Web Incubator Program - Details and FAQ
www.microbizbuffalo.org is the tool at the center of MicroBiz Buffalo, Inc.’s Web Incubator Program (WIP). The site provides information for entrepreneurs and offers businesses an online marketing outlet and a secure online checkout.
WIP offers the following:
- Economical online marketing
- Secure online checkout
- Peer to Peer forums for users of the site
- An advisory board to enhance and expand the programming for WIP.
- Workshops on how to:
- use the site to increase revenues
- select products to sell on the site
- picture products on the site
- describe products on the site
- increase product and store recognition in local searches
- develop organic search engine optimization
- ship or develop “in-store” pick-up
Is there a fee? Small retailers selling 10 or fewer products pay only $250, while larger retailers pay $500, annually. Service providers pay $100 annually to promote their services, which do not require a checkout. Shoppers and people interested in becoming an entrepreneur pay nothing to use the site.
So how easy is it to purchase items from the retailers? It’s pretty easy. Think about going to your favorite business district… You walk into one store, see some items you like and then you check out. You do some more discovering at another store, find something you like, then you check out.
What about shipping? It’s important to mention, we ask our retailers to encourage customers to pick up their purchases, rather than ship them. Instead of taking the Skyway, 190 or 33, take the local. Take Grant Street or Main St. Run in and say hi and pick up your merchandise. Better yet, plan it around dinner. For customers who are not local, we will work with subscribers to develop or enhance their shipping protocols.
Who built your site? BuffaloWeb Services, LLC, a local web hosting and site development company, earned the contract and built the site using OS Commerce with some modifications.
What do I need to open a store and be part of the Web Incubator Program? You will need a business name, a logo, a PayPal Account, descriptions of your products and/or services, pictures, information about your products including available sizes, colors, etc., pricing, and a plan for getting your products to your customers.
What is the advisory board all about? The advisory board consists of subscribers to the site, web developers and MicroBiz Buffalo, Inc. personnel. The group will meet regularly to discuss enhancement to the site.
How is the site marketed? We use social networking, organic search engine optimization, collective marketing and an occasional pay per click campaign.
If you have more questions, please comment below or contact us.
