Building Your Website – Step 2

by Charlotte Colmon

The quilting website tutorial was derailed for a bit, but I'm getting it back on track right now!  Here's Step 2 – Setting Up WordPress.

From this point on, I'm going to be using a sample site called www.QuiltingBlog.com.  You'll be able to go and check it out as the site progresses.  At some point, I will post all the videos on that site as another reference.

PLEASE NOTE: The first minute or so of the video has a blank white screen with some activity going on at the top.  Don't worry… the video is working, it is just the part where I'm logging into the control panel!

Here's the link to the video:

And here's the updated list of tutorials:

  1. Register your domain and set up hosting – done!
  2. Set up your WordPress installation – done!
  3. Pick a theme and apply it
  4. The right plugins for your website
  5. Getting a Google account
  6. Settings, settings, and more settings
  7. Creating a graphical header
  8. Setting up an email subscription system
  9. Organizing  your site – writing pages
  10. Writing posts and adding images
  11. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  12. Wrapping it all up

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Building Your Website – Step 1

by Charlotte Colmon

domainnameI'm almost ready to start putting up the In A Good Way website (just waiting for some content and images), but I realized that the very first steps in getting your own website up and running were not covered – registering your domain, securing hosting, and changing nameservers.

So, I've put together three short videos on how I would handle this portion of the process.  I use www.GoDaddy.com to register all of my domains, and I use www.HostGator.com for my hosting.  In the video, I'll show you how to find a domain name, and once you have registered, what  you need to do to have your hosting set up at Host Gator or GoDaddy.  There are other domain name registrars and hosting companies (including GoDaddy.com's own hosting), but since I can't show every option, I'll show you what I use.  Then, I show you how to change the Nameservers so the Internet can find your site.

Here are links to all three videos:

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Watch Me Build a Website

by Charlotte Colmon

www.inagoodway.orgA lot of you helped out Teddi with In A Good Way, the charity that works with Native Americans looking to get their lives back on track.

Teddi has been working on getting a website developed for the charity, and now I've decided to help out and work with Teddi to build the www.InAGoodWay.org website.  And, you get to watch the entire process!

Since Teddi has already registered the domain – www.inagoodway.org – with www.GoDaddy.com, I don't need to do that.  In addition, Teddi is hosting his website with GoDaddy, so that's taken care of as well.  But, there's a lot left to do and you get to watch the process over my shoulder.

So, over the next couple of weeks, here's what you're going to see:

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Q&A: Stay Away from eBay

by Charlotte Colmon

I received this question from Eileen Keane about selling on eBay and making a decent living…

Good morning Chuck,

Thank you for including me on your mailing list for your ezine! I'm finding lots of valuable information on it.

I've been reading the selling on eBay article and checking out other machine quilters on eBay. I have to admit, I'm very leery about listing there. Most of the longarmers I've talked to have told me that I'd be giving my work away.

If you look at my website, you'll see that I'm reasonably priced for my part of the country/state. I honestly don't know what to do; I want more business but not at the cost of making a decent living.

Thanks and I hope I hear from you,

Eileen Keane
www.DesigningQuilts.com

Over the years, I've found that eBay is a great place if you want to pick up some unusual item – a vintage toy or script from a favorite movie – but I haven't really seen much for selling services that seemed like a good deal for the seller.  It seems that everyone searching eBay is looking for the lowest price, and it can be tough to make enough money to make it worthwhile.  So, here's my answer to Eileen:

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Some Housekeeping…

by Charlotte Colmon

Cert7I'm writing a quick post to get something out before “Bones” starts at 8:00 pm (the whole family loves that show).

First off, I wanted to let all of you know about my Christmas Super Bonus Package giveaway at my other site, www.MyParentMagic.com.  Over the next four weeks (starting this Friday), I will be giving away my Santa Letters and Christmas Certificates that I have been selling for $17 over the past few years.  All you need to do is sign up for the My Parent Magic email list and I will send a new link every Friday for the next four weeks.  I'll be giving away the letters and certificates on the following schedule:

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Part-Time Quilting Business Advice

by Charlotte Colmon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/3403417476/Time to dip into the mailbag again…

I received this question from Lynn May a little while ago (tough to answer all the great questions!), and wanted to get an answer to Lynn and Nina, who both had some of the same concerns:

Hi to all and to Chuck – Couple of things of interest. One, how to fit a quilting business into my full-time job and make a little extra money; and, two, how to price my quilts and small projects like table runners. It is hard to compete with Walmart, Target, Penney’s, etc., with quilts when you can buy one for $69.95. It costs a lot of time and money to make a quilt of excellence as we all know. So, is there a market out there for pricing a queen quilt at $300, $500 or $750? I would be very interested in knowing.

Lynn May

And here's Nina's comment…

I agree with Lynn May, how to begin a Quilting Business while keeping a full time job!

Here's my answer…

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Kidz Quiltz – Quilts for Kids in Need

by Charlotte Colmon

Some people have asked me why I decided to come back to the Quilting Business website, even though it doesn't count as a full-time income and it takes quite a bit of my spare time (if there is such a thing).  This email reminded me of one of the 1,000s of reasons why I do this…

Chuck,

Thanks for letting me know about In A Good Way. We have material that we would be willing to donate to them.

By the way, You are the greatest. About 4 years ago I sent you a note about making 1,000 quilts for the Katrina victims. You posted it on your website. Within 24 hours I had e-mails from NY, CA, GA, ND asking if they could help. Within a short time I had received quilts from GA and NY to send to the kids in Mississippi. I still receive quilts and stay in contact with my friend in NY.

We delivered the quilts to MS, became a non profit, bought a building last month and have delivered over 2,000 quilts to US, Mexico orphanage, Eastern Europe through World Vison, Cameroon Africa, Uganda Africa, and Haiti. Who would have guessed that we would be on our way to our Million quilts for kids around the World. You showed me we are all connected. At the time I e-mailed you in 2005 I just started with one quilt. Check our website at kidzquiltz.homestead.com and our blog at kidzquiltz.blogspot.com.

Some may unsubscribe, but I think you are the greatest. You encouraged me to JUST DO IT, and I did with about 1,000 other people helping me.

Thanks for everything,

Wilma Hamilton, President
Kidz Quiltz Inc.
303-857-8600

When you receive an email like this, it makes the time spent pulling together this site and sending out the ezines well worth the effort.  Wilma has been a great supporter and community member, and her charity is a wonderful organization that is doing something wonderful for children who need a little quilted love!

Keep up the good work, Wilma, and thanks for the wonderful note.  And if you can help Wilma and Kidz Quiltz, please visit the website.

Chuck

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