Reflecting on the Purpose of My Independent Website

I've been wondering why I'm building an independent website. Is it only for money? This question keeps coming up in my head, causing me to reflect seriously. It all began when I discovered successful independent website tales on Xiaohongshu. These stories were like dazzling stars, capturing my eye and keeping me interested. Each success story seemed like a possibility, sowing the germ of business in my heart.

To be honest, these stories truly affected me. Every time I read these success tales, I felt an unexplained sense of exhilaration and expectation. I began to wonder, what if one day I could build my own independent website? What may it be like?

Actually, the idea of starting my own website did not spring out of nowhere. Looking back, I'd had this idea for a long time. Back then, I enjoyed traveling, and each journey brought new experiences and feelings. I've always believed that it would be wonderful if I could share these experiences with others. So I fantasized of creating a travel website to document everything I saw, heard, and thought.

However, the situation was very different back then than it is now. There was no AI or autonomous website design tools. Everything needed to be done by employing someone. I remember approaching a few web providers, and they said that creating a quality website would cost between 20,000 and 100,000 yuan. Hearing this number, I felt like my dream had been broken. This was an enormous sum for someone who had only recently begun working! When I heard the price, I remember feeling disappointed and helpless.

Looking back, perhaps the website outsourcing sector in countries such as India was already well-developed at the time, and there were cheaper solutions available. But I had no idea about this at the time. My lack of knowledge caused me to overlook numerous possibilities. Just when I was about to give up on this ambition, an opportunity presented itself.

I recently saw an introduction to Shopify on Xiaohongshu, which gave me hope. When I initially learnt about Shopify, I couldn't believe my eyes. It enables ordinary individuals to construct websites for virtually no cost. The important thing is to put your heart into it. For me, this was like a miracle! My dream suddenly seemed more achievable.

So, with much enthusiasm, I began my mission to create an independent website. To be honest, this was a difficult procedure with many problems. For the first 1-2 months, I was like a toddler learning to walk, fumbling about. Every step was fraught with unknowns and obstacles, but it was these trials that kept me excited and fulfilled.

After much effort, I finally developed my own website. When I first saw my website display in the browser, I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment. To be honest, the initial UI was so terrible that I felt embarrassed to look at it. I recall gazing at that rudimentary UI and feeling both thrilled and sad. I was pleased that I finally had my own website, but unhappy that it was so amateurish.

But I wasn't discouraged. I began learning from everywhere, including other amazing website designs. I spent a lot of time researching the color schemes of popular websites, attempting to figure out why they looked so nice. So I modified my website to match some paid color schemes, which took approximately a half-month. Each tweak, each color alteration, brought me one step closer to my dream.

In addition, I used Google Merchant Center to generate organic traffic. Honestly, this was another challenging procedure. I spent the entire half-month continually tweaking, encountering numerous failures and alterations. Each rejection left me feeling dejected, but I urged myself not to give up. Finally, after many efforts, my application was approved. When I received the permission email, I was so happy that I assumed everyone would know about my website.

During this time, my product line was continually expanding. Initially, I focused solely on 3C products, believing that this was what young people were most interested in. But as time passed, I began to wonder, could I do something different?

One day, while shopping pet supplies, I came upon a smart cat litter box. This thing has opened my eyes. I suddenly understood that pets, like humans, may require electrical items. This thought piqued my interest; I felt as if I had discovered a new direction. So I expanded my product range to include smart pet goods. This decision made me feel both anxious and exhilarated because it represented a completely new field, full of unknowns and possibilities.

The website has been up and operating for two months, but it has yet to open for business. Every day, looking at the backend data and seeing no orders makes me feel disappointed and concerned. I begin to doubt myself; did I choose the wrong path? Should I give up? But every time these thoughts arise, I tell myself to stick to my initial objective. Success requires time and patience, just as Rome was not created overnight.

Looking back, when I originally chose things, I was drawn to their sleek appearances. In my opinion, the 3C things I chose were all youthful, modern, and fashionable. I believe we live in an era that celebrates individuality. 3C items should not be all the same; they should be excellent, unique, and capable of representing the peculiarities of young people. Every time I see such distinctively designed power banks or headphones, I envision images of young people utilizing them. I hope that my items are more than just tools, but rather a reflection of a lifestyle.

I've now dubbed my store CW, which stands for Crazy World. This name symbolizes my worldview: young, full of vigor, and a little insane. When I chose this name, I wanted to convey that in this wild world, we need something unique to express ourselves. Our tagline goes: "Curated Tech: Where Trendsetters Find Their Next Obsession" . Every time I see this slogan, I get a sense of mission. I wish to provide young folks with truly cool, engaging things.

To be honest, we are not yet at the stage of developing our own brand. Building a brand from scratch requires either creative ideas or a thorough understanding of customer pain concerns. I haven't completely mastered these two points yet. But I'm not discouraged; I understand that this takes time and experience to build. Every day, I'm learning and thinking about how to better understand my target audience.

Currently, our objective is straightforward: to locate distinctive, fashionable, and clever IT products. We are concerned not only with humans, but also with pets and the environment. When I choose things, I consider not just their functionality and appearance, but also their environmental impact. We believe in technological advancement, but we are also mindful of the environmental issues it presents. This universe is undoubtedly wacky, and at times contradictory, but I believe we can find harmony within it.

Every night, after dealing with website issues, I spend some time reflecting on my motivation for having an independent website. Is it for money? Of course, this is a crucial consideration. But, more importantly, I intend to make some improvements in the world through this platform, even if they are tiny. I wish to provide young people with things that they genuinely enjoy, making them feel pleased and confident when using them.

Although we have not yet started for business, I am not disheartened. I understand that this will require time and patience. Every day, I learn and improve. I feel that if I adhere to my original plan and continue to work hard, my independent website will one day actually give young people with the cool things they want, giving some color to this hectic world.

This is why I'm starting my own website, and it's also what keeps me motivated. In this journey, I am not only creating a website, but also accomplishing a dream: a desire of connecting people with technology and providing happiness and value. Although the road ahead is still lengthy, I am confident that if I continue my excitement and determination, I will finally reach the ideal shore.