Discuss the fun task of marketing a t-shirt shop. Where to advertise, local marketing tips, word of mouth, press releases, search engine marketing, keyword advertising, magazines, etc.
Hey. Some of you may know of the member "funkymunky", in fact he is my father.
Well to start this topic, I try to constantly nag him about the importance of marketing and advertising to run a successful business. I may not be old and wise (15 years old) but I do understand the reality of businesses and the fact marketing is needed on a mediocre scale to get your feet off the ground online.
Having run a few sites and forums myself I've now realised this is the biggest concept of all online stores, reaching your target market.
My father claims "old dogs can't learn new tricks" but I've heard this so many times its now unbelievable. I've also heard alot of stores run by elder people getting involved in the online world, so they can do it!
Am I right in suggesting to my father that to begin with, advertising and asking people to review your site on other forums is a good way to bring in a substantial amount of traffic? Also MySpace, would it not be worth at least attempting to create a MySpace account and getting stuck into that for advertising? Blogging etc?
I'm sure he'll respond shortly, but in the meantime I'm looking forward to your opinions I suppose you could consider him as a newbie eh !
Hi Dharok, welcome to the forums as well. As I read your post, I am wondering why you don't show him if the proof is in the pudding? Why not set this up for your Dad as an experiment and see if it works to increase his sales? If it does, see if you can hand it over to him at some point. I'm not sure if the saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" doesn't mean more something like "You can't teach an old dog how to set up Myspace pages and blogs."' hahahaha.
Anyway, if you were my son, I'd ask you to just do this for me as you would probably be better at it and faster at it than I would. You are still only 15, so I assume you live at home and this could be considered one way you could give back for that lovely room and board you are provided. Or, if you are really sauvy, get your Dad to hire you for commission. Nothing wrong with also earning for your efforts. If it brings in sales that can be tallied, work it out with your dad that you get a percentage as compensation for your time. It's money he wouldn't have made without you. All of this is between you and your Dad of course, but since you already have sites and blogs, why not set him up and test out your theories, you have absolutely nothing to lose.
I commend you for trying to help your Dad and be supportive of his business ventures. You are a good son. Way to go!
Hi, Dharok - First, tell your Dad that he is a very lucky father to have a son like you (he must of done something right!), and yes, you are correct in all you say.
Incidentally, tell him that old dogs can learn new tricks just as easily as young pups - if he doesn't believe that, tell him to watch The Dog Whisperer on T.V.
Let us know when you've clearned your first $1,000,000!
Girlzndollz, I have asked him to do this for me, to pay for his room & board, if only it was that cheap This guy has cost me more in Domain names, Hosting and computer upgrades than I care to think about But you are right he is a great lad, and I am proud of him, just not right now
TripleT, yes I am lucky. I know an old dog can learn new tricks, it's just this old dog needs to be shown how I don't think it will be long before he is letting you know about his first $1,000,000.
So Dharok and the rest of you, the website is up and running, I have been exposed as a complete noob, how do I get hits & sales?
Thanks again son I'm now off to try swimming with my arms and legs tied together
Phil
__________________
I don't suffer with insanity...I love every minute of it!
So Dharok and the rest of you, the website is up and running, I have been exposed as a complete noob, how do I get hits & sales?
There is an ongoing thread regarding using youtube, myspace, facebook and posters are listing other sites for exposure. Blogging is being discussed (wordpress was recommended in a thread called blog software). Bobbie (sunnydaze) just recommended a forum called crea8asite Cre8asite Search Engine Optimization, Usability and Web Design Forums And Resources, I wonder if your son could go through there for useful stuff, seems the kids can cut right through these things so quickly.
Over the last two days I have burned my eyes out reading about blogging, myspace, advertising, and site hits. It seems this stuff holds enough importance in today's business. Even it is only relevant in a smallish way now, I do believe the importance will grow with time, so I want to go in on it now, so I am not behind the curve worse later.
Again, best wishes, be more proud than embarrassed.
Last edited by Girlzndollz; January 26th, 2008 at 12:17 PM.
Thanks for the quick replies everyone You guys inspired me to create a MySpace for this, finding it very easy at the moment just creating a layout. Does anyone have a T-Shirt related MySpace I can see? I did a google search and dug out T-Shirt Hell but it appears they've got alot more to spend on a MySpace layout than I do!
Overall I think you are very right Girlzndollz, web business are becoming more and more reliable on these forms of advertising than any other. The web is only going to expand further so getting your teeth stuck into it all now is a wise choice, believe you me 2 years ago I reckon it was so much easier as the web has expanded so much since then.
Anyhow, I'll still be reading up on ways of advertising and bringing our target market into the website, and hopefully telling their friends about it etc. Soon I'll look into the MySpace peripherals though as I'm also new to this, and would obviously need to find some ways that business operate using what MySpace has to offer.
Once again, thanks for all the support! Sounds like by some of the comments that by the time I can drive, I'll be driving a Ferrari!! Haha I wish.
I have asked him to do this for me, to pay for his room & board...
Phil
Father and Son working on the same project. This promotes togetherness and long-term wonderful memories. Dad, your son will be singing your praises for countless generations.
Dharok, it's kids like you that do well. You're young, but you've got your head out of the clouds and your feet on the ground. You'll be way ahead of the pack when they finally start years from now what you are already doing. Best wishes for great returns on your effort.
It's good to be enthusiastic and get stuck into the business world, why not. After all money makes the world go round and business makes money. I'm already looking for new business ideas day after day, school does get in the way though! I think without school, I'd be doing well but that's the English government for you they want you to go to school, leave with some nonsense you'll never need, then work for someone who has money coming out of their ears.
jboitcet, I get lured into these things especially when the internet is a powerful business tool and I know relatively good amounts about it. I just get my teeth stuck into things and away I go, how else are you going to get anywhere with your head stuck in the clouds, thanks Girlzndollz for that phrase!
Father and Son working on the same project. This promotes togetherness and long-term wonderful memories. Dad, your son will be singing your praises for countless generations.
And me, I will go to the grave a proud man. Leaving a Legend behind paying for his mothers shopping trips
Phil
__________________
I don't suffer with insanity...I love every minute of it!
looks preatty good. i would add alittle more info to make it more personal. the whole point of a myspace is to make it seem like people are buying from a person not a website.
Looks good, and coordinates with your site, nice touch. I am wondering why there are links to other t shirt sites on your page? Is there a way to get rid of that? One said funny shirts under $15, I wouldn't want that on my page. How did it get there and how do you get rid of it? I'd like to know in case it happens to me when I open a myspace page, thanks!
"Old Dogs, New Tricks." 
!
I don't think it will be long before he is letting you know about his first $1,000,000.
Can I embarrass myself any further here?
