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Access eCommerce for Native American Artisans

This workshop aims to guide Native American artisans on leveraging the internet for their businesses. Participants will explore successful online strategies used by similar businesses, learn how to bring their products online, and access valuable resources to enhance their visibility and profitability. E-commerce is not just about selling; it's also about optimizing business practices and accessing global markets. Through site critiques and online resource exploration, artisans will leave with actionable insights to strengthen their online presence.

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Access eCommerce for Native American Artisans

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  1. Access eCommercefor Native American Artisans

  2. Objectives The Internet is a tool that small businesses can use to build an existing business, reach distant markets, and offer innovative products. During this hands-on workshop you will: • explore what businesses similar to yours are doing online • learn some ways to bring your business online • discover online resources your business can use.

  3. What is Electronic Commerce? E-commerce is more than selling online. It is: • Using online resources and tools to do business better • Making money and saving money online

  4. Activity: Critique Sites www.chipotle.com www.cheesylights.com www.drango.com

  5. Websites Should Be… • Informative • Fast • Easy to navigate • Tidy • Accessible • Credible

  6. www.angeliquesnativeart.com

  7. Website Credibility • The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 • Read the “About Us” • Tribal affiliation identified? • Does the seller tell you about how the item was acquired or created? • Are sacred objects, ways, knowledge, or other forms of Native spirituality being offered for sale? • Does anything make you feel uncomfortable? Source: www.u.arizona.edu/~ecubbins/webcrit.html

  8. Activity: Evaluate artisan websites • www.SouthwestIndian.com • www.WesstArtisans.com • www.NativeCraftsOnline.com • http://PuebloDirect.com • www.HopiMarket.com • www.AllNative.com • www.NativeMall.com • http://Native-Craft.com • www.GuthrieStudios.com

  9. Searching for Information • Use a directory • Example: Yahoo or Google Directory • Use a search engine • Use a site that indexes websites on specific topics

  10. Top 5 Search Engines: • Google • Yahoo! Search • MSN Search • AOL Search • Ask Jeeves Source: Nielsen//NetRatings January 2004

  11. Searching With • Be specific turquoise and coral bracelet = 61,700 results • put phrases in quotes "turquoise and coral bracelet“ = 381 results • Use the NOT symbol - "turquoise and coral bracelet“ –silver = 50 results • Combine symbols www.google.com

  12. Research Doing Business Online • Search for: • New suppliers • Product ideas • Marketing ideas • Better prices

  13. Searching for Products for Sale www.froogle.com

  14. Research Your Competition • Is your competition across the world or next door? • Search engines are the key to finding your online competition • What can you do better, or different?

  15. How to Find Your Competition • Make a list of your competitors. • Use a search engine to expand the list. • Search using keywords that describe your products or services.

  16. Evaluate Your Competition • Visit their websites. • What are they trying to do online? • What do you like or dislike? • What can your company do better? • Find out how popular these sites are • Google using: link:www.company.com

  17. Activity Search for your competition or suppliers.

  18. Tips for Shopping Online • Trust your instincts • Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions • Double check pricing • Read the privacy policy • Review return and shipping policies • Check for secure Internet connections • Pay with a credit card Source: American Bar Association www.safeshopping.org

  19. How do you know a website is secure? • Closed lock symbol • The web address begins with https:// instead of http://

  20. Options for Doing Business Online • Do you really need a website? Consider: • Auction Websites • Malls or Cooperatives • Develop your own website • Virtual stores • Template-based storefronts • Hire a developer • Do it yourself • Combine several options

  21. Auction Websites

  22. Malls or Coops http://store.yahoo.net/navajoco-op

  23. Malls or Coops www.indigenous-art.com/26.html

  24. Choose Locations Carefully

  25. Activity: Explore Auctions, Malls Auctions: • www.ebay.com Malls: • www.geezer.com • www.boundlessgallery.com

  26. Virtual Storefront http://shop.store.yahoo.com/bctc

  27. Website Templates Templates and hosting: • www.NetSol.com (Click on Create a Website) • Test Drive BigStep at: http://go.bigstep.com/tour/tour.htm • Free for Nonprofit organizations: www.orgsites.com Template kits only (no hosting): • http://desktoppublishing.com/template/web/sitekits.html

  28. Activity: See How to Build a Store www.indianvillage.com

  29. www.mycompany.com Domain names • What is a domain name? • Why do you need one? • What makes a good domain name? .com .org .net .biz .info • How much does it cost? • How do you find a domain name? • www.betterwhois.com • www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html

  30. Developing Your Own Site • Hire a web designer • Learn HTML • Create graphics • Find a web host • Determine budget • Check site for errors

  31. Consider Hiring a Website Developer Give your business a professional appearance. To find a developer: • Interview customers • Evaluate web sites • Compare services • Ask about site maintenance services

  32. Learn HTML: Web Authoring Tools • Free HTML Tutorials • www.w3schools.com/html • Authoring Software (e.g: Dreamweaver, FrontPage, GoLive, HomeSite)

  33. Tools to Create Graphics Create a banner, logo or button with free or fee online graphics generators • 3DTextMaker.com • CoolText.com • QuickBanner.com

  34. Find a Web Host • Local internet service providers • Domain name providers • Ask others for recommendations • www.webhostlist.com • www.hostsearch.com

  35. Website Costs Setup Costs • Web page design $150-$450 / page • Web host setup fee $0 - $50+ Ongoing Costs • Web hosting fees $0 – 100+ / month • Domain name up to $35/year • Web page content updating up to $30/hour

  36. eCommerce Transactions • Merchant accounts • monthly fee: $15-50 / month • discount rate: 2-5% of amount • transaction fee: 15-.30 / transaction • PayPal • No monthly fee • Transaction fee: 2.2% .30 /transaction

  37. Tools to Check Your Site • Page errors: www.netmechanic.com/toolbox/html-code.htm • Load speed: www.optiview.com (Click on Cool Tools lower left) • Accessibility: www.cast.org/bobby

  38. Promoting Your Website • Tell everyone about it • Help search engines find you • Use traditional media

  39. Viral Marketing “Any advertising that propagates itself the way viruses do.” • Friends and relatives • Customers • Website visitors

  40. Blog • Short for Weblog • Web page that serves as a publicly-accessible personal journal for an individual • Typically updated daily • A soapbox of sorts • Put a link to your blog page on your website

  41. Activity: Blogging Browse the blogs at: • www.blogarama.com Or look at creating your own at: • www.blogger.com

  42. Deal with Business Email • Use email to draw attention to your website • Start your own email newsletter • Create an email signature for marketing • Spam? Ignore it or filter it • Don’t open email attachments from unknown sources • Install anti-virus software

  43. Activity: www.CafePress.com

  44. Summary • Become comfortable with the Internet • Decide if you really need a website • Explore web hosts, online malls, auctions for features and costs • Decide which services are right for your business to meet your customer needs • Promote to every living being on the planet, and then promote some more

  45. Resources Online guide: www.access-ecom.info

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