[Bulldog5]

Hi everyone! My name is Mike and am just starting out with this. I have been reading these threads over the past few months and believe I will get some great information from all of you.
In time, I hope I can help too.

I have been working for a company that prints T's for the military. Actually, I still do. But want to try my hand with my own concepts. I've got the actual production stuff down. But marketing on-line is a black hole for me.
Was thinking of doing the Ebay store to begin with. It seems inexpensive and relatively simple to maintain.
Is there a good way, that won't cost a fortune, to market my site other than just having it listed on EBAY?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[monkeylantern]

Welcome Mike!

 

[Rodney]

Is there a good way, that won't cost a fortune, to market my site other than just having it listed on EBAY?

There are lots of ways to market a site other than eBay. Search engines, niche directories, site sponsorships, advertising, etc. Lots of tips in the T-Shirt Marketing section of this forum.

:welcome:

 

[TenaciousTees]

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,316498,00.html
Welcome Bulldog. I find that entrepreneur.com has a lot of useful information. Hopefully the above article helps.

 

[TeeShirtSamurai]

Welcome, Mike!

I have been reading these threads over the past few months...

You are the best kind of new member in my book.

 

[RAHchills]

Is there a good way, that won't cost a fortune, to market my site other than just having it listed on EBAY?

welcome Mike. Myspace seems to be pretty hot these days... and its free.

 

[jasonmgeorge]

welcome Mike. Myspace seems to be pretty hot these days... and its free.

I'm also new to this and I'm trying to find an inexpensive online marketing option. I checked Myspace and it appeared to me that advertising started at 3k. I've never used Myspace before. Are you suggesting creating a Myspace account for my company?

Jason

 

[jdr8271]

thats what he was suggesting...You can make a blog on myspace, that potential customers might want to visit frequently. People clicking through myspace might also be able to find you this way. Its a good way to pick up a few hits a day..

 

[RAHchills]

setting up a page on myspace is free. then its all about putting yourself out in front of your target market and requesting their friendship.

once you have a list of friends, everytime you make an announcement it goes out to all of them. (whether they read it or not is a different story). You can also link to your webpage from your myspace page.

if its free, its for me.

 

[Bulldog5]

I like it. MySpace was recommended before to me. Hmmm. Was also thinking of placing affordable ads in a few high-circulation mags directing people to the site. Don't know. Depends on the cost and if I want to eat shoe leather for a couple months.

 

[Adam]

There are also some very good ways you can run en eBay store and a website simultaneously using their API and / or RSS. This may all go over your head - but it's possible to maintain your website inventory right through eBay itself - as if it were magic. It's really useful if you are selling BIN products.

Then you can market yourself on eBay, build a strong customer base, good word of mouth, establish your brand and your website will market itself at the same time. If you dress up your actions in such a well to build your brand.

So without looking elsewhere you could actually achieve more out of eBay than the average seller does.

If you are looking for other inexpensive ways to market then you are going to want to have good search engine listings.

Then you have paid search. Advertising you pay for on Google (for example).
You could advertise on popular t-shirt websites as well.

People have mentioned myspace. I've done a fair bit of this myself.. it's okay but it does depend on your market and their disposable income. It's a very inexpensive way to reach your target market quick!

 

[Bulldog5]

Thanks Adam,
This is what I had in mind. I am developing the website now and want it to work on Ebay and as an independent "store". My concepts, right now, are all over the place. I think once I identify WHO I want to sell to, I'll attack

Good stuff.

Mike