This post was going to be about my plan for 2012. I was going to lay out my goals, and how I was going to achieve them. My very first proper post. I was going to explain my wordpress online store, how I put it together, what plugins I’m using, what online marketing strategies I’m using. Actually that was my first few weeks of posts, while I waited for my online marketing and SEO techniques to start working. But now that’s all changed.
My post has been hijacked because last night I got my first order!
Yep, that’s way too soon. And I’ve been caught flat footed. So instead of me explaining how the website came into being, and telling you about lots of wordpress and SEO resources, this is now about being prepared.
You see I haven’t ordered my stock yet. Stupid? Yes!!! And seriously lacking in confidence! Online marketing is supposed to take longer to start working! Apparently I’m better at this that I realised…
So I am going into damage control. I have called my supplier and they are overnighting the DVD to me. It should arrive tomorrow, and I will ship it out the same day. No problem, really. Except for that my profit will be zero. I will be in the red about $5, actually. Because I didn’t plan properly. I should have gotten my stock ordered and here as soon as my shopping cart was online.
Before Christmas, the website was languishing down around the 8th page of Google search results. Traffic was almost nothing. Looking at google analytics I figured most of it was me. Probably all of it, infact. There was really no way anyone was going to hit the website.
So back then I cleaned up the website a little bit. Installed some SEO plugins, and added the products I was intending to sell. (This would be the point where I should have actually ordered my stock!) I started doing a bit of link building and then Christmas hit, and I let it sit there. I knew it would be my New Years Project.
Come January 2, I got back to work and started getting things in order. By January 4 I had my first order! So incredibly exciting, but also very embarrassing. I wasn’t even going to admit to it, but it’s a good lesson. Don’t get caught with your pants down! Orders may come in more quickly than you expected. It may have been a google blip – I will go check on my rankings after I’ve finished this post. And I have already gone through the online shop and marked all of my products ‘Out of Stock’. I don’t want this happening again!
Today I will order stock in from my supplier.
Tomorrow I will have my DVD and ship to my first satisfied customer. The first of many!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Why mark your products out of stock? Wouldn’t you be better off to state that delivery will be in ??????? number of days. I would imagine that you would want to keep customers interested.
I havn’t looked on your site yet and don’t know what you are selling. Will do so now.
Good point, Merilyn! To tell the truth, I didn’t think of that! I will take your suggestion and change the website. Scaredycat Media is my web design/marketing business. The website I set up to sell online is http://www.pilatesdvdsonline.com.au.
Thanks for your comments
Neen
Ah, thank you. I tried looking for your website yesterday but couldn’t find it. Will do so now and hey—-may even put in an order, knowing that it will have a longer delivery.
I bought a CD printer for my business, but now not selling CD’ s as my web designer was very wise to suggest that they will be copied too easily and the concept that I am hoping to deliver is quite unique but will be easy to copy once people have the template.