Harry Iwatsuki has been selling books online on Amazon, Alibris and eBay. He set up his own website http://www.ittybittybuddhastore.com a few months ago, and has two big questions he hopes to get help with in the AuctionBytes Critique My Site feature.

Harry first wants to know how best to market his site. He has some creative ideas, but isn't sure how effective they will be. The second question is more specific - should he send marketing emails, and if so, should he go with HTML or text format.

In giving some background, Harry explained that books at the itty-bitty buddha bookstore are one way or another buddha books, not strictly Zen or even Buddhist in orientation. "The contemplative way is found in all religions. And sometimes outside religion. Everyone must address the existential questions. Who am I? Where am I going? What is all this? Why? Every spiritual seeker wants a life of ease and freedom. Lines of inquiry fall into many categories besides religion: physical & social science; science fiction; literature & poetry; arts & crafts; biography,..."

Harry uses Chrislands for his web hosting. (See a review of Chrislands published in Bookologist.com: http://www.bookologist.com/cab/abu/y204/m09/bk0026/s05).

"Going the pre-packaged route got me up and going without having to spend a lot of time with a web designer or rolling my own. This has allowed me to focus on content and the day to day tasks of acquiring and selling books."

What Harry wants to get out of the AuctionBytes Critique: "I'd like to know how others have boot-strapped themselves out of obscurity. My store is definitely a long-tail market."

"I wonder if I would benefit from classified or small ads in niche magazines like Tricycle or Shambhala Sun? Print ads or online? Or would my very limited marketing funds be better spent on an email service like match.com or Constant Contact? Have other people found that professional looking html based email newsletters and promotional materials are more effective than text based materials? ... I'd like to make it easy and appealing for a contemplative group's webmaster or editor of an email newsletter to cut & paste or forward my material. Would plain text generate enough interest to work as promotional/ad material?"

Harry said he was thinking along the lines, "Something like picture of a book cover, a short review and a buy-it- now link in an attractive layout."

We've created a place on the AuctionBytes forums to discuss Harry's site. Whether you are a web-design expert, fellow seller, or an online shopper, please join in and give us your impressions, and thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Critique My Site forums.

Harry's Site:
http://www.ittybittybuddhastore.com

Discuss site here:
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=21798
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Note: Read comments for last issue's Critique My Site submission at http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=21688

If you would like to be considered for an AuctionBytes "Critique My Site" feature, let me know by emailing me at ina@auctionbytes.com.