Do you ever want to unplug from the 21st Century and send messages by carrier pigeon? Do you ever have one of those days where you just want to give up and live in a nice, comfortable, media-free bunker?
Friday, 5:15 pm. I receive an unsolicited email about a business opportunity. Over 100 other people received the very same message. I know this because the sender neglected to create a proper email list, so I can see the address of every recipient.
Do I need to explain why I don’t enjoy having my email address broadcast that way? Do I need to tell you, dear reader, the hazards of exposing your mailing list to dozens of people in one fell swoop?
(Note: if you don’t know already, there is legislation governing direct marketing. There are also best practices, and national marketing associations where you can learn how to do it, online and offline, legally and properly.)
Things just get better from there.
I got an email in response to my call for your burning questions: how do you get the right people (curators, dealers, buyers) to find you on the web?
That’s the big one. How to find them, get their attention, and make them love you, plus conduct this apparent feat of magic without ever looking them in the eye.
Piece of cake. Throw a few pictures on Flickr, sign up for an Etsy shop, sit back and wait for the cash to roll in and the lovesick groupies to shower you with fan mail.
If you’re reading this, you already know that doesn’t cut it. When you set out to establish an online audience, you take the same basic steps as you would to build an audience offline. It requires time, energy, and smart decisions.
Do you have online digs with your own domain name?
If you’re starting a business, it’s time. If you’re already in business, it’s way past time. Say goodbye to the Blogger account and stake your claim.
Domain registration and hosting plans can be had for very little money (see if you can beat the price at Network Solutions). When you have your own domain name, you show the world you’re an owner, not a renter. You show the world you’re here to stay.
If it comes down to choosing between the electric bill and a domain name, obviously you’ll hold off on the domain. Otherwise, get the vanity license plate, already.
Then put your website to work.
