Solving the Technical difficulties

If you have known me at all over the last several years since my website went down the second time, you know that finding a new option was very difficult. I tried Etsy, the only option I knew at that point, but was put off by the listing and relisting fees.

When a good sale day is $20, those fees can quickly eat away any profit I can make. I also found it very hard to be found there.

After many initial mishaps, losing my email address, and ending up with no web presence at all, my friend over at Polkadot Bandit suggested Artfire.

Artfire allows you to have a limited studio for free. Free. I love that word. But, they also offer the option of paying for the service. I did my calculations. At $10 a month, I would be coming in just slightly over the cost I would have paid to host my site through a private party. I have no idea what it was going to cost to have the site actually built. (It was to be a gift. Long story.) And I would have had to call the webmaster every time I wanted to list or change something. AND for the price he was offering, he wasn't sure if he would be able to build in the things that I wanted to be able to offer. And then he wasn't available to work on my stuff so he suggested I set up temporarily over at Etsy. (forehead slap) Don't get me wrong, he's a good guy. And a new baby is always a good excuse to be out of time in my book.

With Artfire, I get all those things I wanted.

Coupon Codes.
Easy updating.
Pictures
Access to my prior orders
Access to my customer Database

But wait there's more!
I also get access to the Forums, where I can communicate with other small handmade businesses. The information here is SO VALUABLE! And sometimes, I get to peek into the lives of other makers. And that is always awesome.
AND I just learned that you can add items from my shop to your Amazon Wishlist (Holy crap that's fantastic!!) just by clicking the button
I get listed on Search Engines with Search Engine Optimization
I can quickly see how people are linking in...

In other words, I am happy. My Webmaster directed my web address to my artfire account so if you go to http://www.bubblycreations.com/ you get a real live website that looks as decent as I know how to make it and maybe, just maybe, you buy a bar of soap or five.

One technical difficulty down, a couple left to go.

If you are a maker, I highly suggest you check it out. If you click on my link, we both get freebies. I love freebies. Someday soon, I'll be offering a few of my own...

Become an ArtFire Pro with this link and get your 3rd month free!

Intuit GoPayment and such

I know it's an old story over here. Blah Blah Blah, technical difficulties, blah blah blah, crap, such and such went down.

Well I have news. The only think that isn't working right now is the bubble phone. And I am confident that a (nother) trip to the AT&T store will fix that little problem.

Today, my cradlepoint arrived and I am thrilled to say it's working GREAT!! I'm currently playing on the Mac AND the ipod and I'm sure if I could type with my butt, I'd be on the laptop too. But I can't. And I really wouldn't want to.

I was approved for my GoPayment account so I can now accept credit cards on the go. I am, to say the least, thrilled.

If you follow me on Facebook, you will know I have been busy taking photos.

My applications for the Farmer's market are in the email.

I love when things start to fall into place.

Wooo!!!

It's amazing how a little step forward or an attempt to step forward can thrill and excite me.

Today I applied for a credit card swiper that will attach to my ipod touch. It's not just for playing Cut the Rope anymore, folks.

I am hoping that this will assist me in getting sales during the Farmers Market this year. I will also have to get an adapter that makes my Cricket Modem a wifi hotspot.

Amazing what technology can do. I remember when they had the carbon swipers at the grocery store. And how fun I thought it would be to be a checker. And how cool the automatic change makers were. They still are. I love those things.

It's possible that intuit will decide that I'm not worth the terminal. I hope not. But for now, I will be excited that I am trying to improve my services.

I upgraded the computer the other day too. Now I can get a new printer.

I bought a new camera too. I can't WAIT to play with it. Pictures to come. And better product photos too.