Wow. So my site has been active since Saturday, and there have been near to 1000 unique sessions. That means a reasonably large number of people are checking out the site. :D Woot!
I'm certain that if I'd put up credit card facilities there would be more actual sales - but I'm simply not financially set up to do it yet. Credit cards are ludicrously expensive - and what many people don't realise is that companies that accept credit cards are gambling on large numbers of sales to cover the sizeable profit loss. It costs the average retailer 5-6% of their profit margin for each sale! When you're profit margins are already pretty low, that's a sizeable amount to lose out on.
And that isn't even counting the monthly account fees or the set-up fee. Then there is the security certificate fee - which also takes a cut of each credit card sale.
Yet another thing I've noticed is the number of web design experts out there who can't agree on anything. I have receieved a number of critiques of my website from these guys often contradicting each other. Some of the comments have actually helped me solidify what I want from the site and what I don't. Oddly the best suggestions came from average people who simply surf the net alot. Most of the useless to unhelpful comments came from guys trying to get me to hire them to do the site.
What these people don't seem to click on to is that my current developer/coder is hosting and designing the site for free in his spare time out of the goodness of his heart! So until one of those "experts" is willing to provide better for free, they can just shut the hell up, really.
Right now I need positive feedback - like the people who said that they would like to see commentary options on products. Or that they would like to have non-java options.
(Something that infuriates me is how some people think they can berate me for wanting a Java menu. Many shopping sites use it without problems. I have no issue with being asked for non-java. But saying to me that it is bad or that my developer is obviously a first-time webdesigner (especially when he not only does it for a career, but is paid very well for it) is plain insulting. Remember what they say about the word assume...)
So needless to say, I'm both excited and upset at the same time. Yes, the site isn't perfect. But given that it is a volunteer job that has to be done outside of working hours, I think it is pretty fricken awesome. :)
I still worry that I'm not going to get enough sales - I only have one order at the moment. Considering the sizeable order that will be coming in, and I was banking on people actually buying stock, it is a bit worrying. But it is early days yet, and there is still a good chance that things will get sorted out.
Now that my printer guy is back in action, I'm hoping that the PDF printing service will help generate enough capital to help reach that target $3000 in sales for the month. I'm realising it would have made my life a lot easier if I HAD bought an accounting program when I started up - but things aren't so bad that I can't get onto that once the business is underway.
In other news, I'm still thinking about relationships. It has been a bit difficult recently, I keep worrying that I'm too intense. I also worry that some of this is bleeding over into my friendships. I sometimes think I freak people out with my affection.
Silly, I know, but it does concern me. I don't want to have friends feeling uncomfortable around me. Yeah, I think a lot about this kind of crazy stuff.
See, that is part of the reason I'd like to go to the gym - it's a chance to socialise with people. I keep remembering how I met this guy Rob up at the gym in Auckland. We really we hitting it off - then I ended up deciding to move down here.
Of course nothing had convinced me that Rob was interested in anything other than friendship - hence he wasn't really reason enough to keep me up in Auckland.
Wow- this has turned into quite a long post. :D
So here is the big question of the day. Is there anyone that Conan is interested in down here?
Hmmmmm. In all honesty, there are some people that have a lot of the traits I find attractive. But no. Due to the lack of eligible and available prospects - there isn't really anyone out there at the moment. Not in my immediate social circles.
Shame really.
Anyway - hope you all have a good day! :D I'm determined to make the best of mine. ;)
Love and Huggles
Conan
Currently Reading: The Reality Dysfunction
Currently Playing: Exalted: The Seventh Legion
Mood: Feeling pretty good, and optimistic
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