Developing a Website

[Pictures in wood]

I was wondering what platform everyone uses for developing their website.

I would like something that is easy to use and inexpensive/free.

[JimErn]

wix.com is free and is real easy to use

[kmmcrafts]

Yes, I agree with Jim.. For a selling website there are also some very cheap options with ready made templates too.. I think the tricky part of it is setting up payment processors on a secure website when doing some of the free sites.. you're limited unless you are tech savvy enough to figure out the shopping cart  etc.. Maybe it's changed these days since I did my own site years ago.. 

Indiemade is a selling website for eCommerce sites and they have templates, shopping cart set up, blog page etc etc.. I think their cheapest plan is $5 a month.. Had a site on there for a few years.. was quite easy.. at that time they limited you with only 300 listings.. Now they have a blurb saying to contact them for more listings at no extra charge.. I would have stayed there if they offered it back then.. and actually thinking about doing another site on there after the new year..   

[orangeman]

I have been using Volusion for 8 years now. Neighbor initially set it up for me and now it is easy to populate with new puzzles. PayPal is a linked payment processor.

My website is more of a convenience to my craft show customers than it is bringing in new customers via web searches.

$33/mo. I'm just too lazy to switch to anything else.

bb

[kmmcrafts]

These days it's very hard to "make money"  on a stand alone website.. I know most of you are just looking for an outlet for a online presents to add to your crafts shows.. Most stand alone websites probably will loose you money or make very little off of it.. I have a stand alone site but could never make a living off it like I do with selling on combined selling venues.. I sell on Amazon, Etsy, Ebay, Artfire ( currently closed ) and Zibbet ( also currently closed ).. I couldn't make it with just a website... nor could I make it on just etsy.. or just amazon.. 

Etsy has made many changes this year and it has affected many sellers... My sales are down 14% on etsy.. even though the revenue is up some.. ( people buying higher priced things this year )  But they are way up on the other sites.. last year etsy was up but the others were down.. This is the only way to make it with a online only business in this day and age.. Each venue brings in different customer base.. lots of folks like to shop etsy but not amazon.. or vise-versa LOL.. The idea of selling only on one venue which i did for years.. just wouldn't allow the business to grow enough.. When website venues change things up.. it hurts the sellers.. as has happen with etsy this year.. artfire a few years ago and zibbet this year also.. so those selling on these venues will most likely have a low sales year for the year.. 

I always recommend etsy to new to the online selling because it's literally the easiest place to set up a shop and get your feet wet.. etsy has many built in how too's to get your feet off the ground.. That is if you "Try" to work at it and not just list and sit like most people do..   

[teachnlearn]

I did a mobile sharpening business. I used wix.com. When I sharpened I always handed out a trifold with care of the item and a business card. Always had phone, email and website on the trifold and business card. Didn't get much from online searches, but I did get people looking me up after from the business card and trifold. Had a trifold for knives care and honing, scissors, beauty scissors 'normally called shears',  lawn equipment, sharped and care. Its amazing what a sharpened garden shovel or hoe will do. Repeated all the information on the website and gave people the opportunity to mail in, drive in or me drive out to them. Did restaurants on a single basis and contract. My biggest problem with them is I gave them business cards, Trifolds and business magnets. Ended up hearing restaurants calling each other to find out who it was that sharpened. Would come in after they found me and there was my magnetic business cards on a frig door freezer door and a business card tacked on the bulletin board in the restaurant office. Advertised and advertised and couldn't get them to read what was in front of them. RJF