Name of your website?Big Country Herbs
Your name?
Debra Eisley
Your Location (city, etc)
Hartville
Please give us a short summary of your website?
We are a supplier of natural health care products, bigcountryherbs.com features exclusive rheumatoid arthritis treatment products for rheumatoid arthritis pain relief along with natural allergy and sinus relief and natural skin care products.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Big Country Herbs is a family owned and operated company that started from one miracle herbal formula for respiratory support and allergy relief back in 1998. Since then, we have developed a few more all natural health products that correct other health and skin maladies. I lack advertising experience so up till now Big Country Herbs has grown from word of mouth only. Our customers have suggested the internet for several years now because our health products has greatly enriched their lives. Being a witness to their health enrichment, not to mention my own, keeps me passionate to Big Country Herbs and the hope to witness more life changing happenings.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
We tried to do a Big Country Herbs website a few years ago, but we didn't know what we were doing, not that I know much more now, so it didn't work. We kept the domain name for the company just in case we could figure something out. Last year we paid PMI for website education and launch the current Big Country Herbs website about four months ago.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
A friend came up with it in 1998. It sounded ok to me so I went with it. In the beginning, I really didn't think that this company would survive with just one product, made from a nobody, but the first product worked so well that people believed in it.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
Sure, Our exclusive certified organic herbal formulas separate us from any other health care products website out there and the way we manufacture our products. We do not use additives, preservatives, binders, fillers, dyes or perfumes in any of our products.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
My goal is to build a legacy for my family and ensure that these products remain available. No, I would never sell the company for any reason. This is the drive behind my e-commerce endeavor so that this company will grow and prosper. Money is good, but more important is the quality of life I and my family, as well as others have because of these products.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I'm a failure to today's business standards, but I will stay the course. As far as the website goes, well, I am about 6,000 down, my whole savings, and received three internet orders, but I believe in Big Country Herbs and I also believe that the company will find success on the internet.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Wow! I would have the company's image done by professionals, for example: Product labels, brochures instead of my print shop work and obtain assistance from writers so that the products could be properly represented. It is very easy for me to get caught up with emotion about these products. I believe that I would have the site professionally done period.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Even though Big Country Herbs has been a small mail order company, we are expanding. It is like the movie "Field of Dreams" Build it and they will come. I'm talking about the leap of faith. We are building a larger facility for the company office and manufacturing area. The nice thing about having product control is that we can always expand to accommodate demand.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Everything has been unexpected costs when it comes to the website. I sincerely thought that my initial 6,000 investment was going to be all that I needed. I didn't realize that I was going to be doing all the work. What made it worse is that the coaching would change from coach to coach. Oh yes, this adventure has been full of unexpected costs and headaches. Just like the other day, $300.00 for seo tools. We have paid so much, put unbelievable hours into it and we are still left wanting.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Staying the course, not giving up on myself has been a big challenge. I think the biggest challenge is conveying how wonderful these products are to consumers.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
A newsletter to all our customers letting them know that they can now order from the website. Other than that, Link exchanging has been successful to the site page rank and of course positioning. The site is at least within the top 5 pages of google.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I have always been a hard working women, but the hours, days, months that it is taken to get to where we are now was very unexpected. I guess we didn't know what to expect
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
Big Country Herbs website has been running for about 4-5 months now and we will continue to run it, no matter what. Big Country Herbs has been in business since 1998.
What is your website address?
Big Country Herbs
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