My New Web Site

So I am finally moving more fully into the 21st century, and have built myself a web site.  Whew!  I have known for a number of years that I needed one, but for what ever reason had been totally intimidated by the whole concept.  Not sure why, as I am the computer person for the family and for my husband’s business… but somehow doing a web site for myself was really overwhelming.

Then I got myself a new laptop, a MacBook Pro, and it came with iLife, which includes iWeb…. and it was easy!  Really, really easy to create a lovely web site of my own.  What a revelation!

I am still not pleased with the quality of my photography of my jewelry, but with a show coming up, and needing new business cards that I wanted to put my web address on, I went on and put it up anyway.  With iWeb updating the web site is so easy and painless, that I can add or change photos as I get better ones.

I had taken a course on internet marketing this spring, and they suggested using GoDaddy to buy your domain name - so I did.  I debated long and hard on the name.  Use my name, as many jewelry artists do; or my studio name, as many others do?  I finally decided on using my name, since in addition to making art (jewelry and other media), I also teach residencies and do workshops - and in that field I am known by my name, not by my studio name.

GoDaddy was easy and cheap, and they had a neat feature I did not expect - as you check out there is a place where you indicate what time the next day you want a rep to call you, and you can input any questions you have.  They called right on time, and went over some things I did not know.  I did not know that if you buy your domain name for less than 3 years you are considered a temporary non-business site; nor did I know that doing a private registry helps reduce spam.  So I added some years to my domain purchase, and added the private registry (sure don’t need any more spam!).

GoDaddy also has a shopping cart feature you can purchase if you so desire.  I have not done so, and currently just have buyers contact me for purchases (not that I have made any yet!).  I may add a cart later - we’ll see how things go.  I have credit card processing, and at this point would rather just do it myself since I’m not anticipating a huge volume.

Please check out my web site at www.bethwicker.com and share your thoughts.  I know it is not perfect, and would love to keep improving it!

Tagged as: internet, web site