Is it really worth?

[Solnishko]

Hello ladies!
I am very happy that I found this forum I am a very "crafty" person. And I just love to make hair accessories. My daughter has a lot of them. I sold some bows and clips for my friends and friends' friends... And everybody keeps telling me that I have to make my own website. I made a research and it looks that to open a store (mean, buy a domain name and hosting) will cost me about $80-100 per year + time. I see many of you have websites. Do you have customers? How do you get them? I checked the adwords by google. I was looking for "hair bows" and "hair clips"- I got about 10 pages of advertisers for each search. I posted my ad on Craigslist for 3-4 months. I made a photo album with descriptions and price for every picture of the clip/bow and referred to there from Craigslist ad. I had people visiting that album but nobody bought anything... And I keep telling people about my "hobby" but after Christmas time I didn't sell anything. If I decide to open an on-line store I would do my own, not etsy. I just don't know if should do it. Any advice?

[imadoll]

you know what ive been thinking the same thing!?..
many people have websites but do they sell?..



Anyone?..

[jenniferg1002]

There are cheaper ways to do the website, i'm using free hosting right now. We were using myspace and it's getting too hectic, so yeah i think it's totally worth it!

[Amber427]

I use etsy. I have a budget of about $15.00 a month that I spend on my etsy site- and so far I have stayed under that price. I made about $50.00 in the past 2-3 days.. so it def. pays off. As I get bigger- I will raise my budget.

[rainbows]

I also am in the same boat. I make them for my dd and friends, but can image putting more time and money into a online store or boutique becuase there are so many out there. To make any real money on them you have to keep coming up with some thing orignal that no one else has out there.

[ldelzer]

It's slow and you have to stick with it! Honestly, repeat customers are going to keep you going. So...you have to stick with it long enough to build a customer base.

I'd try myspace and see where it goes. I had a photographer take pics of my bows and she told me the same thing- myspace keeps her hopping! So maybe try it? (I should take my own advice!)

[ghbutterflies]

I have a web site. I have had my site since 1999. No sales from there in over 6 months. I have google adwords, google search and google checkout. That is very slow. I get paid the most from commisions. Selling ads for other vendors on it-not my stuff.
I sell on etsy. I haven't sold anything there in 1 week(as of today). I HOPE that picks up too!
I sell on ebay-BUT not relisting there due to fees. However, I did sell on there, especially when I did auctions. BUT the fees would take all th profit!
I sell at craft fairs and yard sales. That is where I sell the most. But honestly, even that is VERY slow now.
I wish you all the luck!!! I am sure you are much more talented than I am!