oakenguy ([personal profile] oakenguy) wrote2007-07-11 10:33 am

July = Chocolate Season? Who knew?

I've got not one but *two* chocolate gigs coming up in the next couple weeks! I'll be providing refreshments up in Gloucester at the Really, Really, Really Bad Pirate Show, and then Willoughby & Baltic will be selling them during ArtBeat.

It's making me think about maybe putting something on the web...wait, no, sorry, the proper marketing term is "establish a web presence". But (as you can see from how much effort I've put into making this one look good) I know just about as much about websites as I do about competitive surfing.

Any thoughts? Advice? Should I just make like an indie rock band and myspace it?
tpau: (Default)

[personal profile] tpau 2007-07-11 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
what i would suggest is this

1)fidn afreind with alot of webspace (hi!)
2)find a friend who can do resonably ok webdesign (hi!)
3)find a freind who has dreamhost and thus has easy install stuff (hi!)
4)make sure this friend has free time (hahaha)

:) email me if interested

[identity profile] snowwand.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
You definately need business cards to hand out...that would look nice in a little holder next to your plates of chocolate.


I'm so sad that I can't make it to ArtBeat AGAIN! I'll be hiking this year then

[identity profile] bosfan24.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, incase being Kate's boyfriend isn't enough reason to go see the "Really, Really, Really Bad Pirate Show" you providing chocolate as refreshments has sweetened the pot (no pun intended).

[identity profile] bellebet.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd say business cards are a great place to start. And if you're not ready for a full "web presence," might I suggest Etsy.com. It's a place where crafters of all types can sell their goods. Food is included in this. That way, you can take baby steps into marketing yourself.

[identity profile] daemionfox.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Business cards and a small web presence are necessary. Get yourself a cheap domain name (you can get em pretty damn cheap nowadays) and find someone who has the time to put together a 2 page web site (general info, and contact info) for you.

MySpace only works if you have the time and knowledge on how to use myspace (I tried it, but don't have the time to baby the space into something useful)

Other option is to hire a cheap designer (hi) and let them handle it.

[identity profile] jeninmaine.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
You could definitely try Etsy!

[identity profile] malterre.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I would very much like to go to the Bad Pirate Show but can't find the info!!!!
*scream*
And as for the website I recall someone trying to get on your butt about that some time ago *ahem*

[identity profile] godswraith.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
www.theactorscompany.org
www.jtturner.org
www.thewestendtheater.com

Crikey, its not like the shows a secret, but for good measure I will post it to LJ. :)

[identity profile] malterre.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
But it was not where I expected it!!!
I have remedied that :)
Thank you

[identity profile] godswraith.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Where were you expecting it? What have I missed? Must get all audience we can!

[identity profile] moominmolly.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
the Really, Really, Really Bad Pirate Show

Please please tell me that that is its name.

[identity profile] godswraith.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, thats the name!

So, just FYI

[identity profile] godswraith.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Join the crew of the world’s smallest pirate ship, as they sail into Gloucester’s West End Theater for a show filled with song, swordplay, and the worst production of Treasure Island, ever! Great fun for all ages!

JULY 18, 19 AND 20 AT 7PM, JULY 21 AT 3 AND 7PM AT THE WEST END THEATER, 1 WASHINGTON ST., GLOUCESTER. ALL TICKETS JUST $10!

[identity profile] olivetree.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Avoid the Myspace! No the myspace!

[identity profile] godswraith.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, since I have 4-5 businesses, and have done this before, just ask me when your at the theater.

(Anonymous) 2007-07-11 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
You've already got the business cards, thankfully. They'll have to be updated with your Web site, when you get it. Which can be done easily using that disk I gave ya.

I could help with the site as well, but there seems no lack of talent offering you aid.

[identity profile] superrob.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
You've already got the business cards, thankfully. They'll have to be updated with your Web site, when you get it. Which can be done easily using that disk I gave ya.

I could help with the site as well, but there seems no lack of talent offering you aid.

[identity profile] sistahraven.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm... chocolate in the summer is probably my favorite - because it's already a bit soft, so it's extra melt-in-your-mouth yummy.

Something you might want to look into is etsy.com - if nothing else, you can make a web-presence there, and they're pretty user-friendly as far as creating your own shop, etc.

Granted, I have no idea how one would ship chocolates in the summer, but it's a start

[identity profile] snowwand.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
dry ice


:)

Which can also be used to make carbonated/fizzy fruit

[identity profile] sistahraven.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmmm... carbonated/fizzy fruit sounds frighteningly good...

[identity profile] oakenguy.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You'd think so, wouldn't you?

*sigh*

I tried shipping with dry ice a couple of years ago. It turned into a gas in about 12 hours. Very disturbing, watching the envelopes swell up like jiffy-pop bags.

[identity profile] snowwand.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
You have to pack the dry ice in styrofoam...and then ship quickly. we ordered a 5 pound hershey bar for my sister's wedding and it came in a cooler with dry ice packets. Very cool

[identity profile] bosfan24.livejournal.com 2007-07-11 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't have any real talent or skill to help you with a website but I am willing to offer my skills as a "chocoalte expert" and give thrilling testimony on how wonderful your chocolates are. Of course, I charge a fee of enjoying getting some more samplings of your chocolates. But I do promise to make good use of colorful language. :-D

[identity profile] foresthouse.livejournal.com 2007-08-17 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Did you know I do web design?

I wouldn't mind doing something very simple (a couple of pages) for free. If it was going to be complex I might have to charge a bit.

Here's a site I've done and maintain: www.steveraymer.com

I code in HTML, however, so it's not too undate friendly unless you know that. Another option is something you can update yourself whenever you go to a new thing where you will sell (like these gigs). Or a site that incorporates a page you can update yourself.

You'd have to buy server space and a URL. I use www.directnic.com for my URL, but I haven't shopped around in awhile so I don't know if it's best.