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Monday, July 13, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Common Misconceptions About Marketing Yourself on the Web (for woodworkers)
I wanted to share with you some of the most common misconceptions amongst custom woodworkers that we've encountered as we've talked to more and more folks about our service.
1) Customers will come to my website directly through search engines:
Most Consumers don't stray from the first page of search results. We typically rank #1, which means you will gain far more exposure on our site than you have ever received from search traffic.
2) Doesn’t your website just make it too easy for customers to comparison shop (get multiple quotes from multiple woodworkers)?
Yes, but your customers are doing that anyways. In this economy, customers are doing more research before making a buying decision. By being on CustomMade.com, you are saying your work is going to be perfect for certain buyers, and you want the exposure to these buyers.
3) I don’t have the time to take pictures, write item descriptions, and “manage” an on-line profile. I build furniture – that’s what I love to do.
We actually heard this one at a furniture show. Our response was to point out that in 2 hours, you can have your entire profile up and searchable on CustomMade.com, you will also gain exposure to hundreds of thousands of visitors. In contrast, the gentleman at the furniture show spent a day packing his truck, a day driving, and two days manning the booth. All to have exposure to 750 people. There is no comparison.
4) I’ve been doing just fine for X years building my business on my own – why do I need you, and why now?
Everyone knows the economy is tough right now. However, what we see is a resurgance of shopping for quality. Why buy from China when you can buy local and you can customize your own piece? We expect the market for Custom Woodworking to grow sizeably in the next few years, and CustomMade.com is dedicated to making this happen for our customers and the woodworking community
5) You guys aren’t woodworkers – you’re web marketing geeks from Boston! Don’t I want a woodworker helping me market myself on the web?
Yes and No. We may be web marketing geeks, but we also listen to our current subscribers and future subscribers. Plus, we have some pretty cool ways to get you LOTS of exposure. Not being from the woodworking industry has helped us look at common issues (like marketing oneself) with new ideas.
6) Most of my business is word of mouth. I never get my money’s worth when I do “marketing”
The internet is changing how word of mouth works. In the age of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, you need an online presence. You dont need a website, but you need something online. We help you with that.
1) Customers will come to my website directly through search engines:
Most Consumers don't stray from the first page of search results. We typically rank #1, which means you will gain far more exposure on our site than you have ever received from search traffic.
2) Doesn’t your website just make it too easy for customers to comparison shop (get multiple quotes from multiple woodworkers)?
Yes, but your customers are doing that anyways. In this economy, customers are doing more research before making a buying decision. By being on CustomMade.com, you are saying your work is going to be perfect for certain buyers, and you want the exposure to these buyers.
3) I don’t have the time to take pictures, write item descriptions, and “manage” an on-line profile. I build furniture – that’s what I love to do.
We actually heard this one at a furniture show. Our response was to point out that in 2 hours, you can have your entire profile up and searchable on CustomMade.com, you will also gain exposure to hundreds of thousands of visitors. In contrast, the gentleman at the furniture show spent a day packing his truck, a day driving, and two days manning the booth. All to have exposure to 750 people. There is no comparison.
4) I’ve been doing just fine for X years building my business on my own – why do I need you, and why now?
Everyone knows the economy is tough right now. However, what we see is a resurgance of shopping for quality. Why buy from China when you can buy local and you can customize your own piece? We expect the market for Custom Woodworking to grow sizeably in the next few years, and CustomMade.com is dedicated to making this happen for our customers and the woodworking community
5) You guys aren’t woodworkers – you’re web marketing geeks from Boston! Don’t I want a woodworker helping me market myself on the web?
Yes and No. We may be web marketing geeks, but we also listen to our current subscribers and future subscribers. Plus, we have some pretty cool ways to get you LOTS of exposure. Not being from the woodworking industry has helped us look at common issues (like marketing oneself) with new ideas.
6) Most of my business is word of mouth. I never get my money’s worth when I do “marketing”
The internet is changing how word of mouth works. In the age of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, you need an online presence. You dont need a website, but you need something online. We help you with that.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Subscriber Metrics on CustomMade.com
Last January, we put together a survey of then current subscribers to CustomMade.com. Our results were a really good indication of our level of service, and the value that we add to each of our subscribers.
The highlights:
- 93% of our subscribers are satisfied or highly satisfied with the value of CustomMade.com
- The average subscriber is a 1 man (or woman) shop
- The average subscriber receives around $5,000 worth of business from their presence on CustomMade.com
- Most of our subscribers are custom table and chair makers
- Our analytics suggest that Custom cabinet makers and custom built in makers are the most searched.
- The average subscriber receives around 5,000 Page Views each month
These were very encouraging and exciting metrics. We are so happy to be providing great value to our subscribers and the woodworking community.
Your Potential Customers - When are visitors visiting?
Ever wonder how many people visit CustomMade.com by specific day of week, or weekdays vs. weekends, specific date in a month, location of visitors etc.?
I’ll explore various different metrics (i.e. locations, time of day etc.) each week.
Please do not hesitate to ask about any particular data point/s that you are interested in – we can certainly dig deeper – and look at your CustomMade data. Just post a comment here or email me at mary@custommade.com.
So back to CustomMade.com’s overall website usage… What do I know already? From reading through CustomMade.com, and from Google Analytics; I know the following (rather impressive metrics):
- Over 750,000 people visit a year
- That’s over 2,000 visits a day!
- Sites of similar size and industry receive 42,000 visits a year
- That’s just 115 a day!
Please see chart below…
But what about the aforementioned data such as visits by specific day of week, weekdays vs. weekends, or specific date in a month??
Today, I’ll focus on CustomMade.com’s visits; by specific day of week, weekdays vs. weekends and specific date in a month.
Please see charts below…
So it looks like Sundays through Wednesdays are the highly visited days with Mondays being the “visit” winner. So it makes sense then that weekdays tend to attract more visits then weekends; given just one of the heavy ‘hitters’ is a weekend day. It also is clear that mid month (15th and 18th) tend to attract custom woodwork potential buyers.
So why does this matter? Besides just providing data to hungry metric geeks like myself – it helps for such things as days to add more photos, since Mondays seem to attract the most visits – maybe updating pictures in your gallery – or add some new ‘catchy’ description content every mid month Sunday night makes sense.
For more info on upgrading your current subscription to do such updates please visit http://www.custommade.com/subscribe.php
Also – maybe your gallery is not open on Mondays or you are taking a vacation – even more reason to have a stronger online presence during that time frame – you never want to miss potential customers!
So what do you think? Did you expect that most folks are ‘noodling’ through your custom pieces on Mondays? Honestly – I would have guessed Fridays.
But then soon realized that Mondays make sense – the reason why these visits are ….well visiting…is ease of access and mind soothing. Perusing through fine custom woodwork, cabinetry, carvings etc., on a Monday back at work sounds right on, nothing like a cure for the Monday blues….
Thank you for reading….
Thursday, June 25, 2009
You Built It – Will They Will Come?
You have built such magnificent custom made pieces, let’s make sure these works of fine art get found….and well… purchased!
Below – you will find Part I of a new weekly series called “You Built It”. Each post in this series will cover, items such as (please feel free to request additional topics):
*I say “if applicable” because my hopes are that I can get you to submit descriptions of your custom work – to review and provide a “Keyword Themed Rich” version – aka be found by us humans easier; because Search Engines love to gobble up rich content.
I firmly believe with your woodwork expertise and my Search Engine Marketing experience – will get you building, creating, shipping & selling quicker than I can count how many drill bits I actually put back in their rightful spot.
PS – I grew up as a “Hardware Store” daughter – I can’t say I can build anything like the AWESOME pieces I see on CustomMade.com – but I can at least talk some wood shop – so to say.
Please feel free to submit your CustomMade description at anytime to be part of this ongoing series. Please just post a comment here or email mary@custommade.com. Or I am sure Mike, the president of CustomMade.com, would not mind an email….mike@custommade.com.
This week I will focus on Keywords.
Writing your custom pieces’ detailed descriptions – is vital, for us humans and Search Engines.
Just as Bungs need to be aligned with Grain – details make a HUGE difference!
Here are the top 20 “Custom” keywords to think about using in your descriptions…
Source: Google
Over a 100, 000 people search for custom made furniture a month???!!!
And look what happens when I type custom made furniture into bing (Microsoft New Search Engine).
Build it – we’ll help you get found….
Til’ next time…..
Thank you for reading…..
Below – you will find Part I of a new weekly series called “You Built It”. Each post in this series will cover, items such as (please feel free to request additional topics):
- Keywords – What are people actually searching for?
- Tips – A few tips to get you going (and selling!!)
- For CustomMade Subscribers:
- Before and After Examples – If applicable - with data* Provide website user behavior on your pages on CustomMade.com – this will have to be by request though….so please ask….
*I say “if applicable” because my hopes are that I can get you to submit descriptions of your custom work – to review and provide a “Keyword Themed Rich” version – aka be found by us humans easier; because Search Engines love to gobble up rich content.
I firmly believe with your woodwork expertise and my Search Engine Marketing experience – will get you building, creating, shipping & selling quicker than I can count how many drill bits I actually put back in their rightful spot.
PS – I grew up as a “Hardware Store” daughter – I can’t say I can build anything like the AWESOME pieces I see on CustomMade.com – but I can at least talk some wood shop – so to say.
Please feel free to submit your CustomMade description at anytime to be part of this ongoing series. Please just post a comment here or email mary@custommade.com. Or I am sure Mike, the president of CustomMade.com, would not mind an email….mike@custommade.com.
This week I will focus on Keywords.
Writing your custom pieces’ detailed descriptions – is vital, for us humans and Search Engines.
Just as Bungs need to be aligned with Grain – details make a HUGE difference!
Here are the top 20 “Custom” keywords to think about using in your descriptions…
Source: Google
Over a 100, 000 people search for custom made furniture a month???!!!
And look what happens when I type custom made furniture into bing (Microsoft New Search Engine).
Build it – we’ll help you get found….
Til’ next time…..
Thank you for reading…..
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Our First Press Release
A Press Release sent out in May! More releases to come!
CustomMade.com Launches Revamped Website; Largest Online Custom...
Established in 1997, CustomMade.com was purchased in January 2009 by Boston-based CustomMade Ventures, a privately funded corporation led by CEO Mike Salguero and Board Chairman Seth Rosen. The goal of the new owners was to rebuild the website to create a more interactive '24 hour-a-day, 365 day-a-year woodworkers' fair' for entrepreneurs and customers, as well as providing world-class customer service and support for subscribers.
'Over the past 12 years, CustomMade.com has become the trusted brand in the marketplace and has a loyal following among hundreds of custom woodworkers from across North America,' said Salguero. 'As we talk with our subscribers we continue to realize just how important CustomMade is to the success of hundreds of woodworkers across the country. The new site will build on the success of CustomMade by providing our subscribers with the latest technology and a growing customer base so they can better navigate these turbulent economic times.'
CustomMade.com's subscribers consistently report that the site is their most important business generation tool.
'CustomMade.com is an excellent source for leads and sales and has been a definite plus for my business,' said Michael Hauck, owner of Michael Hauck Design in Sutton, Massachusetts. 'As a one-man operation, marketing time and resources are scarce. CustomMade has allowed me to expand my reach at minimum cost. I'm located in Massachusetts, but through CustomMade.com I have cultivated clients in places I could never have reached on my own.'
'Simply put, CustomMade.com is an invaluable resource for my business and has allowed me to grow locally and nationwide,' said Mike Huber, owner of Chesapeake Cabinet and Woodwork in Bowie, Maryland. 'I consider CustomMade.com the absolute best place on the Internet for the average homeowner to find custom furniture makers, cabinet makers, and artisans. There is no better.'
CustomMade.com currently has 400 subscribers and attracts 850,000 unique annual visitors and 3.5 million annual page views. Salguero noted that the company is working to expand its subscriber base as well as draw more customers to its site.
'This year we will strive to bring in over one million customers for our subscribers. At these traffic levels, there is plenty of business for woodworker subscribers in all regions of the United States as well as internationally, said Salguero. 'Through a targeted sales and marketing strategy, we plan to grow the existing subscriber base to meet the significant expected demand increase for custom woodworking services over the next three years.'
Salguero noted that more important improvements to CustomMade.com will be integrated before the end of 2009.
'We are completely transforming the user experience for subscribers and consumers, empowering them with more new information and powerful online tools,' said Salguero.
Through the new site, visitors to CustomMade.com can now search for custom woodworkers that serve their area, and also can learn much more demographic information about the woodworker, including style, techniques, and their specialties. All of these new functions are designed to help consumers make decisions about entering a process of customization with a skilled artisan of their choice.
Media Contact:
CustomMade Ventures
Cort Boulanger
339-222-2442
see the article here: http://www.topix.com/content/prweb/2009/05/custommade-com-launches-revamped-website-largest-online-custom
My bubinga coffee table...
http://www.custommade.com/gallery/custom-MD/bubinga-coffee-table.html
This is in my living room, and it is AMAZING. Thanks to Michael Huber for making it for me :-)
This is in my living room, and it is AMAZING. Thanks to Michael Huber for making it for me :-)
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