Josh Garofalo MKT 353

Over the past couple of weeks, Mana Mats has made solid progress with our website. We’ve refined our Squarespace page and crafted product descriptions that resonate with both casual and competitive Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players. Behind the scenes, we researched Idaho business licenses, permits, and sales tax to make sure we’re starting off right. We also began planning our email marketing strategy, learning how to segment our audience and write emails that connect. As we've finished up the page, we have already seen a huge amount of success with over 300 page views and one order!

Over the past week, we’ve looked at different site builders and ecommerce platforms, and it’s given me a better understanding of what actually matters when launching a site. I’ve already started building my Squarespace site for Mana Mats, and it’s been helpful to apply what we’ve discussed. Things like choosing the right layout, making sure the shopping cart is easy to find, and showing clear product descriptions with good visuals. Working through this in real time has shown me how important user experience is, especially when selling products online. It’s also made me more aware of things like how to handle payments, sales tax, and shipping options. I’m realizing that an e-commerce site isn’t just about having a cool design; it has to actually work for the customer. I’m excited to keep improving the site as I learn more throughout the class.

This week helped me see how much one's choice of website builder can impact your business long term. I had used some site builders before, but hadn’t really thought much about the differences between them until now. Comparing platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and WordPress showed me how important it is to consider things like ease of use, customization, and cost, not just what looks good at first glance or what's cheapest. I also learned that building a successful online business isn’t just about getting a site live. It’s about making sure your site is functional, reliable, and built with tools that help you grow. Analytics, templates, and bandwidth all matter more than I expected. This week’s assignments helped me take a step back and think about how I’d actually run something long-term, not just launch it. There’s a lot more to this than I thought, but I’m excited to keep learning.

This week I learned a lot about the differences between affiliate marketing and drop shipping. At first, affiliate marketing seemed like the easiest option. It’s simple to set up, doesn’t require managing products or dealing with customers, and is low risk. You just promote products and earn a small cut when someone buys through your link. Although, dropshipping was equally as interesting. It takes more time and effort, but you get way more control over your brand, pricing, and the overall business. The downside is dealing with suppliers and returns, which could get tricky, especially with higher-value items. In the end, I realized both models have pros and cons. Affiliate marketing is a solid way to get started, especially if you’re juggling work or school. But if you’re ready to take on more responsibility, drop shipping might give you more opportunities to grow something long-term.

This week really got me thinking about what it takes to start a successful online business. One of the biggest things that stood out to me was the debate between choosing a product first or a business model first. After reviewing the readings and class discussions, I’m leaning toward picking the business model first . It just makes more sense to start with a structure that fits your budget, skills, and time before jumping into product ideas that might not even be doable. If we don’t have the money or space to hold inventory, why waste time brainstorming physical products? The chess vs. snowboard example also made that clearer. Snowboards sound cool, but let’s be real—there’s a lot of competition, and it’s expensive to get started. Chess, on the other hand, has low startup costs and way more flexibility. It’s just a smarter option if you’re working with limited resources. Overall, this week helped me see that it’s not just about what you want to sell—it’s about building someth...