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I’ve learned a lot in this class. Some of it was useful, some of it… maybe not so much. But I’m still glad I learned about everything, because now I know what’s out there. If I ever want to go in a new direction with my business, I’ve got some solid tools under my belt.
One of the biggest things for me was learning about different platforms. I really like Weebly—it’s super user-friendly and great for throwing a website together fast, even if you don’t totally know what you’re doing. That said, there were some design elements I wanted on my site that Weebly just couldn’t do. And I found out that I can’t really adjust how the mobile layout looks, which is kind of frustrating. WordPress gives you more control with things like that. I don’t have those skills right now, but maybe I’ll switch over in the future. For a basic website, I don’t need WordPress—but I can definitely see why so many companies expect people to know how to use it. Google Ads wasn’t really my cup of hot chocolate. I got a lot of impressions but not many clicks. It wasn’t so much that I couldn’t come up with the right keywords—it’s just that my product is really specific. Dinosaur-themed pottery is a pretty niche market, and that made it hard to find keywords that worked well with Google’s system. Some of the broader keywords brought in clicks, but not the right kind of traffic. The more specific keywords—the ones that actually described what I was selling—ended up being so narrow that Google restricted them or didn’t show my ads very often. So even though I gave it a try, I don’t think Google Ads is the best fit for my business at this time. I’m also pretty excited about affiliates. I don’t know if I’ll become one, but it’s cool to know it’s an option. And same with wholesalers—it’s just good to know that’s a possibility if I ever need to scale up. The one thing I know for sure I’ll keep working on is SEO. I want to get better at it so more people can find my site organically. I don’t think blogging is really my thing, but I’m still glad I learned how to write with keywords in mind. It helps me understand how content shows up in search results, even if I’m not planning to write a ton of blog posts myself. Overall, this class gave me a ton of new tools and ideas. Even if I don’t use all of them right away, I know they’re there if I ever need them. And that’s a good feeling.
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One of the trickiest—and most important—topics we tackled in my Web Business Creation class was conversion tracking and how it ties into ROI (Return on Investment). If you’ve ever wondered how to tell whether your ads are actually doing anything, this is how you figure that out.
What Is a Conversion? A conversion is whatever you want your website visitor to do that counts as “success.” For some businesses, it’s a purchase. For others, it might be someone filling out a contact form, clicking a link, signing up for a newsletter, or even calling your phone number. For me, I decided my main conversion would be when someone clicks on a product page or fills out a contact form. What Is ROI? ROI means Return on Investment—it’s how much money you earn compared to how much you spend. In terms of ads, it helps you understand whether your advertising efforts are actually making you money. If you’re spending $10 on Google Ads to make a $50 sale, great! If you’re spending $50 to make a $10 sale… not so great. Learn more about ROI on Google Ads → Setting Up Conversion Tracking (In Theory) While I didn’t quite get my tracking to work yet, I still learned a lot about what’s involved:
If you’re using Weebly, like I am, you can install Google Tag Manager through your site’s Settings > SEO > Header Code section. Here are some resources that walk through the process:
So… Why Bother? Even though it takes time to set up, conversion tracking is how you know if your marketing is working. Once it’s in place, you can:
And all of that leads to better ROI. Final Thoughts I’ll be honest—this part of class was frustrating for me. But it also opened my eyes to how powerful and precise online advertising can be when it’s done right. Even if you’re not ready to run Google Ads today, it’s worth learning about this stuff so you're prepared to grow your business in the future. If you’re like me and still trying to figure it all out, don’t stress. Bookmark the resources above and chip away at it one piece at a time. Hi friends! In my Web Business Creation class, we’ve been learning all kinds of things about running an online business—from keywords to SEO basics—and recently, we touched on something I had never heard of before: GEO.
I thought it was fascinating, and I wanted to share a quick summary here in case you’re trying to build your own business or website and want to stay ahead of the curve. What Is GEO? GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization. It’s similar to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), but instead of optimizing your site for traditional search engines like Google, GEO is about optimizing your content for AI-driven search tools. Think of how people use ChatGPT, Bing Chat, or Google’s AI Overviews to ask questions and get instant answers. These tools often pull content directly from websites to form their responses--without always linking to the original source. GEO is all about learning how to structure your content so that these AI tools:
Why Does GEO Matter? In the future (and honestly, even now), more people are going to ask AI tools questions instead of typing into a search bar. If your website is built to answer those questions clearly, you have a better chance of being featured in AI-generated responses—which means more visibility, more clicks, and more potential customers. How Can You Prepare for GEO? Here are a few beginner-friendly ways to start thinking about GEO, especially if you’re a maker, artist, or small business owner like me:
Final Thoughts Right now, GEO is still a new and developing field, but learning about it in class made me realize that how we show up online is changing fast. If you’re already working on SEO and creating honest, helpful content, you’re likely already laying a strong foundation for GEO too. I'll keep sharing what I learn as I go—and if this kind of thing interests you, let me know! I’d love to create more behind-the-scenes posts like this. In my last blog post, I went over the basics of what SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is and why it’s important. In short, SEO is about helping your website appear in search engine results without paying for ads. It's free, but it takes time and effort to do it well.
This post is all about how to actually improve your website's SEO, based on what I’ve learned in my Web Business Creation class. Step 1: Do a Website SEO Audit Start by seeing how your website is doing right now. There are free tools that will give you a report card and suggestions for improvement. Two easy ones to try: These tools look at things like how fast your site loads, whether it’s mobile-friendly, and whether your keywords are in the right places. Step 2: Choose Strong Keywords Keywords are the words people type into Google when they’re looking for something. Think about what your target customer would search for—not technical or “insider” terms, but real words they would actually type. Each page should focus on one or two keyword phrases. For example, if you’re selling bowls, maybe one page could target “handmade ceramic bowls,” and another could focus on “rustic pottery dinnerware.” Step 3: Optimize Your Pages (On-Page SEO) Once you have your keywords, you’ll need to place them naturally in:
Your goal is to make it clear what the page is about—without stuffing the page full of keywords. It should still read naturally. Step 4: Build Backlinks (Off-Page SEO) Backlinks are when other websites link to your website. Google sees this as a sign that your content is valuable. Getting backlinks is harder to do, but here are a couple of ideas:
Backlinks carry a lot of weight in Google’s ranking system, so even just a few quality ones can make a big difference. Using Weebly? Here’s How to Apply SEO on Your SiteIf you're building your website on Weebly (like I am), the good news is that it's beginner-friendly when it comes to SEO—but there are a few places you’ll need to go to update everything properly. Here’s how to apply some of the SEO basics directly in Weebly: Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
Bonus: Want to See How Google Sees Your Website? Here’s a trick I learned: type "site:[yourwebsite.com]" (the quotation marks are key) into Google (replace with your own domain). This shows you which of your pages are included in Google’s index. Hopefully this gives you a solid roadmap to improving your SEO—even if you’re just getting started like I am. If you’ve ever wondered how websites show up on Google, you’ve already brushed up against something called SEO, or Search Engine Optimization.
At its core, SEO is the process of improving your website so it ranks higher in search results. The goal? To help more people find you online--without having to pay for ads. Why SEO Matters When someone searches for something on Google, they’re shown a list of websites that match their search. But not all websites are treated equally. Google uses a complex system to decide which pages show up first, and those top results get the most attention (and the most clicks). If your site doesn’t show up near the top of the page, people might never see it—even if you offer exactly what they’re looking for. How Google Finds Websites Google uses bots—also called crawlers or spiders—to scan the internet. These bots collect information from websites and store it in a giant database called the index. When someone types a search, Google checks its index to find the most relevant results. If you want to see if your site is in Google’s index, try searching: site:yourwebsite.com SEO Is Free, But Not EasyOne of the best parts about SEO is that it’s free! You don’t have to pay to show up in search results. But ranking high organically (without paying) takes work. You need to:
If you're more of a visual learner, this short video gives a great introduction to how search engines work and why SEO is important. It’s a quick and clear breakdown of the basics—and it’s definitely worth the watch if you're just getting started. How Search Works - SEO Explained Final Thoughts SEO is all about helping search engines understand your content--so they can help the right people find it. It’s a long-term game, but when done right, it can make a huge difference in how visible your website is online. In my last post, I focused on keywords. But there’s more to a good ad than just the right search terms. In this post, I’ll go over how Google decides where your ads show up, what makes them cost-effective, and how to structure them for success.
Budgets and Bids: How Google Ads Works When you run a Google Ad, you don’t just pay a flat fee—you bid on keywords. That means you set a maximum amount you’re willing to pay when someone clicks on your ad (this is called pay-per-click or PPC). You also set a daily or campaign budget, which tells Google how much you’re willing to spend in total. But paying more doesn’t always guarantee better placement. That’s where Ad Rank and ad quality come in. What Is Ad Rank? Ad Rank is how Google decides which ads show up, and in what order. It’s based on:
What Makes a Good Ad? Here’s what we’re learning in class about effective ad writing:
Understanding Ad Groups Ad groups are a way to organize your ads and keywords by theme. For example, if you’re advertising different types of pottery, you might create separate ad groups for:
How Do You Know If an Ad Is Working? Google Ads gives you performance data so you can see what’s actually working. A few key metrics:
Final Thoughts Google Ads is more than just bidding on keywords—it’s about creating valuable, relevant, and well-structured ads that connect with your target audience. By paying attention to ad groups, quality, and performance, you can make sure your money goes toward real results—not just empty clicks. Stay tuned—I'm learning more each week, and I’ll keep sharing tips as I go! In my Web Business Creation class, we’ve been exploring Google Ads, which is a powerful tool that lets businesses promote their websites through sponsored listings on Google and other platforms.
You’ve probably seen Google Ads before. When you search for something like “ceramic mugs for sale,” the first few results often have the word “Sponsored” above them. That means those companies are paying to appear there using Google Ads. But, just paying for an ad isn’t enough. If you want your ad to work, you need to use the right keywords. What Is Google Ads? Google Ads is a platform where businesses can bid on search terms to get their website listed at the top of relevant search results. You create an ad, choose your target keywords, set a budget, and then let Google do the rest. The better your ad—and the more relevant it is—the more likely it is to appear in front of the right people. Why Keywords Matter Keywords are the bridge between what people are searching for and the ad you’re running. If your keywords are off, even the best-designed ad won’t work. Here’s what I’m learning about keyword strategy:
What Happens If You Pick the Wrong Keywords? If people don’t click on your ad, Google sees that as a sign your ad isn’t useful. This lowers your Ad Rank, which means:
A Few Terms I’m Learning Here are some basics that help me understand how keyword performance is measured:
Final Thoughts Google Ads isn’t just about paying to show up—it’s about showing up for the right people. And keywords are the key. As I keep working on my own campaigns, I’m learning that finding the right words isn’t just a technical step—it’s a way to connect with your audience more effectively. Whether you're selling a product, offering a service, or promoting a project, smart keyword choices make all the difference. As an artist, it’s easy to wonder: Do I need to register as a business, or can I just keep doing my thing? That’s something I’ve been exploring in my Web Business Creation class. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Choosing a Legal Structure First off, you'll want to decide on a legal structure. Are you planning to be a sole proprietor or form an LLC? And what do those even mean? If you live in Idaho (like I do), you can visit this website to learn about different legal structures: business.idaho.gov/legal-structure I found out that sole proprietors in Idaho only need to register their business name if it’s different from their legal first and last name. Since I use the name Ceramisaurus Pottery and not my own name, I had to file an Assumed Business Name with the Idaho Secretary of State. What Happens After That?Once your business name is registered, you might wonder, What’s next? That’s where the Idaho Business Wizard comes in: business.idaho.gov This tool helps you figure out your next steps based on your business type and location. It compiles a list of licenses and registrations you might need. If it gets confusing or if the form won’t let you continue (like it did for me!), don’t worry! I used AI to help me understand what I needed to do next. How to Use AI for Business HelpWhen asking AI for help, make sure to include details like:
Here’s an example prompt I used: “I want to start an online ceramic business. I will make all the products myself. My business is located in the state of Idaho, and I will be selling to customers throughout the U.S. What legal things do I need to worry about?” When you include your state, AI can often provide links to government pages specific to your location. A Quick Word About Taxes Now, let’s talk about the thing nobody wants to deal with: taxes. If you're selling online, how do you know when you need to collect sales tax? Most states require you to collect sales tax only if you have nexus—which means a significant presence in that state. That could be because:
Tracking sales in each state might sound overwhelming, but there are tools to help with that. Here are a few AI recommended services:
I hope this info helps more than it overwhelms you! If you're like me, it can feel like a lot. But learning this stuff step by step makes it manageable. Good luck getting started with your business—and keep creating! When running your own business, you might find yourself buying an item on Amazon to add to your prudouct that your selling. Maybe you find your piece of artwork needs an accessory to go with it. But what if you could cut out the middle man and get product straight from the source for the wholesale price instead of the retail price? In my Business Web Creation class, I recently was learning about websites that can connect you to wholesale companies where you can buy in bulk. Here are a few different sites we looked at.
Since I am fairly new to these websites myself, I asked AI to summerize for me the pros and cons for each website. Hopefully this information can benefit you, too.  Here are some helpfull tips AI also gave me. 📝 Quick Tips:
Hi, all! I’m currently taking a few college classes, which might slow me down a bit when it comes to making new mugs—but the goal is that what I’m learning now will help me build a stronger website and business in the long run.
I thought it would be fun to create a blog and share what I learn as I go through my Web Business Creation class. That way, you can come along on the journey with me—and maybe even pick up a few tips along the way! Exploring Different Business ModelsThere are many types of business models out there, and the best one for you depends on what you want to sell and how you want to run your business. Here’s a quick list of common models we covered in class:
Choosing the Right Model for YouSo how do you choose the right model? It really depends on your passions, resources, and goals. For example:
Is There Demand for What You Sell?To find out whether there’s demand and competition for your product idea, you can use a keyword planner like: These tools show how often people search for certain terms—and how competitive those keywords are. For example, if I type in "dinosaur mugs" on WordStream, I see:
That means while fewer people are searching for "dinosaur mugs," the ones who do are valuable—possibly more likely to buy. But it also means ads will cost more to run because others are bidding on the same keywords. This kind of data helps me decide if a product like dinosaur mugs is worth the time and investment to market online. Final ThoughtsHopefully this little tidbit helps you on your own business journey! Whether you’re planning a storefront, an Etsy shop, or just dreaming up ideas, understanding your options—and knowing how to research them—is a huge step toward reaching your goals. Thanks for learning along with me! |
AuthorHi! I'm Breanna. One of my instagram posts went viral. I'm an introvert. This is tough. ArchivesCategories |
