[JOURNEY] WooCommerce + IG!

• Doesn't cost too much time to maintain: I am on vacation now, but I need to have time for my schoolwork when I go back to school in around 9 days.
• Earn my initial investment (around $35 for 1 year hosting + domain + domain privacy) back before February 28th.
• Earn myself some nice money - 100K a month would be nice, but I'm more than happy with $50/month!
• Slowly scale up every vacation I have.

• eCommerce site using the WooCommerce plugin for Wordpress. Either dropshipping or with inventory.

• Buy hosting + domain + domain privacy.
• Setup Wordpress + WooCommerce.
• Setup IG account from scratch + FB page from scratch.
  
• Design logo.
• Figure out a brand name + slogan.
• Starting to grow my IG account (100+ followers in around 24 hours!).
• Find 6 good products on Aliexpress.

• As a 16 year old, I can't legally own a credit card. Possible solution: prepaid credit card. Will have to investigate.
• PayPal suspended my account and forced me to send them my ID. They saw that I was a minor and blocked my PayPal account. (This happened 2 years ago). Possible solution: opening a new account with the prepaid credit card.
• I can't buy ads on Facebook or Instagram as I don't have a credit card. Possible solution: see problem 1.

• I'm still not sure if I want to dropship or have inventory. The 6 items I chose on AliExpress right now only cost a few bucks each, so I am considering having inventory.
  • If I do indeed go local, how do I target local customers on Instagram in a specific niche?

redarrow said:

why instagram just asking.

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Security Tester said:

and I like Instagram

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washand said:

Following! As a fellow Dutch guy, who's also using woocommerce and Instagram to do business, I'd love to see your progress here!

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slimdz said:

good luck !

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discoxelik said:

so funny reading this after this "instagram loop" issue

16 yrs old thats impressive. I was playing world of warcraft 24/7 when i was 16.
If you want withdraw cash from PayPal u will need your parents bank account.

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Billy_Batts said:

Unless you verify everything your account is limited.

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Billy_Batts said:

Also when dropshipping in the beginning there is a big chance PayPal will freeze your funds for 21 days the first 60 days.

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Billy_Batts said:

AliExpress don't use PP and as you are Dutch you can use ideal how are you going to deal with that?

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Billy_Batts said:

And you already know the belastingdienst fucking sucks.

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Security Tester said:

Talking PayPal right? Yeah, I absolutely fucking hate PayPal.

Fuck almost forgot about that. Now I hate PayPal even more.

Getting the goods won't be a problem. Payment methods on my WooCommerce site is the big problem here. iDeal on my site means KvK which means belastingen and as a minor a hell of a lot of paperwork

Yeah, just going to ignore them right now and put the btw away so that if they ever ask for it on a later point I can pay them I guess?

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Billy_Batts said:

Yeah you should just save 50% of everything for taxes and unexpected costs.

If I'm honest, I don't think it's a good idea starting dropshipping at your age because of all the limits and bureaucracy.

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Security Tester said:

Not dropshipping and not local either?

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Billy_Batts said:

The problem really is your age.

Everything got restrictions and works against you. There are ways around it but they have high risks and could lose you your money.

Now I'm planning a new service which involves Woo, I was planning to hire an extra VA but depending on your skills and volwassenheid I might consider you.

You build up some experience and earn a little on the side till your 18 to blast off.

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Security Tester said:

Dat klinkt me als muziek in de oren as the Dutch would say! Could you send me a PM? I'm all ears!

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elavmunretea said:

I can buy FB ads with a Debit Card just fine. I'm also under 18 and have no problems with FaceBook. PayPal on the other hand...

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washand said:

I'd like to collab with your woocommerce skills too

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• As a 16 year old, I can't legally own a credit card. Possible solution: prepaid credit card. Will have to investigate.
• PayPal suspended my account and forced me to send them my ID. They saw that I was a minor and blocked my PayPal account. (This happened 2 years ago). Possible solution: opening a new account with the prepaid credit card.
• I can't buy ads on Facebook or Instagram as I don't have a credit card. Possible solution: see problem 1."

• Goals:
  • Kinda obviously no updates as site is not yet live.
• My problems:
  • Wowaaaa solved all 3 of them! Here's what I did: I made a VCC (Virtual Credit Card) and put some money on it. I opened a personal business account with PayPal and verified it with the VCC --> BOOM! Restrictions gone! Apparently PayPal doesn't ask for an ID when verifying business accounts. Cool.
  • Can buy ads on FB + IG with the VCC now.
  • New problem: IG or FB won't let me promote my pictures as they violate their ads policy. Oops
• My questions:
  • Not really a definitive answer, but 90% sure I'm going local with inventory.
• Site:
  • Obviously worked a lot on the site. The magic hands of @Billy_Batts changed the site from scoring D to scoring A on GT metrix which is 100% incredible. He is a real magician.
• Instagram:
  • Approaching 200 real and engaging followers and talking with some influencers / big accounts. Already made a few friends which is very nice.