Rocking Horse Droppings – An Ecommerce Commentary
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Every week I get this call. Same call different person. Here is the basic transcript below. The type of site is of course fictional but this is very very close to the type of conversation that I have with people. I actually spend a lot longer in most cases explaining very slowly and simply how this type of site works but there is still a strong belief out there that if you build it they will come. |
Brrrrrrrnnnnng (Editors note – my phone does not ring like this but it sets the scene)
Caller: I was thinking of getting a website.
Me: Great. What sort of a website. (Opens up tracking spreadsheet)
Caller: Well I am interested in rocking horse droppings as I think that there would be a great market for it
Me: Great – sounds like a an idea at least. Are you familiar with what is required to setup an ecommerce site and the costs and time associated with getting traffic to your site?
Caller: No not really. My brother has FrontPage on his PC though and has done up a great demo site I can send you.
Me: No that’s OK thanks a million. What sort of budget had you in mind for getting this business going
Caller: Well I was thinking of about 200 Euro for starts. Might spend a little more if it really takes off.
Me: Hmmm.. I think that you need to rethink your budget to be honest. You need to treat an online business like you would treat setting up a small shop. You need to pay for a good looking site, an effective secure ecommerce engine, a strong internet marketing campaign, and a medium to long term SEO plan.
Caller: But I think there is a great market for rocking horse droppings!
Me: How do you know this?
Caller: My girlfriend and buddies in the pub think it would definitely take off. They all had rocking horses when they were young.
Me: Have you done any research or keyword investigation on the internet? What sort of online competition is there in the rocking horse droppings market?
Caller: There is a fabulous site already there called www.toysrus.com which sells rocking horses and I would like my site to be like that. They seem to be doing well.
Me: Right – why don’t I take your e-mail address and send you a quote and a short explanation of some simple strategies for getting such a business online and the associated costs and time required to get to this level.
Caller: Great.
Me: By the way what do you work at the moment?
Caller: Oh I am a plumber but my brother does have that computer somewhere that we could use. Once its under he 200 Euro I am sure we should be in great shape.
Me: No problem I look forward to doing business with you!
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- Survey – Walking the Streets of Web Design
- Web Design for Fictional Characters
- Marketing Your Website – Last Few Apples