Name of your website?Sedona Aromatherapie
Your name?
Sharon Falsetto
Your Location (city, etc)
Sedona
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Sedona Aromatherapie is both a brick and board business and an online shop, offering a range of fine essential oil blends and aromatherapy products which I use in my every day practice.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
It was a natural progression to advertise my practice and expand my business online.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
Sedona Aromatherapie is my first website and it has been online for just about a year now.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I took the name for my business from the beautiful town where I now live and work and since I am originally from the UK and received my training in Europe I decided to spell aromatherapy the French way to more accurately reflect the true origins of aromatherapy.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
In the first place I have a real everyday practice which my site is an extension of. I obtain my essential oils from the Penny Price Aromatherapy Group in England and hand blend most of the products for my online shop in the same way as for my practice. We search extensively for the most natural and truly aromatic soaps and candles that can be found. We stock ahead as we add more and interesting new products and do not drop ship. And we try hard to be a source of accurate information regarding the disciplines I am involved in.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I hope that long after I have 'retired' from my everyday practice that Sedona Aromatherapie will remain an ongoing online concern and a means of my continuing involvement in the worldwide aromatherapy community.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
It's too soon to tell but every business requires an investment of time, work and money. Those who think the web is any different are not being realistic. Although this is my first site my husband has been involved with the web and ecommerce before building my site. He has told me to be patient from day 1.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I don't think a larger budget would change sedonaaromatherapie.com much more than it is and will continue to evolve at its own pace. We would probably do more print and media advertising to inject more traffic.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
(laughs) We'll see....
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
None, really. I think we started with a good business plan and as I say, my husband's previous experience has been an asset of course.
What has been your biggest challenge?
As I am a recent expat I'd have to say getting a green card. Things have gotten more difficult to enter and work in the US, even when married to a citizen. It was a rather strenuous process.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
As I have written a good deal in my life I have enjoyed researching and writing articles for the 'library' on my site about the topics of aromatherapy, reflexology, LaStone therapies (all of which I am certified in) and the history and use of essential oils. With my husband's encouragement I have begun to publish elsewhere on the web as well. These efforts seem to bolster one's legitimacy and encourage interest in your offering.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
It's much easier than I imagined it would be as my husband does all the work! Seriously, if you plan your work and work your plan, are realistic and patient. I don't think the web is much different than a business of ant sort. It helps that my online site and shop are an extension of what I do in real life.
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?
Yes, but please don't jinx me lol! We enjoy our presence in the world of aromatherapy and as the world becomes smaller the web is where one has to be. It's my understanding that Marilyn Monroe never would have been discovered if she hadn't first taken the bus to Hollywood. Today the web is that bus.
Replace this with a question of your own
Thank you for your interest in me and Sedona Aromatherapie.
What is your website address?
Sedona Aromatherapie
