New E-commerce Site for Wyoming Entrepreneurs

As part of the expanding services within the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network’s CARES Act Recovery Program, a one-stop e-commerce site has been released for Wyoming entrepreneurs, called Shop Wyoming. This site allows customers to shop and checkout from multiple Wyoming-grown businesses at once and will give you — the retailer — the opportunity to reach new and existing customers on a local and national scale all within one unique, state-centric platform. There is no cost to participate and you’ll receive an in-depth training upon registration.

Getting Started

It’s easy to get started selling your products on ShopWyoming.com — simply register to become a client with the Wyoming SBDC Network at WyomingSBDC.org for no-cost, confidential training and advising.

After you apply and are approved to become a retailer on the Shop Wyoming platform you can expect:

• Individualized, no-cost, confidential assistance on how to get set-up and start selling on this e-commerce platform.
• Access to the Wyoming SBDC Network’s new cache of product photography equipment.
• Your very own page on the Shop Wyoming site where you can post products, brand messaging, and links to your business’ website and social media pages.
• Free marketing as we actively promote the Shop Wyoming platform across social media, email marketing channels, and throughout our statewide industry contacts (that’s 8,000 social media followers and 9,000 email subscribers).
• Ease of use: Shop Wyoming will handle all sales tax reporting and payment for the sales your business makes on the platform.

How to Get the Most Out of Shop Wyoming

Here are some tips to help you find success on Shop Wyoming:

#1: Create high-quality product photos

If you have the option to work with a professional photographer, that is a great route to take. Depending on your business, there might be a trade option that you can work out with someone local to make this more affordable. However, smartphones these days take beautiful photos under the right conditions and we are here to help with our new photography kits that supply a backdrop and lighting that you can use in combination with your phone to take great product photos!

 #2: Identify what sets you apart and put it into words

This is often referred to as your value proposition and is essentially a statement that tells customers what you do and why it matters. A description of your business will be listed on your Shop Wyoming profile and you’ll want something that is quick and compelling. Your Wyoming SBDC Network business advisor is a great resource for feedback as you work on crafting this.

#3: Have your logo ready

A logo is an essential piece of your brand and allows you to start building brand awareness so that when people see your logo, they remember you and what you do. If you don’t have a logo yet, reach out to your Wyoming SBDC Network business advisor for ideas about how to get one.

There are a variety of options such as:

• Working with a local graphic designer
• Using an online service (look.com, fiverr.com, or upwork.com)
• Leveraging grant and loan opportunities that might provide funding for projects like this

#4: Build your online reputation

As you prepare to start marketing your business online, you will need an online reputation. Often, customers first read reviews of a business before purchasing from them to ensure that the business is trustworthy.

You should:

• Have reviews enabled on Facebook and other relevant social media platforms (like Yelp)
• Create a Google My Business listing so customers can leave reviews there
• Share testimonials on your business’ website.

An online reputation is a crucial part of converting a browser into a customer by highlighting how happy your other customers have been.

Assistance is Available

For more information, visit ShopWyoming.com or reach out to our Project Manager, Audrey at Audrey.jansen@uwyo.edu or (307) 760-0298.

You can also reach out to your local Wyoming SBDC Network advisor for no-cost, confidential advising and technical assistance by clicking here.

About the Author: Audrey is the daughter of a serial entrepreneur and loves being a part of helping small businesses around the state succeed. When she’s not in the office, Audrey can’t get enough of the Snowy Range, homemade food, and walking her dog a lot.