My Entrepreneurial Journal

  This week we continued to focus on our Google Ads by selecting keywords, headlines, and descriptions to promote our businesses. After researching more about expanded and effective ads, we were asked to go back and add or modify what we had already come up with the week before. I used an expanded text ad, which allowed me to use three headline words in my ad that I thought would call attention to my ad.     As I have added a store selling Bacana Beach merchandise to my club website, I decided to focus the ad on sales.     I used headlines like “join the fun,” “Beach Volleyball Apparel,” and “Shop Online Now.”     I am hoping that my headlines create fun, excitement, yet a call to action.       As creating a Google Ad is new to me, I was impressed with the suggested Ads Google created by looking at my website. I know when my website was being created originally, the web developer purposely used keywords that would call attention and give...

 W07 Google Ads and Keywords This week has definitely been a learning curve me.     I have never really looked into Google Ads or Keywords.     To be honest, I had never even considered running a Google Ad before this week.     I have enjoyed learning about Google Ads and keywords however.     For my website, my Google Ad will start with a focused Ad specific to North Carolina and will later expand to a larger region within the US.     I will start in North Carolina only because my club location is here and my customers and target market are specific to the North Carolina area.     As I expand my store and add products that will serve beach players from other regions, I will add new Ad regions.     When determining which devices, I would like to run my Ads on; I think smart phones, computers, and tablets would be the best.  I coach teenagers who spent most of their time on a smart phone and have come qu...

 W06: Reflection - Legal Structure This week I have spent hours researching, asking questions, and following the advice given on which business legal structure to use for my business as well as what tax forms need to be in place to legally run my businesses.    As I am building a retail business into my already established volleyball club business, I have already gone through the process of obtaining a domain for my business as well as already opened and LLC (Limited Liability Company) and have obtained my EIN (Employer Identification Number).  It is my understanding that I do not need any additional licensing for either component of my businesses.  I learned a ton about the different legal structures out there and felt the LLC was the better option for me given that I have several coaches working for me and I think my club can continue to grow.  In addition, I prefer keeping my business expenses and personal expenses completely separate....

 W05: Website Design...     We all know how important a first impression is.     As we have studied website designs this week, I have pondered a lot about first impressions.     Customers take a one-second glance at websites and quickly make lasting judgements.     I know this to be true because I am guilty of the same thing.     I very quickly judge sites based off what I first see.     The question I ask myself is: what is the first impression my customers will receive when they click on my site?     As I am designing my site and working on my current business site, I am focused on making a welcoming and lasting first impression.     Along with the first impression, I feel very strongly that a good website demonstrates a solid “about us” page.  The story behind the business, to me, is what matters most.  I want to know the mission of the company.  I want to know how the b...