Selling stuff online the only way to survive

@TCCuk

Yes it will make a difference.
I'm not the web designer in our business, I deal with the sales side of things, but from what I understand Google can't read flash so it's best to stay clear of it if you want the search engines to rate your site.

Having said that Google has trouble reading anything in a shop which is why we always put an html page as a portal.

I have just set up an online shopping site but I'm skint. I can't afford money on SEO right now. Any ideas on DIY SEO?

There's a very useful post here

http://www.mylocalforums.com/search-engine-optimisation-seo-education/846-search-engine-optimization-101-laymen-newbies.html#axzz1mdq4DiW8

It gives some great info on SEO.

@ SCentral

Thanks for that link. I've just read through it and found very useful information I can apply straight away. It's got a link to a website where I can do keyword research. I'm just going to start from there.

Many thanks

i dont think anything can guarantee it but it will definitely help because running an online business is much cheaper

Hi yes I am very interested in this discussion. I was thinking of adding store to my web address but due to our products are made to order this will not be easy to advertise as a store product.

I do believe this is the way forward to build your business even though my father is old school in his ways and believes one to one approach is key way to sales.

I agree both is effective but if you don't do both I feel still you have a chance of losing out on potential sales.

@ Joinerwoodturner

Your products are made to order, hmmmm. I think you can take pictures of your finished products and display them on your site. I mean the ones you have done in the past. That gives potential clients an idea of what you do if that makes sense???

Here are some magic words:

- Cpanel;
- Fantastico;
- Wordpress CMS with a suitable theme and shopping cart plugin (free);
- Forum, directory, classified ad postings but don't bother with low PageRank sites and/or with few posts and/or with spam in them;
- Unique, useful, controversial content;
- Backlinks;
- Backlinks;
- Backlinks.