Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Domain, Do I Need a Domain Name, Is it For Me




Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams!



Hope this finds ya'll having a great Saturday as I am having myself.

There are soooo many things that could be discussed, talked about, shared, commented with, etc. Where does a person begin? I have to learn to start taking notes, or making notes to myself when I come up with ideas. I keep thinking I will remember them, but not always. But, while I have one now, am at the computer, I decided to come by here, and share it with everyone. 

Many of us are sellers online, or have things we enjoy doing that we have chosen to work with. We always are looking for ways to improve our sales, getting our name out there, and doing all we can to make things better for us, for our businesses. We consider venues to sell with, how many places should we be showing our products at, blogging, websites, domains, hosting, and so on. It all takes time, and a lot of work. After time, sometimes much time, we do start seeing results of this, and are happy to have done what we did. 

Along with these many decisions we make is the issue of "Should We Buy Our Own Domains?" I am like you, and often thought about should I do it, or not? Why do it? What is suppose to be the benefit for me doing this? Also, more cost, and expense of doing business too. Well, after much consideration I have taken the plunge, and I do have 3 domains now. I considered a lot of factors with it, but mostly I considered for Me. Is this what I needed, was it time to be upgrading and keeping up with times, and the pace of things? Definitely! I am so happy I have taken the move to do this too.

Things to consider when having your own domain:

1) Use your blog - I direct 1 of my domains to my blog. Much easier to remember, and it looks much better with business cards too. 

2) Landing Page - Show information about yourself, list your links, list your web pages, note your venues maybe you sell with, list your social networking information. So, having a domain would be a great choice if you have maybe multiple blogs, websites, venues, and so on.

3) Professional Page - Your Online Business, For the Writer, maybe you do Consulting or Coaching.


Having a YourName.com makes it easy to find you, and to remember you too!

Many ideas for the domain name you choose. Some maybe choose to use their own personal names...like a writer might do. Or, choose your business name for your domain name. I chose to use Go Daddy as my service because it is much easier to redirect my domains to a place if I choose to do so, change my mind, and etc. They have been very easy to work with. With Go Daddy once I get that domain it is mine, and I have smaller yearly fees to pay for it compared to having fees for a website, hosting fees, shopping carts, and etc. I do everything else free - pretty much free:) So, having the domains I do is a small price compared to what it could be. It helps with branding of my name too. I only do my domain with Go Daddy, no hosting, or anything else.

How many have a domain they bought? Are you happy with what you did? Are you happy with the service provider you chose? Maybe you are still considering it. I hope this little bit I have shown here will maybe better help you with your decision of this. 

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams today. Please know you are always welcome to visit with all of us here, and leave comments too. Love to see others sharing, and that we can share together as well. 

Have a super Saturday everyone! Hope to see you again:)
  

NOTE:  At the end of each of my posts you will see in the footer an AddThis bar that I have added. If you see something here you would like to send, share, bookmark, and email just click on that little bar, and it allows you to do so. Hover over each 1 of them to see what it is you will be doing with facebook, twitter, buzz, email, and if you click the + button you will have a few more choices to select from there as well. Thanks again everyone. Take care:)

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Vintage, Collectibles, Glassware with Artfire and Addoway



Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here. 

I have 97 treasures now listed with my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store. Most of the items are vintage, collectibles, glassware, kitchenware, and home decor. Remember I transferred my other store into this one so I am also offering repurposed, upcycled, and recycled treasures too. I have more items to list, but have been working on getting things into order with the social medias I use, my blogs, my stores, etc. 

I have also been transferring some of my items from my Ecrater store to my LilacsNDreams Addoway Store. This has been a slow process. I hope to spend more time with that tomorrow, Thursday, and have things ready for the weekend. 

At the same time I also listed 3 items with Ebay, and my user name there is LilacsNDreams. I generally don't use that site, but once in a while will put a few things of value there to maybe sell. Helps move inventory a little bit sometimes too. 

Now, while working on my stores, blogs, social medias, and so on. I have also been working on doing my Google Analytics. I like to follow that a bit to see how the stores are doing....being a pro member allows this for you. But, you can also hook your google analytics up to your blogs too. It's free to do this. I found this Google Analytics for the Average Joe from google giving simple instructions of how to do this. Hey, if I can follow the instructions, and understand it, you can too. 

I hope ya'll have enjoyed your visit with LilacsNDreams today. Feel free to leave comments, ask questions, and maybe suggest things to me also. Glad to have you visit, and happy to hear from you too. Please visit with me anytime, and make sure to visit my other places I note too. If you cannot find a link to a store I sell with, my website, and etc. Check the right side bar for these links that are also clickable for you too. Simplicity. . . hoping to make it this way for all of us:)
 

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Candle Magic Collection by DreamStones by Thaddeus Rose





Handmade Soap

Check out the Collection I was included with at Artfire! One of my 1st pieces was included. My Repurposed Candle Holder made from a chandelier light cover. Check out this collection with all the wonderful items included from many great sellers/artisans on Artfire! When you are done visiting, and viewing the collection, stop by my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store to see more treasures listed there too. Check out the Repurposed, Upcycled, Recycled Category for my handmade treasures:) See you there!:)

Happy Easter Everyone!

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE! Wishing ya'll a safe, and enjoyable Holiday weekend. Hope you are able to enjoy it, have a place to go, or some where that you can be. Your internet friends are a great source for the Holiday too!:)

Take care everyone, and I wish you well. See everybody back into the swing of things again on Monday. HAPPY EASTER!:)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Google Shopping Changes, USPS Postal Increases

Hello again everyone, and Welcome back to LilacsNDreams! Hmmm....spring, and I just LOVE the smell of Lilacs. Don't you? Course, right now for the past few days we have had rain, snow, rain & snow, it melts right away, but how depressing for the start of spring! I just keep thinking of lilacs, and smelling that scent in my mind, and it gives me a smile. 

If you have not heard yet, or maybe you have noticed some issues with your items being submitted to Google lately....it is pending, things are acting funny, you are seeing some of your listings, but not all of them, and so on. Google has some changes that will be taking effect by May 3rd. Google Merchant is making some changes which will effect Google Shopping, and how you show there. It will not effect the Normal Google...LOL don't ask me to define normal now:) NO effect to the Normal Google Organic search which is the majority of a shoppers visit with most sites, and anywhere. Also, keep in mind there are still other searches out there that help you with placements, and being seen too. Places such as Bing, Yahoo, different social medias, and the list goes on. As always make sure you focus with your titles, your keywords, backlinks, your anchor text, and that wonderful SEO.

The change that Google is working with is your unique product indentifiers (UPI). They are product codes, or other values associated with an individual product, or listing. They are something like a UPC code, MPN code, and your ISBN codes. For Google Shopping you will be required to show this within your descriptions, or your items will not show with google shopping searches. 

Categories NOT currently requiring the UPI is: Apparel (including asseccories like jewelry) Collectibles, Vintage, Antiques, One-of-a-kind (OOAK) and Custom Made Goods.  IF the UPIs are available by another retailer, then you must also include the UPI as well. There are a few sites where you can look for some of these codes. So, a little more search has been added to items that we sell. What I find difficult is that majority of the treasures I sell are vintage, collectibles, and gently used. Also, the one-of-a-kind treasures I am including with my Artfire Store too. With the gently used treasures that is how I buy them for resale, and most of the time there is No code with them as they came without the box, they are not marked, and etc. So, Google wants us to research things like that further to get the code because if you don't find it, another person can show it, then your product does not show with Google Shopping. Hmmm....we as sellers have to do so much work with research now, and this has added more for us to do. I am not sure how this is suppose to benefit the shoppers yet, but that is the new change being worked on.

Also, if you do not know this already, or have noticed already, USPS Postal Rates have increased again too. Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes have no change in their cost. But, there were increases for Priority Mail, First Class Mail, and I do believe for International Rates there was an increase too. The increases range from .05 to .20. This started April 17th when the changes for that took effect. So, sellers make sure you are watching your postage right now, and making any adjustments. And, for the shoppers please know that not all sellers put that hike in the shipping costs. There are many of us that are true to the shipping charges that we collect, and when you see an increase like this know that we the 'sellers' had nothing to do with this, ok? Thanks so much for understanding!:)

So, now you are aware of a couple of changes that have happened, or will soon be happening. Hope I was able to help a few understand why some things have been off with Google again, and what is happening. Gotta love Google, right?

Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Remember that with my LilacsNDreams Store at Artfire I sell items vintage, collectibles, glassware, dinnerware, tableware, home decor. I have also been adding inventory for repurposed, upcycled, and recycled treasures too. Visit when you can, and see the treasures being offered by LilacsNDreams Artfire Store. Take care till the next time everyone. If you have any questions, please contact me, or know you are always welcome to leave comments here too.
 

Saturday, April 16, 2011

April Pink Artfire Collection





Here is another collection that I was featured in with Artfire. In this particular collection Titled April Pink that was created by Dressholic it is showing one of my handmade repurposed upcycled items. My glass cloche. Visit my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store for other treasures offered, and visit the site to see all the wonderful things offered there. Enjoy your visit, and thank you for visiting with LilacsNDreams today.


Friday, April 15, 2011

Market Places Venues to Sell With and Buy With Too


Hello again everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! So happy to see you again, and if this is your first visit I welcome you as well too!:)

Trying to keep it short for ya'll today...LOL:) Ok, everyone knows the main market place I am using is Artfire. I love it here, and wish I could sell everything in my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store there, but am not able to. That is fine as some sites have to set a limit to what they do, what they want, and what their focus is also. I sell my vintage, collectibles, and one-of-a-kind items with Artfire. But, I also need another place to sell my treasures that do not qualify for Artfire. 

I have been watching, seeing what others are doing, reading feedback to different places, and etc. One site that is growing, is getting really good reviews, has great customer support, AND that others are reporting making sales with is at Addoway. I have a store reserved there, have not really done much with it, but after watching and listening to everything there feel it is time that maybe I start working with it more too. Please, click here to read more about Addoway, and what they have to offer at  
http://www.addoway.com/ref/30ce9c2fa7371bb4ee9c32128a203d8a  The site is still young, just celebrated an anniversary, they are doing great with search engine placements, and really feel it another good place to mention for those looking for a new, or another market place for their own needs. So, check out Addoway when you can.

Again, I want to thank all of you for visiting with LilacsNDreams today, and I would also like to thank all who are new to following my blog too....Thank You!:)

I wish you all well, and the best of luck to everyone with all you do too. Hope to see ya'll again. Take care till the next time. . . . . 
 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Artfire and Addoway


Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog! Glad to see you here, and if it is your first visit to my site I do hope you enjoy your visit!:)

First of all, I wanted to apologize for being a little off with visiting here, and posting for ya'll too. I have gotten caught up with transferring items from my 1 store at Artfire to my other store at Artfire LilacsNDreams Store. Putting them together has been going well. I have spent time with some of the listings, redone a few, rearranged some pictures, and etc. I am almost done with that transfer. I think I have about 4 more items to go. I have tried to spread the items of repurposed, upcycled, and recycled items through out the pages in my store so that it is a little more pleasurable to view the pages. If you wish to see all of these items without looking through the store pages, look to my categories listed on the right side of the page. There you will see a category I did make for Repurposed, Upcycled, and Recycled Treasures. Click on that, and you will see them all showing there too. Hope this helps you.

Now, I just have to work a little more with my website which can be found at LilacsNDreams. I have a few more things to do, but it is visible, and you can visit it. Between my blogs, and my website eventually it would be nice for ya'll to visit those without having to view my stores. And, better yet, purchases can be made directly from those places too. Now, if you see something you would like before I get things done, please ask me. There is no problem with sending you an invoice from paypal for a purchase to be made off store sites too. 

By the way, how has everyone been doing with their sales lately for those who sell? I made a couple this week. Nothing steady to report for sales, but I do get them. I have also emptied my booth at Bonanza too. I have a store at LilacsNDreams Addoway Store, and slowly am adding inventory to that too. There have been many things happening with Bonanza, and due to some of the circumstances, and things that have happened, many have gone to Addoway. They are also reporting making sales with Addoway, and are very happy with the support team there too. So, if you are looking for another place to sell, you might want to try there also. If you are there, please let us know here how you have been doing there, and what you think of Addoway too. 

Ok, time to leave you here again. Taking a break, and back to working on things. Want to finish up some things so they are ready for everyone to see fully this weekend. That is my goal. Don't forget that you can also visit my LilacsNDreams Store Blog which you can see pictures to treasures also being offered. I only show pictures, and links to my stores, and website there. Just a hop, and a skip from here. Thanks again for visiting LilacsNDreams, and please visit with me anytime. Take care, and Best of luck with all you are doing. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Artfire Addoway Vintage Collectibles Glassware Repurposed Upcycled Home Decor

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams Blog. Glad to have you hear. 

How many of you have been selling with Bonanza, are signed up to Bonanza, or maybe are buyers who have dealt with Bonanza? Has really been some interesting reading this past week from many many members with Bonanza. Quite a few of them upset over how things have been done, how things look, why support is not responding to them, some of the paid memberships are very upset with some new changes rolled out to the site, and there are many complaining of not having sales. 

I read last night on Facebook that reports were showing that Bonanza numbers have been dropping from memberships, amount of items being listed, visits to site, and so on. This was a really promising site, and things really did look good with them once. Yes, I was too signed up with them, and made very few sales. I have since moved my vintage, collectibles, glassware, and etc to a store at Artfire where I have also included treasures repurposed, upcycled, and recycled by me. My views have been so much better here, my placements with google search have showed much improvement, and I have learned much from here too. 

Sorry, off topic just a little bit there. What I wanted to mention to many of you is that many of the members from Bonanza have suspended their feeds to google for bonanza, some have closed their booths at Bonanza, and like many others things have been put into another store while running both their Bonanza Booth, and their Addoway stores. Yes, Addoway.com is still a new young site yet with great support from the co-founder, and the support team there. Questions are being answered, any glitches are being tended to right away, suggestions are being considered for some things members would like to see or see more of, and so on. Also, many members have been complimenting on the sales that they have made, are starting to make, etc. Not much effort has had to be put into listings with Addoway as you had to do with Bonanza, and many are praising their placements in searches too. 

Addoway.com sends your listings to google, the find, bing, yahoo, and other places they feel are beneficial to the sellers. Sounds good, doesn't it?

I do have a store with Addoway, and have not really done too much with it...darn me. But, after transferring things into 1 store at Artfire, I am hoping to work with adding my non-vintage collectibles to my Addoway store. 

Visit my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store, and also visit my LilacsNDreams-Store Blog which shows pictures for some of my listings of items for sale with links to the page of where they are selling.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams Blog today, and hope to see you again. Love the company, visits, notes and comments I receive, and don't forget you may also comment here with my blog too. Have a super weekend everyone!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Simplicity with LilacsNDreams Vintage Collectibles Glassware Repurposed Upcycled Recycled


Hello everyone, and Thank You for visiting with LilacsNDreams Blog today. This won't be a long note, but wanted to keep you updated with things just a bit. Long weekend, kids all grown up but still wanting a piece of you, babysitting, and just did not get things done as I had planned on doing. 

Last week I did get about 9 items of repurposed, upcycled, recycled treasures done by Me transferred to my LilacsNDreams Artfire Shop. You can see pictures of the items transferred so far on my LilacsNDreams Store Blog. So far it has been comforting doing this, and knowing that the things I like to do can be housed under one place. I have gotten some really nice comments from some with this transition....Thank You to all for this, and on some of the pieces I have gotten some really nice views within a few days too.

Once everything has been transferred to my Artfire Shop I will go back into it, and work with rearranging the pages a bit to help spread things out a little. Stop by to see my shop, and how it is looking so far. If you find something you like, give me a holler. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again. Take care everyone till the next time.
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