Glassmanoak's The Vape Tree Contest #8 , PIF, DIY, CHAT and everything to EVERYONE Thread

[RPadTV]

The majority of what this guy sells is 801 threading

Ah, the Betamax of e-cigs. Ha!

First, SEO. Find an affordable SEO (Search Engine Optimization) provider, company, college student, web designer, anyone with true experience. This will cause your site to be listed in the top relevant hits during google/bing/yahoo/ect.. searches. In my experience when shopping online, most people make their purchases from one of the top 10 hits on a search engine.

Facebook.
A) Create a facebook shopping cart. Hold special promos on facebook and allow people to make their purchases directly from your FB page.
B) Join EVERY consumer oriented vape group. There are MANY! And post links, deals, and contests on a somewhat regular basis.
C) CONTESTS, I sent you an idea for a somewhat expensive promo to run, the alternative would be 1-5 larger prizes that is announced in the aforementioned groups. Have people like your page, share a link or photo, encourage them to have others do it, all as rules for the FB contest. Let people in the contest promote your site for you in hopes of winning!
D) Paid promoting. Facebook has an option to pay for advertising. It can be expensive, but they work with low budgets as well. if you go with this, it would be ideal to center it around a promotion, contest or announcement.

Email list, encourage people to enroll in email updates and a newsletter. This may require you to pay for this service, or you might be able to find free or cheap ones. (I would suggest making sure these email programs respect your customers privacy, ie no 3rd party selling)

ECF, offer a special ECF discount code for members (although you would have no way to verify if it is really being used by members). ECF10 for 10% off or anything you deem fit would encourage people in the community to use it. Who doesn't like a discount!?

Social Media, start a instagram, twitter, google+ and reddit for your website. Even if you dont update them often (however its good to keep up with them) it will allow more people to find your biz, for more corners of the web and drive up exposure and ideally sales.

I have more ideas, but alas it is time for my lunch break!
I am happy to help you with facebook promotions. i have become savvy with it

ill be back soon with some more suggestions.

This is all very, very sound advice. I would place special emphasis on SEO. Getting as high as you can on Google search results is HUGE. Part of it is page speed. If you're on a shared server, think about upgrading to a VPS. It actually helps. The other part is gaming Google's search algorithm by emphasizing key words on every page of the site and emphasizing them in the descriptions. As a writer, I frickin' hate what SEO has done to Internet writing. As someone that makes money from Internet writing, SEO is invaluable.

 

[Schnarph]

Ah, the Betamax of e-cigs. Ha!

I was very friendly and didn't tell him what he was doing wrong. I did point out and name every item he sells that I could. When I called the K200 a Tesla clone, he corrected me. That was when I knew I should leave ASAP.

Taking pride in selling vape ware that can be used for "dry herbs" was not what I needed to hear. Being completely unaware of ECF is no way to go into business selling expensive e-cigs, right up there with leaning towards 801 threading in a store opened in late 2013. It's just... sad.

In regards to advice spreading the word about Vape Tree, LD and RPAD nailed it pretty well.

 

[jac1766]

Good Evening Tree Peeps!
Been a bit busy, for a change...

LD... Great advice! Then again... You are a promoter.;-) I expect no less of you.

Schnarph... Thanks for the batt-stacking info. I'll stick to that advice, unless I end up with a Saber-touch. ;-)

Happily I had a better experience at the B&M I visited on Saturday. Not a huge selection, no mods but he did have a couple Igo Drippers, MNKE IMRs for $9.95 each and locally sourced juice, several of them quite good! Got to taste his entire line-up including the Mad Murdoch's and the Naturally Extracted Strawberry(local product). Dude even gave me some 316L, 7/7 SS cable to try on my AGA...(not wild about it)
Bonus... Found the local Vape-Club! Woot woot! Next meet is in two weeks, 2 miles from my house.

Edit: Unfortunately it seems a lot of small B&M vendors are scared off of ECF due to the supplier rules. They get none of the advantages that online vendors gain from their association, but still have the limitations and have to pay... The few I've spoken to that once were ECF members left for that reason. That and they almost all have to carry... Other items... Ehem... To keep their doors open.

Jac1766 I like your signature - for all the cigs YOU've avoided in a short amount of time, AND, mostly, for your generosity to the 3 vapers. Isn't it fun to help others out?
May the Lord bless you good by "pouring into your lap, pressed down and running over" something you've had your eye on and need.
NancyB

Thanks Nancy... Granted I'm one of the three... the other two are my girlie and my mom. ;-)

 

[liblue1]

Good night tree people....I just stopped in to check somethings.....

 

[Schnarph]

The two biggest and nationally known vendors that are located in Austin, TX are not on ECF. There are many times more vendors in America than ECF registered suppliers, but to be unaware of ECF's existence...

I forgot to mention this guy had no website, so all business is done on site. The Facebook page has very little info regarding specific products, yet there were thousands of dollars in "product" on the shelves. Online business degree maybe?

 

[Interpim]

I have no idea if my local b&m has any idea about ecf, although I haven't visited since I found ecf

 

[jac1766]

Agreed... To choose not to be involved on ECF and to be ignorant of its very existence are two totally different things.
The first B&Ms I visited, here in Pittsburgh, were the same. Funny how they were both basically clueless about their products and completely clueless about everything else on the market

 

[Uncle]

Gonna be an early night . . .So - Good "MoringNite" all - see Ya' all tomorrow . . .

 

[Schnarph]

For just one forum, ECF has basically all the info anyone could want on vaping. Sure, there are other forums... but they don't compare in size and information. ECF rules may seem harsh but after reading many threads on the "other" forums, I see the point in how things are run. Nice folks here, generally speaking. Just don't go "OUTSIDE!"

 

[levisdaddy]

thanks J, S, and Rpad

g'nite everyone, my work day (if you can call it that) is coming to an end

 

[jac1766]

G'night Uncle, LD!

For just one forum, ECF has basically all the info anyone could want on vaping. Sure, there are other forums... but they don't compare in size and information. ECF rules may seem harsh but after reading many threads on the "other" forums, I see the point in how things are run. Nice folks here, generally speaking. Just don't go "OUTSIDE!"

I've been outside...I know!
I'll admit there are a cpl FB groups that aren't bad, though.
ECF's "competition" forums are nasty! People in those threads are just rude immature s, all too often.

 

[Interpim]

So, speaking of learning on ecf... I didn't realize anyone would be interested in wooden or custom drip tips. One of my other hobbies is woodworking, with turning one of my favorite things to do. I haven't had any time lately to do any turning, but I eventually want to make a few custom drip tips... I will probably have a contest when I get a few turned out that look nice.

 

[Schnarph]

Wood drip tips would be nice, but finding a coating that would completely and permanently harden and seal the wood from e-liquid might be tricky. Some of that stuff is pretty scarey. Making something that small from wood could be a challenge to keep from breaking, many folks seem to drop their PV all the time. PM coming with more detailed info.


Edit: I'll tell you folks what the "I" in IMR battery stands for, if somebody can please tell me what "i" in iphone, ipod, ipad, imac, itunes, etc. stands for...

I always assumed that "i" stood for "internet" as it was when the first iMac came out (the first i-anything), but that would mean the MacBook Pro is missing an "i" for no apparent reason and iPod doesn't go online, so...

The things we take for granted and never question...

Re-edit: Never mind, I made a blog entry for the answer to the IMR question, and other important lithium Ion battery facts. I still don't understand Apple lingo though.

 

[NancyB]

Jac1766 - I like that you took care of yourself in that count of 3! That's called being responsible (and a good thing to be!).
My 40 yr old son (youngest of 3 boys) shared some of his beginning devices with me to help get me off the stinkies and I will be eternally grateful cuz nothing I had tried over the years had stuck or worked long term!
So, keep smiling and doing good things! k? NancyB
(loving it here on ECF! so many things to learn, so many awesome folks freely sharing what they know - tis GREAT!)

 

[Uncle]

Well - "MoringNite" - "Tree People" . . .


New Start to a NEW DAY . . .

 

[glassmanoak]

Are you home yet, Uncle?

 

[jpf880]

GoodMorningnite Tree People!

 

[Uncle]

... Mod Envy:

BTW: Are Ya' sure that is/was MOD ENVY . . .

Are you home yet, Uncle?

To be honest - I do not have a "home" and I am still away . . . I will be traveling back to Florida tomorrow . . . Why do "You" ask . . .

OH WAIT - Maybe "You" better PM "Me" that reply . . . Just Sayin' . . .

 

[Schnarph]

BTW: Are Ya' sure that is/was MOD ENVY . . .

Yes. Vamo envy, to be specific.

I'm off to make sure San Antonio still exists. Have a nice Tuesday!

 

[OptimusPrimerib]

Good morning Tree People!!!