Maybe I'm Walking Backwards on Sand

Still no orders. None. Zip. Zilch. I'm trying to remain positive. My goal today is to activate the eBay auction idea I had. The last few days I've had very little sleep and I've had to help with the babies a lot during the day. Which is fine. But I just don't know how this is going to work out. How do I get people to my site? How do I get them to buy all the cool stuff we have for sale? How do I get them to try building their own jewelry?

I guess the only thing to do is to keep trying.

Press Releases and Autistic Jam

A press release is going out this morning via PRWeb. I wonder if anyone will pick up a story about what we're doing.

I think Autistic people might find themselves in jams more often than the regular population. I'm working really hard and so far have zero orders to show for it.

I just updated the site with more information and to clarify things that may be confusing users.

I'm going to start the Ebay idea. I have some jewelry already made out of beads we couldn't put on the website. I'll auction them off with a link to the site.

Anyway, I'm putting all the Halloween stuff back into regular pricing. I had a tutorial the other day and I now think I "get" MySQL. It's really not that bad. Now I want to learn MySQL language so I can create queries when the time comes.

More later.

We're Up!

I was able to get into the MySQL database, so the website is updated and ready for our Homes For Our Troops fundraiser.

For every "I Love the USA" bracelet kit someone buys, Intelligirl Jewelry Maker" will donate $1.00 to Homes For Our Troops.

Anyone reading my blog, please spread the word!

Yeah - We Can Get Started!

I heard from Homes For Our Troops today and they said I can go ahead and start our fundraising idea!

I am very excited about this.

Now, I am in Florida. I have to call Ross right away and see how to get online from my computer so I can update everything accordingly.

I'll post more later.

More Marketing Ideas

I now have this great idea to auction some ready-to-wear jewelry on Ebay with 10% going to GRASP, the Autistic organization where I serve on the Advisory Board. This will enable users to get acquainted with Intelligirl. At least, I think so. To be honest, I have no idea how Ebay works. I've always shied away from it as too complicated. I have some homework to do.

Speaking of homework, recently this great developer I contracted to fix some errors with the code on the website converted our database to MySQL, assuring me it would be as easy as Access. Well, I really need to change around some things with some of the products - prices, descriptions, categories, etc. After an enormous struggle, I got the MySQL database to open. I might as well be trying to read some ancient language that doesn't use Latin characters.

I have to learn Ebay and MySQL overnight. Wish me luck!

Life Work Balance

I know it's been about one week since I last updated, but I had to rush off to Florida. My personal life is crazy at the moment. I can't seem to mesh working and living. It's always like, one or the other and that's all I can handle.

Anyway, I started to run ad campaigns on the google website. I'm getting web traffic, but nobody is completing jewelry projects and buying them. I wish a marketing goddess would float down and help me attract customers.

Meantime, as I said, I'm stuck in Florida trying to deal with a tough personal situation.

Waiting To See If We Can Help

Yesterday was the anniversary of the Moon landing. This is how I keep track of how old I am, since I was born about 5 months later.

I would like to be on the Moon right now.

I have this great idea for my website, Intelligirl Jewelry Maker. We sell a patriotic bracelet kit which when girls put together spells out, "I Love the USA." I thought we could raise money to help some cause for U.S. soldiers by donating a portion of each kit sold.

I found this great group, Homes For Our Troops. They are building specially adapted homes and modifying kitchens and bathrooms for soldiers returning from war with new disabilities. Since Intelligirl Jewelry Maker is run by someone disabled - me - I really jumped when I found their website. It ties in perfectly and I want to help. I hope something can work out. I'm waiting to hear back.

I forgot to eat this morning. This is a big issue for me. I might feel hungry, but not translate this to the action of eating food. Or I might not notice I'm hungry in the first place. In either case, I get to the middle of the day and I realize I have to eat something. But eating is hard for me to do. This is a common Autistic problem. I have lots of sensory issues with food. Plus, eating involves so many steps - so many conscious deliberate tasks that have to be accomplished in a set order - that the chore of eating wipes me out.

But it's a rule in our house that I must eat something at least twice a day. So I guess I'll heat up a pizza - I can only eat Amy's brand, plain cheese or once in a while mushrooms and olives. I can usually get myself to eat pizza, but the other day I couldn't even do that.