Final Post

This has been a great class for me to take, I have really loved learning about how to build a business and how to build a website in my free time.  I have found that the business that I built is worth in excess of 3,000 dollars to build, which to me is absolutely ridiculous. I am really happy that I could possibly start to build websites for people in the area. I’ve decided that I am going to build a websites advertising how I can build websites, I have already  built a new website for a Non-Profit organization that I have worked for I have never thought that I would be able to do web design I feel so much more confident now that I have gone through this class. I think that you should always reach for the stars. I think that developing our relationship with those around us using the internet can be an important part of our progression as entrepreneurs. Look for needs that you have around you I was talking to my boss today and helped him realize a new business proposition. I think that creating a company that handled staffing here in Rexburg would be quite successful for anyone to do. If you are constantly able to develop ideas with others around you will be able to come up with better and better ideas. Find a sounding board and use it as much as you possibly can. Find a niche market that you enjoy and start taking advantage of it. 

Week 12

I am closing up my 100 dollar challenge now slowly and coming to a close, I finished my last sale, so we have been able to sell 8 beanies all together which has a total revenue of 160 dollars, I have been really happy with the outcome of this project so far.  I really liked discussing Steve Jobs as well he has been one of my favorite examples of what the business world can develop a person into. I grew up working in the silicon valley so it has very much been a local hero for me. There have been great people that I know that used to do similar work as him, I have friends who they used to raid old parts from Atari and other local video game companies trash cans because they would do quality control near our houses, we would get 3-4 “broken” units and then test them out ourselves, use one as parts, and then develop a working few consoles. We made good money by repairing this “trash” and selling them as used units. Enough to keep ourselves busy throughout the rest of the week at least, until we ran out of money and had to go dumpster driving again.

Week 11

I don't feel as confident about this week as I have with others, part of it is that I am moving back to California in only two weeks and I know that I am wrapping up life here in Rexburg to move to the great home of California, I feel like I learned about from talking to Darin this week about social media and how you can grow your business on Facebook I learned a lot from him even though I do not agree with his website or what he is doing he has found a niche market and he is attacking the market very well, with 12,000 Facebook likes and 11,000 people talking about it those are very impressive numbers. I also learned a lot about cross promotion in talking to him and researching it. I haven’t made as much progress on the 100 dollar challenge either, I feel that I have been building the company well, but the sales just haven’t been coming in as I want, I am only 1 sale away from getting to the goal of 100 dollars I know that I will get it in the next week but I just am not as happy with how my keywords have been going, I am not frustrated to the point of quitting I just have gotten to the point where I am recognizing that this business is so niche that I need to expand into a bigger market, it is just a little too small, new products will come and I will be able to expand more.

Week 10

This week I learned a lot about franchising I spent my free time learning and looking at different franchising opportunities, I think that it was really an eye opening experience for me to learn about different companies that could be opened as a franchise. I think it is interesting that you can open up different companies that are essentially just giving yourself a job, the real trick is to develop companies that will eventually run themselves in a franchise. Looking at some franchise opportunities they only give you the chance of running one franchise. I also remember going out to dinner once where the couple at the next table from me was actually there because the owner of the fast food company had taken him out for being the top preforming manager of his franchises that year. I thought it was sort of interesting as they were not the type of people to attend a finer restaurant but it was obviously an important night for them. I think if I really was in the same situation I would just cover the bill for the couple and let them go alone, it was sort of an awkward mixing of two people who were of obviously different social classes. I have been enjoying the 100 dollar challenge, and my adwords are not going as well as I had hoped this last week, I was unable to sell anything but I am more than half way there so I am still excited!

Week 9

I have had a slower week than expected this week, after having three orders last week I have been unable to sell anything with either of our venues, I am going to push a Facebook Ad campaign this week to see if I can develop a few new ideas or anything else from my customers. It is tough selling to friends though because I do not see that as being a viable long term business plan. I think by developing an ad campaign through a few new avenues it may develop a few more sales, I have been enjoying watching my Google Ad words and I have not paid anything in yet to be honest. I think that the most effective way to go forward is to focus on the products that I have seen which are successful and which are going to be needed in the coming months. Baseball season is coming up soon and it may be helpful to develop a few new products in this line and moving into the LA market with Dodger gear. I think I may want to try a different few products on Etsy and see their demand, like stuffed animals and the like. I just want to slowly find some successful products and then focus on them.

Week 8

This was a great week for me, I was able to make my first two sales! I had a hit through our Etsy site and then another sale trough our physical website! That is about 30 dollars in profit so far I am so excited to be launching my adwords this week and getting everything really going! I think that the first person found us because we were the only Golden State warrior’s beanie sellers on Etsy. It is great that we are developing our new products, we have also sent off a sample coffee mug coozie to my sister in California, it was labeled with her sorority’s Greek letters, her sorority sisters are loving it and planning on placing orders with us for them! Our both of our first orders went out to California, one to southern California and one to northern California. This is great because this shows that we are hitting our target market! I have been really excited by selling our products online, this means that our business model is working, and we are making a profit. The old adage is that now all we need is money and we will be able to sell more, by doing ad words this will allow us to sell more product to our customers and get our name out there!

Week 7

I really enjoyed this week I did a lot of personal study on adwords and how to use them I have learned that I could start consulting in this industry and make massive amounts of money in doing so. I really think that I may be better off starting a adword blog about adwords when I graduate school, understanding the system is something that people will pay massive money for so that they can make money off of their ideas. I have always been a person who has sold to the person who is taking advantage of the new frontier is the real person who profits, if you look at the store owners in the 1840’s in California who made money from all the miners coming in and looking for gold, they were assured profits, whereas the miners were not I think going forward I may use these learning’s to my advantage. I think the 100 dollar challenge is going well, the website is done and I am starting to send out products to my sister to advertise for us, I have come up with a crocheted product that is for coffee cups, and have made one that features my sisters sorority. I am hoping that girls will find it cute enough to purchase for 10-20 dollars a piece, many of them go to starbucks daily, I hope this could be a great breakthrough product!