killd0ll
Forums Member
Joined: 3 Jul 2010
Posts: 2
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#1 · Posted: 3 Jul 2010 21:50
In apologize if this isn't posted in the correct spot..
I've been looking into buying a webstore for a while, like this one[url=http://www.theaspenshops.com/Content/WhoWeAre.aspx][/url] caught my eye. From what I understand, you pay the monthly fee and they give you a URL for a shop with products you choose. And you can purchase a marketing plan for an added fee. But what I don't understand is if there are thousands of other people doing the same thing, how does anybody get their site noticed? Is it basically just trying to get your link all over the internet above anybody else's? Or can you market it locally? I'm sorry I just don't understand the entire concept of sites like that and would love to hear from someone with experience.
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gowriter
Forums Member
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 162
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#2 · Posted: 5 Jul 2010 18:16 · Edited by: gowriter
This is an interesting site. I'd really, really, really think hard before joining.
Here's why:
I'm a little skeptical because they're making you pay $19.95 a month. Affiliate programs are free to join.
Then I thought it was a Multi Level Marketing Program (MLM) because MLMs require you to pay a fee, but unless I missed it, I didn't see anything on the site talking about making money off referrals you invite into the program.
So I'm thinking it's probably a dropshipping site. This site is s little different because the shippers will handle the customer service themselves which is unusual.
In most dropshipping businesses, YOU are the merchant. YOU handle the customer service even though they do the shipping.
You buy into the retail program of this site, so your $19.95 pays their cost of shipping.
But you still need to make a profit.
In drop shipping, you are allowed to mark up the price of each item. You're paying $20 a month to cover the shipping cost, so you've got to make up that money somehow somewhere else.
If the site doesn't allow you to mark up the price, then I'm beginning to wonder what kind of marketing methods they've got here.
The site is probably legit, but I don't like the set up.
It sounds like one of those co-op deals where new members pitch in money to have the company's professional marketers market for you. The cost is shared amongst the members. I've done one of those before for some travel membership club, and they are not worth the money, in my opinion.
The company knows that you don't have marketing experience so they get you to buy into the program, then they ask, "You want us to market for you?"
You think, "Yeah. That's a good idea." And you end up paying the extra money for them to market for you.
So basically what you've done is pay a company YOUR money to market their products when they should be doing that with their OWN money.
And any extra traffic you bring them on your own via email, Facebook or whatever, hey, they get that for free from you.
Now, imagine the hundreds if not thousands of people they get to buy off on this. Instead of the company paying their marketers, you're paying their marketers...as long as you get a pitter pat of 40% in return in sales.
That's nice, but you're paying for the convenience of them doing this for you, and you're making them rich with the commissions you bring in (rather the commissions they bring in if the do the marketing) in addition to the membership fee you pay to them month after month.
So you're off-setting their costs, not your own. If you're cool with this, don't have the time to do any marketing, then, hey, have fun; knock yourself out. It's like hiring your own "back office" marketer to do the work for you.
But if you're not...
You're better off taking that $19.95 and investing in an internet marketing membership program that teaches YOU how to make money online by yourself.
Now, if it was an affiliate program...then that's different. All affiliate programs are FREE to join. You should never have to pay a fee. Even though you cough up your own expense or time to do the promoting. In return, you get commissions for YOUR efforts.
I wouldn't give away my money to a company that's using my money to to promote their own product.
Even if you don't buy their marketing program, you're still paying a fee to THEM to make money with your own efforts.
I don't think so.
I'd choose another business model.
But that's entirely up to you.
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jbpatlanta
Forums Member
Joined: 4 Jul 2010
Posts: 10
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#5 · Posted: 6 Jul 2010 10:22
I agree, don't waste your money buying a web store. Especially one that charges you many and is identical to many others.
Making money online is not hard.
Find a market (weight loss, make money, dog training, cooking,etc)
Find a product. This can be one you make or an affiliate.
Build a website.
Drive traffic to it. (This can be hard to do)
Convince your visitors to buy from you. (this is easier if you have your own product that is UNIQUE)
Take your checks to the bank.
It really is that simple. But it is not going to make you rich overnight. It will take a lot of hard work.
Good luck
JBP
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