the holidays.

[capt_noonie]

That looks nice! May I also suggest, the "customizing in toy breeds" use the same font as "Doggy designs". The font now looks like it says "joy breeds". Also the Lima, Ohio, you have the I capitalized also. and find us on Facebook, you are missing one w for www. Hope that helps.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

That looks nice! May I also suggest, the "customizing in toy breeds" use the same font as "Doggy designs". The font now looks like it says "joy breeds". Also the Lima, Ohio, you have the I capitalized also. and find us on Facebook, you are missing one w for www. Hope that helps.

Typo in Lima saw that after I saved it and the didn't see the other, I can change them, thou.

Many thanks to you !

I am so anxious to get going on this little sewing adventure. You and the other ladies have been a big help. But don't stop now, keep them coming!

[capt_noonie]

I would also ask your past customers if they could send you or post pics of their pups in your creations and use those pics in FB and etsy/ebay. I did that with my costumes. Other potential customers liked to see the costumes on other people so they could get a better idea.

[dawn27]

Yep, done that, I posted and tagged myself in their photos.

[brezofleur]

I've read a few of the posts and totally agree. Social media. Social media. SOCIAL MEDIA. You CANNOT overdo social media. Plus, it's FREE!! Now that you've got something on FB, set up a twitter account. You can connect your FB to Twitter and it will automatically post on your behalf. But you will need to do the appropriate hashtags on separate posts too in order to gain followers. Follow dog lovers and have others follow you.

Instagram and Pinterest everything you do. Again, use appropriate hashtags on IG.

On ANYTHING and EVERYTHING (business cards, handouts, flyers, ads, etc) that you print out, you need to have a QR code leading back to your main business page (sounds like FB), along with your Twitter, IG, etc handles. I use qrstuff.com to generate them when I need it (free).

Most importantly though, scout threads and give people what they want. There are SO MANY similar designs out there so make sure that yours really are different. Get feedback and suggestions and don't take them personally if there is any criticism.

Go to local boutiques and groomers and show them clothes you have already made (shows quality). Keep a portfolio and show managers/owners other designs (shows variety).

If you have enough stock, go to shows (crafts, dog, pet, flea, etc). Always carry your business cards (hand them out to owners whose dogs are wearing clothes) and have an elevator speech ready.

Basically, pimp yourself out and have patience and persistence.

[brezofleur]

On yeah, also post flyers at dog parks. Any place you think dog owners go should have your posters/flyers up (with approval). I've never seen any dog apparel adverts but if I liked what I saw, I would definitely order. Local would be a huge plus for me.