Access eCommerce
for Native
American Artisans
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.
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
Activity:
Critique Sites
www.chipotle.com
www.cheesylights.com
www.drango.com
Websites Should Be…
 Informative
 Fast
 Easy to navigate
 Tidy
 Accessible
 Credible
www.angeliquesnativeart.com
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?
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Source: www.u.arizona.edu/~ecubbins/webcrit.html
Activity:
Evaluate artisan websites
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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
Searching for Information
 Use a directory
 Example: Yahoo or Google Directory
 Use a search engine
 Use a site that indexes websites on
specific topics
Top 5 Search Engines:
 Google
 Yahoo! Search
 MSN Search
 AOL Search
 Ask Jeeves
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings January 2004
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
Research Doing Business
Online
 Search for:
 New suppliers
 Product ideas
 Marketing ideas
 Better prices
Searching for Products for Sale
www.froogle.com
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?
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.
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
Activity
Search for your competition
or suppliers.
Tips for Shopping Online
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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
How do you know a website is
secure?
 Closed lock symbol
 The web address begins with
https:// instead of http://
Options for Doing Business Online
 Do you really need a website? Consider:
 Auction Websites
 Malls or Cooperatives
 Develop your own website
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Virtual stores
Template-based storefronts
Hire a developer
Do it yourself
 Combine several options
Auction Websites
Malls or Coops
http://store.yahoo.net/navajoco-op
Malls or Coops
www.indigenous-art.com/26.html
Choose Locations Carefully
Activity:
Explore Auctions, Malls
Auctions:
 www.ebay.com
Malls:
 www.geezer.com
 www.boundlessgallery.com
Virtual Storefront
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/bctc
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
Activity:
See How to Build a Store
www.indianvillage.com
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/accreditedlist.html
Developing Your Own Site
 Hire a web designer
 Learn HTML
 Create graphics
 Find a web host
 Determine budget
 Check site for errors
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
Learn HTML:
Web Authoring Tools
 Free HTML Tutorials
 www.w3schools.com/html
 Authoring Software
(e.g: Dreamweaver, FrontPage, GoLive,
HomeSite)
Tools to Create Graphics
Create a banner, logo or button with free
or fee online graphics generators
 3DTextMaker.com
 CoolText.com
 QuickBanner.com
Find a Web Host
 Local internet service providers
 Domain name providers
 Ask others for recommendations
 www.webhostlist.com
 www.hostsearch.com
Website Costs
Setup Costs
 Web page design
 Web host setup fee
$150-$450 / page
$0 - $50+
Ongoing Costs
 Web hosting fees
$0 – 100+ / month
 Domain name
up to $35/year
 Web page content updating up to $30/hour
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
Tools to Check Your Site
 Page errors:
www.netmechanic.com/toolbox/htmlcode.htm
 Load speed: www.optiview.com (Click on
Cool Tools lower left)
 Accessibility: www.cast.org/bobby
Promoting Your Website
 Tell everyone about it
 Help search engines find you
 Use traditional media
Viral Marketing
“Any advertising that propagates itself
the way viruses do.”
 Friends and relatives
 Customers
 Website visitors
Blog
 Short for Web log
 Web page that serves as a publiclyaccessible personal journal for an
individual
 Typically updated daily
 A soapbox of sorts
 Put a link to your blog page on your
website
Activity: Blogging
Browse the blogs at:
 www.blogarama.com
Or look at creating your own at:
 www.blogger.com
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
Activity:
www.CafePress.com
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
Resources
Online guide: www.access-ecom.info