Name of your website?The Contemporary Couch by Pia
Your name?
Pia Cyrulnik
Your Location (city, etc)
Carlstadt, New Jersey 07072
When did you start your website and why?
My website is about 2 years old. As a new small business owner, I needed a way to reach out to potential clients. I am able to get my message out through many pictures and ideas.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
I own an interior design showroom, in a very 'hidden', area: an office building in Carlstadt, NJ. My website promotes my business through pictures, client endorsements, and explains every aspect of my company.I design unusual modern and contemporary furniture, custom rugs, window treatments, and original art sculptures. I also offer an in home design service.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
Getting my website to show up 'naturally', as the expense of pay-per-click continues to grow.
What has been the easist part of operating your website?
My webmaster is able to put up new pictures immediately after my furniture is delivered and photographed. To be able to post new ideas, product, and client's homes has been very rewarding.
What was your biggest mistake?
Not realizing soon enough the importance of optimization, and linkage so that my site would come up 'naturally'.
Who maintains your website and why?
A client of mine maintains the site, and is able to change portions of it almost daily to keep it topical and exciting.
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
Many people today shop the web over newspapers and magazines. We offer a very unique product and service, that is explained through photos and print, on our site.We do not sell over the internet, so our site is meant to arrouse enough curiosity to want people to come to my showroom
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
For the small business owner it is wonderful opportunity to reach clients.However, as more money is poured into it by big business, the pay-per-click campaigns will become too expensive, and they will also dominate the first few pages of the searches.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Just now learning about it, and putting it to use. Hope it will be successful.So hard to find the right company to work with.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
I presume they have helped people find my site.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
So far pay-per-click, but becoming too expensive.
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
More help for the 'little' guy. High rents have already forced so many family owned businesses to close. I hope the internet will remain a small business's last hope for advertising.
What is your website address?
The Contemporary Couch by Pia