Do you really need a website ?

Yes - if you do off-island wholesale business
Yes - if you are planning to go wholesale, are planning to sell your business or plan to do trade shows
Yes - if you already have steady mail-order business
Maybe - if you do off-island craft shows or exhibits
Probably not - if you only sell at the market
Probably not – if you’re just doing it because your friends are telling you that you should

Will a website make money for you ?

Perhaps – if you spend a lot of money developing an e-commerce site that’s backed up by constant aggressive promotion both on-line and off-line
Perhaps – if you have a very successful product and an established off-island clientele
Perhaps – if you get the right person to develop and market the site
No – not if you put up a web site and expect folks will visit and buy based on what you’ve heard in the media about e-commerce. There are no guarantees for success.

To be or not to be. . . online?

Vendor guidelines for putting your business online.

If you're already in business at the market, you know how it feels to be inundated with people asking whether or not you’ve got a web site. Expect this from customers, well-meaning friends and, of course, web developers. Whether local or from off-island, most new developers will be hungry for business. The internet is a very competitive playing field. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart.

Since you asked . . .
saltspringmarket.com is often asked by vendors who want to know “How do I get a web site?” and “What does it cost?” The question should be “Do I really need a web site?” The simple guide at left should help answer this question.

Don’t have one? Don’t need one? You’re still on the web!
Remember, if you’re listed on saltspringmarket.com folks can find you. Saltspringmarket.com exists for the sole purpose of promoting the market on line and it does this very well. The site comes up tops in all major search engines. It receives more visitors weekly, making it the #1 tourism website for Salt Spring Island. Vendors with their own sites are linked for free and those who do not have a site are listed for free. Every vendor who wants has a listing showing his/her name, business name and contact information so market visitors can find you again on line. Free.

No selling, just telling.
saltspringmarket.com is not interested in selling your products on line. The site operates as a valuable information resource for tourists coming to the island. Over 80 pages in size, it tells about our market, artisans, food producers, music, wildlife and much more. If you haven’t visited the site lately, please do check it out.

Now what?
When someone offers to sell you a web presence of any kind, ask to see an on-line portfolio. (If they don’t have one, don’t expect to pay much or get much in return.) Send an email to their existing clients asking for references. Shop for your web presence provider the way you’d shop for a home builder, mechanic or a health care provider. Talk to people. Ask the same questions over and over. Take your time. Breathe. Enjoy what this island has to offer before rushing your business headlong into cyberspace.

To be or not to be. . . online? Vendor guidelines for putting your business online.

To be or not to be. . . online?

Vendor guidelines for putting your business online.