An experiment

[rowangolightly]

www.fiddlybags.com

brocade whistle cases
brocade and silk violin, viola and fiddle bags
bodhran cases
gig bags
instrument bags
brocade music book covers
musical instrument bags

yet to come:
hard-sided bodhran bags
brocade camera bags with drop-down front
brocade lap-top cases

Thanks to Eric's experiment, I'm #1 on google at the moment. This afternoon Adrienne's working on the web-site to make it look more like we want it to look. We have in mind a product options menu for the add-on features for each bag and maybe even a different shopping cart that is easier for her to make the site look like she has in mind.

Now I have to lower the boom on PayQuake (asshats have taken two months worth of fees out of my account after I CANCELLED them the same week I sent in their paperwork because CandyPress doesn't support them. Three emails and two phone calls haven't gotten a reply. NOT HAPPY. Dammit, guess I have to call the bank to stop them from drafting my account and set up my merchant credit card account with Authorize.net soon as I can afford to do so. They're more expensive but I bet I'll get what I'm paying for that way.

Comments

[matt-the-brit.livejournal.com]

Wow didn't realize you were setting up/had your own business. Sounds like its progressing well!. If merchant credit cards are anything like the ones we have here then yes they are more expensive but offer you more protection for you and your business so in lots of cases the extra money can be worth it.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

I guess we've just been so busy with other stuff that it never came up. I've had my own sewing business doing custom weddingd gowns and renaissance costumes for, oh, some 25 years. Got burned out on that and decided to do the musical instrument bag business after people started being so interested in the ones I made for band-mates.

So we'll see how it goes. I have another one that will go up this summer later, that will feature some garb, cloaks, wearable art and Serenity-inspired clothing.

LOTS to do!

[matt-the-brit.livejournal.com]

Yeah no kidding. Best of luck to you i say!!

[sparkythegeek.livejournal.com]

I have no instrument so no need for a bag, but I checked it out anyway - the site looks great! :)

[matt-the-brit.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lilychantvestry.livejournal.com]

Just a suggestion (because my husband praises it so well) but have you checked into PayPal? Not a lot of set up from what I understand and it gives you a card to use for purchasing stuff to make your items. Easy way to keep track of things. But as I said....it's just a suggestion.

And on another note, do you know a good place in the Tulsa area for decently priced brocade? After seeing all the stuff at the faire this past weekend I'm wanting to make my own bodice. I have patterns and a sewing machine but no fabric just yet. I figured you would know a good place to go to get said item.

Nothing against the people at the faire but if I can make it cheaper than what they're selling for then I will save myself the money. I'm sure you understand.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

For several reasons I don't want to use PayPal for my business site; their fees are only one reason, although I do have a PayPal account.

Most of my brocades, I either already have in stock or I buy on-line. There are several local sources but they're pretty pricey.

[capi.livejournal.com]

So hey, what was the experiment that netted you the number one slot? Is there any way for us to help with that? Cuz i have done the "search fiddlybags" number plenty of times but i can't tell if that helps you or not, and i WANNA help! *grin*

((( hug ))) Go, you!! I'm so very proud of you for staying on track and chasing your dreams! You've had plenty of reasons to lose sight of 'em, but you've kept right on plugging. GOOD ON YOU!!!!

[ericcaptdrake.livejournal.com]

Love the icon Capi

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Well, it really had to go onto the back burner while I was producing JRF but now we're back at it full steam.

It seems that doing what Eric and I did, just mentioning the key words on an open post helps the listing. I greatly appreciate the support and the enthusiasm...most of what needs to be done now is web-design which is what ladybarnard is doing for me and then just more product design and stock.

Next week I'm hoping to get some new designs duked out.

Thanks hon...

[capi.livejournal.com]

*nod* But the back burner isn't all the way off the stove, eh? You still managed to keep after it, even if it was at a reduced focus. I'm VERY proud of you. I know how much energy JRF took, and you STILL kept this going! You are amazing, y'know that? *grin*

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. I really wish it had taken off faster but considering how swamped I was with JRF, and frankly am still recovering from, I don't know how I would've done any work on orders that had come in!

Now I can focus on it and start really cooking!

[marcgunn.livejournal.com]

Very nice.

[ladybarnard.livejournal.com]

Just wait! It's only going to get better if I have anything to do with it. :-)

(hey, if we're shamelessly self-promoting, I have to get a word in there somewhere...)

[marcgunn.livejournal.com]

Well, I posted it on my home blog. So hope it helps get you a wee bit more traffic.

[ladybarnard.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Inbound links are always a huge plus.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Yep, they certainly are. I gotta remind Bruce to add a link from the Queen's Gambit site to it...

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Coming from you, that means a lot to me.

Adrienne's doing my web design (we traded; I made most of her JEF costume and she's going my web-site) and we're working out the details. May be switching to a different shopping cart to get more design options than is offered by this one.

[ericcaptdrake.livejournal.com]

Glad I could help you sis......
The Sea Dogs will be recording again tonight. Looks like we have 6 originals written and of course the standard Boat Song, any ideas yet about the "attic shanties" we spoke of? We hope to at minimum perform one song at last Hazzuh for WH 2008 and mayhap a few in our encampment.

[see-05.livejournal.com]

I had to check it out, even though I have no instruments. Very nice indeed! When you get camera bags or other assorted bags up on the site, I'll be checking it out again. The shopaholic in me and need for multiple bags makes me want to shop for another camera bag, or other assorted pretty item I can say that I need. ;-)

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

And I have a nifty purse that I designed and have been beta testing for a couple months now. I know the changes that I want to make to it, now just have to do it and then get it up onto the site.

[ericcaptdrake.livejournal.com]

Woot now your #1 on fiddlybags and fiddly bags
keep it going. Thanks Marc Gunn I'm sure what you did will help a ton. We will try to get it up on our web pages asap. Chuck's Pod cast would be a good one too, I will ask em. www.dragonslanding.com
and when we get the band page up we will do the same. I might even put it on the warcraft web page. For sure on Alric's when Adrienne gets it done.

Off to the races I hope all this helps!!

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

*g* Now I gotta do my part and get the new products designed and some stock made!

[ladyniniane.livejournal.com]

And now you know (as does everyone else that reads your posts) the real "secret" to moving up the ranks in a search engine. And you didn't have to pay anyone $120 a year to do it...

And I added my comments to Eric's open posts with both a keyword mention and the URL itself.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Cool....now to hopefully add links to other friends' web-sites which should help, too.

Hey Bruce....

[be4u.livejournal.com]

I've been very happy with my merchant account provider, Merchant Plus. They're cheaper than the other options (I researched other options extensively).

Whoever you go with, be prepared to be required to become PCI Compliant. It's now being required of even level 4 merchants (you and I fall into that category). Oh the joys of more paperwork.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Holy shit....

[be4u.livejournal.com]

I used stronger words than that when I found out :)

I have no problem being PCI Compliant. I already follow all the security guidelines and then some. The problem for me is the stupid scanning services' quiz,90% of the questions don't apply to my business, and yet there is only "yes" or "no", not "N/A." I'm still working with MerchantPlus on that.

The other cool thing about MerchantPlus is they offer a ScanAlert service at no additional charge. Everyone else (I've seen, anyway), charges $19.95 a month and up for that service.

Another option is to use PayPal/PayPal Website Pro. I can't be 100% sure, but I think in that case, PayPal takes the liability for scanning/reporting.

It's worth asking questions about ahead of time.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

I'll check into it. Authorize.net was the one that my guru, "lj user="billthetailor" recommended to me.

I need to go do some reading.

[be4u.livejournal.com]

Authorize.net is a good company, and they did fine by me. They're just expensive. But they have a great interface, and very helpful support.