How much do you make from your personal website? (not esty ebay or anthing like that)

[PrettyGirlBows]

I may be out of line here but it is annonymous, right??? I am really thinking of getting my own website. Actually it has become an obbession lately. I have been doing LOTS of googling! I am a SAHM and when I do go back to work, I need it to be flexible b/c of my dh's job. He works a lot and is on call 24/7. (He works for our Electric Co) You can't get more flexible than having an online store, right?? I would love to be able to do this and make 'real' money. For those who have an actuall online store, not through etsy, ebay or anything like that: I have an etsy shop right now
How much do you make a year? (including what you spend on supplies and stuff, so it's a little more accurate.
So sorry if I offended anyone.

[Bling4Bella]

Same here I keep wondering if it's worth it all. But was curious as well too!

[ghbutterflies]

I have a web site. I have had it for 5 years. With that said, I won't divulge my annual gross, but what I will say is that you will make more by word of mouth and on forums directing to etsy or ebay. With this economy sales are really down. REALLY! To make the site work, you have to know how to manipulate the search engines to allow the warm crawlers to find you. It isn't all about just putting the web site up. There is allot to it. You have to have traffic to make sales and unless you are using freewebs, it does cost to pay the web host and the domain host. Plus, every day, you need to add meta tags so you will be found. From what I hear, people actually so better using forums ( that allow it) and blogs. Blogs being the best.
Only my opinion! ;-)

[smileytm]

I want a website for my local customers. Everyone is always wanting to buy from me. I have a blog, but I want a website.
Teresa

[creativekiddos]

Most people make under $10 in sales and then you have to factor in your cost for supplies and how your income at the end of the year will reduce your tax return or you may even end up owing the government instead of getting a $1,500+ refund. If you make less than $5k some people just claim it as Hobby income.

[PrettyGirlBows]

Originally Posted by creativekiddos

Most people make under $10 in sales and then you have to factor in your cost for supplies and how your income at the end of the year will reduce your tax return or you may even end up owing the government instead of getting a $1,500+ refund. If you make less than $5k some people just claim it as Hobby income.

What does hobby income mean? I have been selling Gold Canyon Candles for years(home party thing). I don't think I make more than $5,000, but I don't think my tax guy does it as a 'hobby'.
Do you think that craft shows, local orders and etsy sites make a big difference, as far as how much you can make?

[PrettyGirlBows]

Originally Posted by ghbutterflies

To make the site work, you have to know how to manipulate the search engines to allow the warm crawlers to find you. It isn't all about just putting the web site up. There is allot to it. You have to have traffic to make sales and unless you are using freewebs, it does cost to pay the web host and the domain host. Plus, every day, you need to add meta tags so you will be found. From what I hear, people actually so better using forums ( that allow it) and blogs. Blogs being the best.
Only my opinion! ;-)

What are warm crawlers and what is manipulating the search engine mean?

What are meta tags?
Sorry if I sound dumb, but this is all new to me.

[Sydsmomma]

I have not sold anything from mine. I just redid it and I havent put any products for sale yet.

[princess_stinkypants_mom]

Regardless of how you sell your bows, just remember to track everything....mileage for when you go to a store to buy supplies, computer ink since you're using that to print labels, etc...just those little things that probably add up in a year that you might not think about...or at least I didn't last year My taxes were so much easier this year since I knew what to keep track of.

I've got my website and I do a ton of craft shows. I will tell you I make much more at craft shows but my website is still worth it. However, in this "bow business" you don't just start making money overnight. Like any business it takes LOTS of time and LOTS of money to make money. I work 7 days a week and the market is flooded with stay at home moms wanting to make bows. It's a scary thing. Go to google and type in "hair bows". It comes up with OVER a million hits. Now you have to compete with that and make your website in the top 10 of those million if you want to be one of the people who truly make a living off their hair bow website. I continue to do craft shows because I don't make enough off my website to be able not to do craft shows. I started my site in June of 2006. It is a full time job to update metatags, watch crawlers, control ranking........It's hard and frustrating and after 2.5 years I'm still not in the ranking I want and need to be in. If a website is really something you want to do you need to do research and find out about google ranking and what it entails. It will be a waste of your time and money if you don't know these things before starting a site. Good luck