Hi Christen,
  
  I've created a website in hopes of marketing my handmade scrolls and I would like
your input on using drop shipping.  I've read through your site for idea's on
marketing.  I like traffic swarm so far.  Anyway, the article you have on drop
shipping made me curious if that could possibly be a way of finding resellers.
Ultimately, the scrolls sell excellent in person, but I'm barely making it because
I can't get out enough (children) to sell what I need.  But so far, I've yet to
get enough traffic to get even one conversion online.  Of course it's not the same
as seeing them in person.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  It's not
a professional site I know.  So be brutally honest.  Also, if you like the
scrolls, I'd be happy to send you one of your choice, free of charge, for your
time. 
  The url is www.handmadeprayergifts.com
  
  Thank you,
  
  Tracy
  
  P.S.  I've also considered consignment deals of which I just closed one, but there
are thousands upon thousands of florists, gift shops, etc., that I could never
reach.  I'd love to know how I could find people willing to help me make deals for
a residual precentage of the orders as well as maybe finding those interested in
drop shipping. 

Dear Tracy,
  
First of all- Are you serious in saying your site is not professional?  It
looks absolutely perfect!!!  Did you design it yourself?  It's fabulous!
The theme and colors are a perfect match to your product.

As far as drop shipping:  When I finally get my drop shipper list together
I will add you to it if you like.  In the meantime, maybe check out the
dropship directories that are online, the most popular ones, and see what
you can do about getting added to them.  When it comes to drop shipping,
many people are using the same tired companies and you see the same items
over and over on ebay as a result.  I think people will be happy to have a
new product that everyone else is not selling.  Have you tried selling on
ebay yourself?  That might be a good way to get your products seen.  When
someone buys from you, you can send them a message directing them to your
site.  This is slow marketing but it might pay off.

Perhaps you can join an affiliate program through click bank, commission
junction, sharasale, or linkshare.  Then, people sign up to advertise your
program online (usually via their websites) for a percentage of the
profits.


In the meantime, I have found some great resources for marketing.  Check
the resources page of my site- perhaps a brochure in a "moms pack" could
really help, especially this close to Christmas.  Also, you might want to
download the free e-books- Dotcomology, Truth About Traffic, and Starting
Your Own Internet Business.  They are free and I have been learning a lot
from them.  You can find these free resources at
http://www.untroddenroad.com/resources.html and
http://www.shop.untroddenroad.com/homebiztools.html

As far as your website.  Have you submitted it to search engines yet?
If not, submit it to Google, Yahoo, and MSN at least.  Consider adding a
link page to your site and join a free link exchange program like
linkmarket.net.  Try to only do exchanges with sites somewhat relevant to
yours. The more sites that point to your site, the higher you move up in
the rankings on search engines.  Also, it's time consuming and another
slow process but post on message boards.  It'll be a link to your site on
yet another site and it may also generate traffic to your site and create
a buzz.  Perhaps have a contest for a free scroll.  Use the one you were
offering to me.  I want to see you succeed!!

Write articles and submit them to various websites (you can submit the same article to many sites).  We accept articles here, Ezine Articles, Article City, The All I Need,
Article Wise, and Wise Orb.  There are many others.  Write about anything
at all.  In the author box include a bio of yourself and a link to your
site.  Talk up your product a bit in the bio to get readers interested.
This puts a link to your site on more sites (and your artcile will be open
for others to repost it on their sites as long as they include your author
box, links, and any other information you put on there).  So, now your
page will move up the rankings again.  A high ranking in the search
engines is really the key to everything (as long as you have a good
product- which you do!).  Also, when people are interested in your
articles, they get interested in everything about you.  They will be
curious to see your site.  Since they will get a sense of knowing you
through your artcile they will be more apt to buy from you.

You can also write a press release for your company and submit it free online! PR Leap is a good place to do this.  There are many other sites as well.  Here is a free resource to teach you how Press Release Profits Course 

Remember who your target audience is.  You may want to advertise in local Church bulletins.

I am still thinking and will probably e-mail you back again.  You have my
gears turning!!

I am definitely NOT a marketing guru, but I am doing my best to learn!

Best of Luck,

~Christen

To the readers, feel free to post a comment with more advice for Tracy and take a look at her website at http://www.handmadeprayergifts.com!