Win a custom designed website for your Craft Business!!!!!!!
Read more about: Giveaways, Your Web Shop
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Oh Boy! This is one heck of a juicy prize. When Ed (the owner of Art Flock) generously offered this prize I had to pick my jaw up off the ground and read his email 3 times over!
Yep, believe your eyes folks; ArtFlock and CraftBoom! have teamed up to bring you a mega draw in which a Craft Business Website is up for grabs!
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For art and craft sellers ArtFlock is a very important alternative to Etsy that is seriously worth considering and here are just a few reasons why:
- FREE to join
- No listing fees
- Upload all of your work, not just what’s for sale (great for building portfolios and for commissions)
- Import your blog to your ArtFlock account for greater exposure
- List real world locations that sell your work like galleries, shops etc.
- Commission rates from just 3.5%
- Create your own flock of followers that love your work
You get all of the above AND you can have YOUR OWN WEBSITE. Have you ever wished you could have your own website AS WELL as your craft shop. Have you ever wished that your craft shop could more truly reflect your own individuality and craft, but you don’t know where to start with the web design, the shopping cart and payment system? Well with ArtFlock you can have all of that flexibility and more with their Website Publisher tool.
The Website Publisher tool from ArtFlock.com gives you:
- Your own website at your own domain name
- Easy to use
- Commission us to design your theme or pick from our free range of themes
- One click publish of everything you have on ArtFlock to your own personal website
- Update and change the look of your site as often as you like
- Sell work from your own site while still being part of a larger community of buyers
- Don’t risk loosing potential buyers by sending them to SomeArtWebsite.com/YourWork when you can send your customers to YourWebsite.com-
- Free to use version (text ad supported or ad free version for $19.99 / €14.99 / £9.99 per month)
- Test drive your own website with the preview tool by signing up for free here
- See an example site (try playing with the different theme options at the top of the page) here, and also here.
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In my opinion ArtFlock looks very well run, professional, and attractive (which is essential as art and craft are so visually driven). Having your own attractive looking website will give you a professional edge and increased exposure. Also being able direct customers to your own website is so important because that way customers will not get lost/confused/distracted in a sea of other vendors.
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Draw Details (please read carefully)
OK, so now you know about some of the amazing features that ArtFlock has to offer; here is what is up for grabs for 1 very very lucky winner in our draw:
- Custom designed theme for their ArtFlock.com website worth $600. Ed will personally work with the winner to design the website to their liking (wowser, that’s worth it’s weight alone!)
- 1 year’s free domain name worth $14.99 (they don’t need to renew in the future if they no longer want the site / domain)
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To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:
- Telling with us what sort of features you would like your own Craft Business website to have.
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Contest Official-ness :
- I’ll randomly draw the winners in 3 weeks time - 2nd July and announce the winner the following day-ish. Good luck!
- Winner must have a free ArtFlock.com account in order to upload their work, statement, blog etc. to their free site. Sign up for FREE here.
- Winner will use the free version of the Website Publisher with the option of upgrading to the ad free version.
- Sorry I can’t notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement. This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don’t have to keep checking back, although it’s always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
- Sorry I can’t reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one
Lisa is a generally content (who said generally - don't get her started!) 30 something living in London, who amongst other things sells everything you might need to make unique and lovely handmade handbags at home from her online store 
You had me at “Easy to use”… I need to update my website frequently and easily. I would need my visitors to be able to contact me and view my blog. I would like them to get all of the information that they need about us and the items we make. I taught myself Frontpage and created our current website and now I have to learn Dreamweaver in order to update it. This prize would save me a lot of time!
My ideal site would include high resolution pictures, easily navigated, information easily accessible, general site design reflective of the style and aesthetic of the line.
jens last blog post..More Savannah Pictures
The thing I struggle with most is how to create a nice layout to show the thumbnails of my patterns I have for sale. So A gallery of my patterns is the biggie! And a nicely laid out page for people to view and click and purchase them from! basically a nice store page!!
I am resubmitting my comments since I omitted my website (senior moment).
I just cancelled my website since I had no control over it (ie. changes, additions,etc.) Having a new website that I could update easily, would make me very, very happy!
I would love to have a single URL for my blog, my web pages, and my craft store. As it is, a large part of my blog/web page space is devoted to links to my store. I don’t feel confident that the average surfer is clicking on those links to browse my goods, and I fear that I am losing potential sales simply because everything is not in one place.
erin (at) jewellerybyerin (dot) coms last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - kudos to Tagology for the AWESOME new banners she made me!
I work in glass and in fiber arts, so a website for me…I would like to have something visually ‘juicy’ that draws people in to look at my work…so a beautiful page theme is essential. I would also like gallery pages with thumbnails you can click to make the images larger, buttons to link to a store that is simple to use, and pages for folks to learn about me and the work I do, and where I might be exhibiting at shows. I’m just getting started, so this would be an awesome launch of my business!
I would love a store that I could design! I am horrible at style sheets and I am very bad at making my own computer graphics! This would be a lifesaver and I would just cherish it. I would love to have a user friendly design for both I and my customers. Also a professional look to it would be great. Lots of bright colors, yet not overwhelming with the actual design. I would love to have shipping options, all customers love to pick and choose those. Some need it fast, others need the less expensive options. I would love a site that could easily grow with my business. I could add and take away things, and even add stock levels. It would be great to be able to offer coupons, discounts, maybe even gift certificates as well. I would love a front page that I could showcase all my best stuff, as well as a small picture of each section. And, lastly, a great looking LOGO!
Easy to use works for me. And easy for visitors to navigate, clean lines, striking colours. Plus a new site would encourage me to get back to creating, which is what I need to do!
Naomi (Urban Mummy)s last blog post..Happy Birthday to Me…
This looks like a great site for artists! So for a website, one thing that’s important to me is the ability to easily see what’s new on the site - that’s usually what I go for whenever I visit a web site.
I would have to say that it should be easy to update, no fiddly bits. It must look zingy & snazzy & should be interesting! I would also love to be able to see who is visiting by having accounts that people can log into - just to see where everyone is from!
I love the idea of also having your portfolio on it, besides selling my crafts, I also do graphic design work, and this would be an awesome feature for me to display my graphic design portfolio.
Stephanies last blog post..Fun Children’s Items
I would want something easy to use, easy for customers to navigate and nice looking.
Hi - I am just really getting started at this selling online business and like the one-stop shop idea - especially if it is easy to use. I can come up with creative ideas, but there’s never anything wrong with getting some help. At the present time I have to publish my blog link, my Etsay link, the e-mail address and my Flickr address - it would be so good to have this all in one place - HERE is where I am!
Hey, this sounds great! I have signed up. My needs so far would include a converstion facility as I do a lot of custom work. Really need help on photos as mine dont do my work justice. Would like to add extras such as giftwrapping optional. Like all things, sugestions about what I do need as with all things, you dont always know you need it till you have it. Feel like a needle in a haystack on etsy so some way of standing out would be fab.
I´ve actually been looking into starting a craft site, so this would be perfect. My ideal site would have:
- Easy to navigate
- Clear thumbnails
- Fast loading graphics
- Easy checkout process
Looking forward to the draw!
Genesiss last blog post..How to Start Blogging for Money
I want my website to make it easy to show off both the range of things I have to offer, and the depth within each section. (IE, all the colours available in my hand-dyed yarns; along with the fact that I have both hand-dyed and reclaimed yarns; etc.)
The ideal design should make it easy to add new featured items, without overwhelming customers.
It should also support a blogging space or three.
Pork With Boness last blog post..Of Canines and Cavies
I forgot to list other characteristics, and I don’t see the edit feature if there is one. I need to be able to offer credit cards, hopefully other such as PayPal, RME, and MO’s, cashier and personal checks (with wait times, as well); and the number one problem with some of my suppliers that I hope my future site won’t have, is an accurate shipping cost feature. If I have enough business, I would like to offer a flat rate shipping so I need the shopping cart to be customizable by me at the same time accurate with the items customers pick, which I think may be a tall order for a small crafter (if it’s already an issue for larger suppliers, that is!). Some that the other posters have said are fast loading graphics, easy to navigate site wih clear thumbnails, easy checkout process.
I would really like to have a chat and/or forum submission form, too, but realize that might entail space elsewhere. I have to think about the mission for the forum, too. Again, sorry for the double post, but I did forget some issues that I encountered at other websites.
Frieda Nugens last blog post..Three 3 full size bars Unscented Handmade Soap
i want my website to show pictures in any format with option to zoom it without moving out of the page.
There should be blogging space and a place to add shop policies.
It should list the username of the members who visited the website and capability to add them in mailing list (optin/out option)
Easy checkout as well
I would love the opportunity to have a website! I love the idea of a shop and a website connected. I also love that the website is totally customized. It’s really difficult to have to deal with organizing a web site, AND organizing a flickr, AND an etsy And separate email addresses. This website would take the giant tangle of websites and roll it up into one neat little ball. =)
Having the options do have muliple crafts catagories on once website is helpful becuase i do alot of different crafts.
What a great prize. Please don’t include me in this drawing, as I’m not quite to the point where I need a website. But I’m definitely going to check out this site. I already love etsy, so i’m sure I’ll be hooked soon.
SummerSadies last blog post..Need some advice, pretty plllllllease
I’d love a web site that’s simple to use, both for me (seller) as for others (customers/curious). A good check out system is vital. And the ability for buyers to leave feedback, very important as well!
Conchas last blog post..Etiqueta e boas maneiras / Mind your manners
I’d love to be able to put my web-site “on hold” for when I do craft fairs. I’m always paranoid that something will sell on my site while it’s selling at the fair as well.
I would love a website that is simple to navigate; quality pictures & thumbnails that load quickly; an easy and flexible check-out system; and a flexible blog. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
I posted the first comment…I’ve been looking around Artflock and it will be a great tool for us. It will take some time to get all of our information transferred to that site, but it will be worth it. My trackback isn’t working for some reason. You can view our work at http://www.graceEmae.com where there is a link to our blog. Soon we hope to have it all in one place!
I seriously in need of a new website for my online shop.. look at how sad my online shop now: http://www.snazzynsuch.com/shop...
i wanted the online shop with shopping cart and all but i just don’t have time to do it myself..
tinn tinns last blog post..Taggy Smaggy
Whoops I was so excited at the thought of a website I forgot to say that my main requirements would be that I could personalise it with backgrounds, my own fonts and that it is super easy and quick to use for both me and my customers. I hate the waiting for pics to upload - in fact I am sure lots of sales have been lost on those sites - waiting and wondering if anything will appear is time wasted away from creating and time is something none of us believe we have enough of!!!!
The most important facotrs are for customers to be able to understand the product from pictures and description and be able to follow the payment system easily through to a confirmed sale (no discarded baskets through frustration!) Also as the maker, its vital that new work can be uploaded easily and sold items can be removed simply to keep stock up to date. And also flexibilty to be able to highlight products that are on special offer or New. If that wasn’t enough a straightforward way to Optomise the websites postion on search engines with link building options….WoW thats a big list….
Things I would LOVE in my own website:
Ease of upload
customisable icons
a community of users and cross referencing by item/colour/location etc..
Ability to ‘close up’/zoom on crafty items
An auction facility
a client feedback section
a ‘club’ for members/viewers to the site
easy for people to print off info with protection on photos
Ability for people to ‘become fans of.”
Retailer’s mailing network (so prospective stockists of your work would get to know about you also).
Linked to flickr, facebook, ravelry etc..
A clear and easy to use interface for uploading to site and for customers to use, purchase or give feedback
To have my personality stamped all over it
encryption to stop hackers/spammers
The ability to stop people copying your photos and, to track them if your work is ever ’stolen’ and claimed as their own.
A points system for purchasing so that shoppers who purchased from various ‘makers’ within the same network could accrue points for some reward.
a support network for sellers
Easy for customer to place to place an order for a special item.
Links to my favourite suppliers
a space to show links to the art process that has been documented for a particular item
and LOTS more
Blessings
KittyB
Sharon Courtenays last blog post..Sew What?
I’d love to be able to be able to look after people buying for their own shops (wholesale queries) and people who’ve found me direct.
Also i take things to craft fairs, so to have an option of having the site on hold for the few hours i am at a fair would be good, it means people online and people in person get to see and enjoy everything i’ve crafted
but most of all i want it to be easy, i want to spend my time being creative making things to sell, and have a lovely beautiful place online to sell them. So my feature request would be that’s it’s lovely, is loveliness a feature i hope so?
sues last blog post..bit of a competition
flexibility in organization (not look like everyone elses).
communication with customers.
ability for others to ‘watch’ my site and see when new stuff is available.
dots last blog post..Part 1: HOW TO- Doodle Charms - Jewelry from recycled plastic