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What do I need to do to start an online business?

A affordable website hosting question:

I want to start an online business providing document services and printing needs to small businesses. I know who I want to host my website (Yahoo! Small Business works the best for me and is affordable) and I can make a website. What I need to know is 1) is this an area that is profitable online and 2) what are some of the first steps I should take so that I can start earning money almost immediately wothout having to spend tons of money first. Other tips are welcome!
What can I do to attract potential customers to my website while spending little money. I’m on an extremely tight budget and cannot afford much at all after all the bills are paid. While I may not be able to earn money immediately, what can I do to begin earning money as soon as practical?


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  1. You seem to have thought out your online business. What strikes me though is your statement "earning almost immediately."

    Sure, you can achieve that — IF AND ONLY IF you have pre-marketed your site. It means that your target market is aware that your site will be launching so they are ready to go there and order as soon as you have launched.

    One of the realities of the Web is that there is no truth to what they say "If you build it they will come." They won’t; unless you are extremely proactive in your marketing. But to expect people flocking to your site as soon as you launch if you did no prior marketing is nothing but foolish hope. It just doesn’t happen that way. For one, it takes time for search engines to pick up your site; and it even takes a longer time for your site to be in the top 10 of your keywords.

    One article that I found very useful is "7 Steps to Successful Web Site Development" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol142/website.htm as it takes to you all the decision steps that you need to take when starting an online business. Like any other business, startup period is full of "should I do this" or "should I do that" questions. The article is useful because it helps you think through every step of the way – from why do you want a website to who is your audience to how will you create your website to how you will market your new website.

    Here are the steps you need to take when creating your online business:

    STEP 1: Set Your Goals – Why do you want a web site? What is the size of the online market? What are the goals for your website?

    STEP 2: Develop Your Web Site Strategy – Who is your website target audience? What typically appeals to your target audience? How are the other websites (your competition) reaching out to this target audience? How will you measure your performance?

    STEP 3: Set-Up Implementation Plans – What name will you give to your site? How do you envision the design of your web site? How will you create your website? How will you create your content? How will you maintain your website?

    STEP 4: Start the Ball Rolling – Do you have a logo? For e-retailers, do you have the critical components needed to run an e-commerce site? How are you going to host your site?

    STEP 5: Create and Launch Your Web Site – Have you uploaded your site with your chosen web host provider? Are the scripts and application you need for your website functioning well? Have you tested your website?

    STEP 6: Promote Your Web Site and Measure Its Results – Do you have a plan in place to market your website? Do you regularly review your traffic logs and web site performance tracker? How are you going to get sites to link to you? Do you know the search engine keywords that you rank well? If your site is not visible in the search engine results pages for its keywords, what strategies do you intend to do?

    STEP 7: Maintain Your Website and Grow Your Web Business – Continue to find ways to grow your web business. How do you intend to continue your education on web development?

    Here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible:

    1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement – if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.

    2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important — and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more – that’s additional traffic that you get for FREE!

    3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.

    If you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com’s "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm

    4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News. My website (see my profile) accepts free press release submission (no strings attached!)

    5. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. If 50 websites publish your article and it contains a link back to your website, then you easily get 50 links from a single article. The more links you have, the greater your chances for increasing your search engine rankings.

    6. Improve your conversion. Getting visitors is one thing; getting them to buy your products is a whole different story. Read the article "10 Ways to Convert Visitors to Buyers" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/072005/conversion.htm for tips on how to improve your conversion rates.

  2. for starters…you need to be able to accept credit card orders as well as having a very clear website on goods and services that can be purchased as well as a good search engine within the site.