What steps should I take to start an online mail-order cookie business?
By Zeke Camusio Edited by Jason Fell
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
I have started a test version of a specialty cookie business by selling to friends and family. I would like to take it to the next level, but I need some advice on promoting my new e-biz.
There are a few things that you can do to promote your cookie business online. The first step would be to put together a killer website (easy to navigate, with great graphics and a clear marketing message). Don't forget to include vital information that people might want to know before placing an order (nutritional values, shipping policies, prices, etc.)
Use testimonials on your site; they are a great way to show your visitors that your customers love your cookies.
Once the website is built, it's time to drive qualified traffic to it. You can use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay per Click (PPC) so people searching for "buy cookies online" can find your site. You can also list your products on Amazon, eBay, Shopping.com, PriceGrabber.com and other comparison shopping engines.
Try as many things as you can and track all of them. Then sit down and figure out what worked for you and what didn't. Do more of what worked and drop what did not.
Best of luck and let me know how it goes!
