Is it worth it to make a website for your store?

[Deirdre]

I apologize if it is a repeat topic.

I'll get to the point; I am planning on going all in on the marketing, likely off of Zazzle since I can't find any programs for sellers here. I still haven't got all of my line up ready as I am trying to master the art of pattern designs.

Would it be worthwhile for me to set up a website for the Frost Babies? They're products meant to be marketed towards kids. 

[CLC]

Hi....it can be, but this can be a complex project, with hundreds of hours to get products posted and then hours and hours of marketing for a website, setting up google analytics, google marketplace, google ads, google shopping ads, usually having to pay for advertising to get your website views, pay for web hosting, pay for domain name. The only site that you can link products directly from Zazzle is Shopify, but it's not easy to get it working and google does not love the Shopify platform, so you will need intense marketing to get any views. I personal found the Shopify platform the most difficult website to set up and have set up probably 10 different web platforms for other businesses. You will have to be great at marketing and have money to spend on it and hours of educating yourself on how all of these things work. If you want to set up a blog that is a bit easier, but you will have to have a following and you will have to market it. The reason to get involved with market places like Zazzle is they do most of the marketing for you, I personally feel you should be making good money on this site before you post products on your own website, just due to the cost you will incur and the complexity of it, others may have a different perspective. Good luck on your adventure....

[Windy · Accepted solution]

Your first question should be : How will I attract shoppers to my website? 

[alissag]

It can be worth it to have a website for marketing purposes, but it takes some work to set one up and possibly some money. My suggestion (from someone who has set up more than one website in her day, some of which she abandoned)  would be to start out with one or more social media pages specifically for your store. Facebook would be a good place to start. You can use this to give a little bit of a back story on your store/brand and to share new products or new collections. If after say six months or so if you feel like you've outgrown the social media account and want a spot on the web that you have more control over, then definitely it would be worth branching out to  your own dedicated website.

[Deirdre]

I'm banned off of Facebook (because of AI moderation deciding that me sharing bee memes was too spicy for them, no joke)- but I am thinking of using TikTok. 

I've made a few sales but I'm not 100% confident enough to put money down for marketing, yet.