Name of your website?Handcrafted GardenBridges
Your name?
Rodney Bird
Your Location (city, etc)
Mena
Sentece about website
Producing custom built and handcrafted garden bridges from Redwood and Cedar
What inspired you to launch your own website?
After building bridges for local customers my wife talked me into putting up a website.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
My first website was www.Birdweb1.com and was launched in 1998 as the first website dedicated to handcrafted garden bridges. I sold that website in May 2003 and opened up my new website in Augustof 2003 to better describe my products, its called www.Redwoodbridges.com
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Because my main products are Redwood Bridges
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
I personally design and build everything on my website.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
My eventual goal is to continue to build my website and woodworking business for another 10 years and then if its successful enough sell it at about the time for me to retire.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
so far I can't complain. Over all I make better wages than a typical carpenter and am my own boss. The hours are long during the spring and summer but its all worthwhile.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would build a bigger website and put out more advertising, possibly hire a helper or two and proceed to build several new designs that I have had on the back burner for a few years.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
I would hire a few helpers and a few new tools and a office worker.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
rising shipping costs is about the only concerns I have at this point.
What has been your biggest challenge?
keeping my traffic growing on my website. it has stayed steady at about 250 to 300 visitors a day.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
quality link building and advertising on line and off line.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
answering customer questions and taking orders day and night..
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?
My website had been up and running for 4 years now since Aug of 2003. I will keep it up and running as long as I can.
What special training did you recieve to run your business?
I was trained in Information Technology back in 1998. I taught myself woodworking over the course of a year before I opened my first garden bridge website.
What is your website address?
Handcrafted GardenBridges
