1. Describe your
business: type of business, where you're located, how
long you have been in business, website URL's, etc.
I started designing graphics and web
pages back in 1996 and have done
graphics and web design both professionally and as a
hobby over the years.
In the meantime, I started a candle supply business,
which I sold in
December of 2006 as I wanted to get back into doing
graphics again, my first
love. So Digi Web Studio (http://www.digiwebstudio.com)
was born.
Currently, I offer clipart designs (my originals and
licensed artwork from
other artists), stock and vintage photos, digital
scrapbooking graphics,
printables, background tiles, desktop wallpaper, and
more.
I own, operate and maintain other websites such as Prim
Crafters
(http://www.primcrafters.com)
which is a primitive/country marketplace,
Fragrance Oil Suppliers (http://www.fragranceoilsuppliers.com)
which has
candle making supplier listings and tutorials, Royalty
Free Photo Club
(I maintain this site) (http://www.royaltyfreephotoclub.com)
where you can
purchase stock photos without having to pay any license
fees so they're
wonderful for web sets, templates, and much more!
I am a total website
junkie so I better not list them ALL here. :)
2. How did you decide on your business name?
I chose the name Digi
Web Studio because I knew I wanted to only offer
digital goods, but I didn't want to get so specific as I
wasn't sure exactly
what I'd want to offer.
3. What were the first things you did to get your
business going?
Network
and advertise! I spent the first few months
networking with other
work at home women, networking on message boards, and
found places where I
could do affordable advertising. I try to spend a
little time each week
doing link exchanges and researching ways to improve my
traffic. I just
started an affiliate program
http://www.digiwebstudio.com/idevaffiliate/index.php
which I hope will also
help both my customers earn some cash but also help my
traffic continue to
grow.
4. How long did it take you from the time you decided to
open your business to your Grand Opening Day?
About 1 month.
I ended up setting up my website in a couple other
shopping
carts only to realize they didn't do everything I wanted
them to. So that
took more time and I lost a little hair during that
process!
5. What was the best thing you did to get your business
going?
It's hard to narrow this down to just one
best thing. I think it's a combination of providing a
high quality product that I know my customers will love,
offering them at an affordable price, advertising, and
always striving to have top notch customers service. I
would have to say the most important aspect of running
my own business IS the customers service. If it weren't
for my customers, I would not be where I am today. :)
6. What was one thing that you did
that you would advise others not to do?
Oh nothing. hahaha
Actually, my biggest mistake had to do with my website
design. I personally love the shabby chic look along
with browns and pinks. Well, the look of my website did
NOT portray the style of graphics I am trying to sell,
which is mainly country primitive in style. Once I
redesigned my website to match my products, I noticed a
dramatic increase in sales. So the moral of this story
is your website is like a store display window. What the
people see when they first enter is what they will
expect to see for sale. I do also offer shabby chic
styles clipart collections, but it seems the country
primitive are still the most popular.
7. How do you network? What do you find works
the best?
I mainly network with women I've met on
message forums, through email, or simply from surfing
the web. I don't always set out to network, but once we
start talking, it seems we'll end up either partnering
up or doing link exchanges, etc. :)
8. Do you advertise? If so, what type of advertising works the
best for you business?
I do advertise. I make it a point to set aside
some money each month that I use strictly for advertising. I
mainly advertise in various marketplace websites and I've
also joined a bunch of topsites and try to do link exchanges
or partner with other websites.
9. Do you have any
advice to give someone thinking of getting into their own
business?
Sure, go for
it! If you truly have the passion, desire, and willingness
to work hard, then don't let anything stop you. I truly
believe that God gives us certain talents and if we apply
those talents, they will be so much more rewarding in the
long run. I still wake up each morning and thank God for
this blessing of being able to work from home. I hardly dare
to all it work because I have so much fun - most of the
time. :)
10. What type of products do you find are 'hot' right
now?
Valeninte and Spring graphics! I have some Valentine clipart
and other graphics at
http://digiwebstudio.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=97
and Spring clipart at
http://digiwebstudio.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=114
that are selling really good right now. Guess we are all
ready for Spring!
Samples:
I can't end
this without saying thanks to Trina Clark for being such a
positive influence in my life. She offered me the job of a
lifetime, so I also work as Administrative Assistant for
some of her websites. She is one of the most generous and
inspirational women I've ever met. I have learned so much
about how there really is room for all of us on the
internet, so I've also been trying to help out my fellow
graphics artists or customers whenever I get the chance. My
dream to work from home doing something I love has come
true!
