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Store, or Blog?

by Frank_The_Tank
13 replies
Hey there, I'm thinking of opening up some type of online video game store but don't know if I should set it up as a blog or as an actual store. Which do you think would probably make more money?
#blog #store
  • Profile picture of the author blackcat123
    You can set it as a site which has both a blog and a store. That looks more professional and it's the pattern going on right now.
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  • Profile picture of the author jjpmarketing
    Yep. Definitely have a store plus a blog. Better for SEO due to the unique content you can put on the blog. You could also add adsense to the site to generate revenue on the ones that like to shop around.

    Dennis
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank_The_Tank
      How would it be done? Put the store inside the actual blog so people can comment or just describe the items?
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  • Profile picture of the author BH_Winchester
    The blog is best for your SEO so include one but I feel that most users would prefer buying from a shop - so do a combination; you could actually also run a forum for support which helps keep customers loyal and can make side revenue
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  • Profile picture of the author jjpmarketing
    No. Build the store with someting like cubecart, xcart, oscommerce, etc. and then have a link to the blog from the store's web page. Do it like this...

    In the root have a static HTML site that is more or less your business card detailing who you are and what the site is about, and how to contact you.

    Within that HTML site have both a link to the store and a link to the blog and forum if you have one.

    You can run each of these in /store, /blog, and /forum on your hosting account.

    That is all there is to it. The store can be any of the above mentioned scripts, the blog can be wordpress, and the forum can be vBulletin.

    Hire a designer to make it all look seamless graphically speaking. That way the user doesn't realize you are swapping between different scripts. You might even go so far as to hire a programmer to connect the ecommerce, blog, and forum user accounts together so the user doesn't have to keep logging into the various sites.

    Dennis
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    • Profile picture of the author BH_Winchester
      Originally Posted by jjpmarketing View Post

      No. Build the store with someting like cubecart, xcart, oscommerce, etc. and then have a link to the blog from the store's web page. Do it like this...

      In the root have a static HTML site that is more or less your business card detailing who you are and what the site is about, and how to contact you.

      Within that HTML site have both a link to the store and a link to the blog and forum if you have one.

      You can run each of these in /store, /blog, and /forum on your hosting account.

      That is all there is to it. The store can be any of the above mentioned scripts, the blog can be wordpress, and the forum can be vBulletin.

      Hire a designer to make it all look seamless graphically speaking. That way the user doesn't realize you are swapping between different scripts. You might even go so far as to hire a programmer to connect the ecommerce, blog, and forum user accounts together so the user doesn't have to keep logging into the various sites.

      Dennis
      Exactly what I was going to suggest however Dennis beat me too it - I would however recommend as well that you get a merchant account, that way you can directly receive and process your own payments and work this into the store instead of using external processors or payment buttons like paypal. Using a merchant account keeps it looking more professional, lowers fees, and means you don't have to put up with Paypal's world renown poor customer service

      Cheers,
      Bruce
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank_The_Tank
      Originally Posted by jjpmarketing View Post

      No. Build the store with someting like cubecart, xcart, oscommerce, etc. and then have a link to the blog from the store's web page. Do it like this...

      In the root have a static HTML site that is more or less your business card detailing who you are and what the site is about, and how to contact you.

      Within that HTML site have both a link to the store and a link to the blog and forum if you have one.

      You can run each of these in /store, /blog, and /forum on your hosting account.

      That is all there is to it. The store can be any of the above mentioned scripts, the blog can be wordpress, and the forum can be vBulletin.

      Hire a designer to make it all look seamless graphically speaking. That way the user doesn't realize you are swapping between different scripts. You might even go so far as to hire a programmer to connect the ecommerce, blog, and forum user accounts together so the user doesn't have to keep logging into the various sites.

      Dennis
      Ok, that's about what I thought it was. However, I think a Forum might be easier to moderate then a blog. I don't have to hire a progammer, I'm pretty good at making sites on my own (ok, I'm not great but I'm ok at it.)

      But I do have a question-- if I want to ad something like Google Adsense, what do I have to do to make sure my site'll be accepted? I don't think I'll be using Adsense, but another program probably.
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  • Profile picture of the author Niche_Boy
    Banned
    How do you plan to get product stock?
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank_The_Tank
      Originally Posted by Niche_Boy View Post

      How do you plan to get product stock?
      I became an affiliate of a company.
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      • Profile picture of the author Niche_Boy
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Frank_The_Tank View Post

        I became an affiliate of a company.
        Amazon? :p
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        • Profile picture of the author Frank_The_Tank
          Originally Posted by Niche_Boy View Post

          Amazon? :p
          No, actually, Gamestop
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  • Profile picture of the author Jamian
    Originally Posted by Frank_The_Tank View Post

    Hey there, I'm thinking of opening up some type of online video game store but don't know if I should set it up as a blog or as an actual store. Which do you think would probably make more money?
    I would suggest you do both if possible it's always good have forum as well.

    Jamian.
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    www.SuperAffiliateMarketingTrick.com <<
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  • Profile picture of the author jjpmarketing
    If you are just promoting affiliate links, the your best option is a blog/forum combo. You can even use bbpress which will seamlessly work with wordpress. Then you can include both affiliate links in the forum as well as on the blog.

    Dennis
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