Internet Ads

I hate the big search engines.  It takes forever to get a decent rank on the natural searches.  So what does that mean for someone like me?  MONEY, and lots of it.  I have been relying on the coupons I have found or have been sent for ads like google's adwords, overture, yahoo and the like.  This pay per click ads will quickly kill a small soap business.  The average pay per click bid for a first or second page ads is more than $0.85 each.  So if you don't set your total daily budget you could spend more than $25 a day for your ads.

I have been running ads for Soapy Sue's Soap Shoppe for over 2 months now.  Although at present they do now really cost me anything.  Now to put it in perspective, I have had a total of $250 in free ads with adwords, I set my daily budget to $5.00 a day to make it stretch.  I use all the click in a couple hours or less and maybe, usually not, I will get a sale.  At that rate, if I paid for the ads, I would actually be in the hole!  The average handmade soap sale is generally between $30-$50, materials and packaging is approx $10-$20, and the sales through the ads for me have been average 1 every 3-4 days maybe.

So now I am searching for ways to optimize my handmade soap business website and link, link, link to directories and the like.  I have also been exploring other advertising options.  The road to a good natural search result for your site is time.  Time, time, time.  Being impatient by nature it is seriously killing me!  Anyone have suggestions?

What about my day job?

I am forever on the run it seems.  I work outside the home 30+ hours a week, have a super hyper 4 year old and run my soap business.  I sometime wish that I could just put everything down and just chill with me, myself and I.  The three of us would probably have a good time for a while.  Unfortunately I am the type of person that would feel guilty after an hour or two and off I'd be catering to family, work or business. 

My solution has been to join the gym.  I know you are probably thinking, "What?  Didn't she just say she wanted to chill?", I know, I know.  However, the gym has given me some me time and has allowed me to focus.  I feel as though I am back on track with my plans for my soaping business.  Hopefully within the next year I can cut out the day job and only have the business to focus on.  Ahh.... that would be the life!

Lilac Shea Butter Soap

This is the new Honeysuckle Orange Handmade Soap.

New Spring/Summer Scents

Ok, so the warmer weather is coming.  I am in a serious bind for unusual, great smelling scents or scent combos to add to my spring/summer soap line.  I have the usual soap scents as you can see here http://soapysue.com/handcrafted-soap and here for the glycerin line http://soapysue.com/glycerin-soap. Aside from fruits, sea scents and florals, what else is there?  I did combine orange and honeysuckle and it turned out great.  However, I am not an expert on florals for sure.  I don't use flowery scents for myself very often.  I am more of a earthy, warm scent kinda gal.

Please I am begging for your help!  Any help would be appreciated.