How did you become interested in Ecommerce? In other words, what motivated you to establish a web presence? I created my website as an internet companion to my cookbook. I saw this as a way to become accessible to my readers. My website makes my cookbooks unique, a better value, and encourages direct feedback. For example, a reader can choose a recipe from my first book and go to my website for step-by-step instructions, plate presentation and menu suggestions for that recipe. When choosing a party plan from my entertaining book, the reader can visit my website to print off grocery shopping lists or change the number of guests. My new book, Fresh Traditions: Classic Dishes for a Contemporary Lifestyle, offers dozens of solutions for everyday meal planning and family and friend celebrations.

What is the overall goal or mission of your website(s)? The goal of for my website is to create an interaction between my readers and my books. I want each reader to feel that I am accessible for questions and for most importantly for direct support. My website does this. I answer reader questions on a daily basis.

How do you market your site(s)? My business is about cooking and writing – I didn’t feel that I could put additional effort into becoming internet savvy. I hired the best website guru I could find. Rachael Bender, of Bender Consulting, created my website and re-creates it for each new book. Her marketing of the site has brought me numerous opportunities to advance my business. I highly recommend working with a professional when creating and marketing your site. If not, it just sits there in cyberspace and no one comes to visit!

If you could only offer one piece of advice about ECommerce to our readers, what would that be? Answered above!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Be creative. Find a niche so that your website becomes a companion in your business plan.

Jorj Morgan, author of Fresh Traditions: Classic Dishes for a Contemporary Lifestyle, At Home Entertaining: The Art of Hosting Parties with Style and Panache and At Home in the Kitchen: The Art of Preparing the Foods You Love to Eat.
Visit www.Jorj.com for recipes, pictures, cooking tips and more!

© 2004 - Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is also the Founder & CEO of the Women’s ECommerce Association, International www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) – an Internet organization that “Helps Women Do Business on the WEB.” She can be reached at www.HeidiRichards.com.