Selling Online

The internet has opened up a new marketplace that has allowed millions of small business owners to compete internationally with companies of all sizes. Some companies are just highliting their businesses, while others that are selling online have seen their business double in size. If you decide to sell your products online, you need to think about how to handle the transaction, customer service, return policies,etc.

Creating Your Web Site

• Benefits & Purposes for Having a Web Site - The Internet has become the single most important sales tool a business owner can use. This section addresses all the reasons the savvy entrepreneur must develop a company Web site, from keeping up with the competition to generating leads. Other topics include: selling products and services; establishing credibility and professionalism; and Web cost efficiency versus other marketing methods.
• Site Design - An attractive, functional design goes a long way toward attracting potential customers to a Web site - and keeping them there. Refer to this section for hard information on aesthetics versus function; the pros and cons of do-it-yourself templates; hiring the right Web designer; and using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques to land a higher rating on search result pages.
• Purchasing a Domain Name - A strong domain name can drive visitors to your Web site in a big way. In this section, learn the secrets to creating and purchasing the best cyber-handle for your business. Topics include: tips on choosing a name; why extensions (.com, .net, .biz, etc.) are important; and the basics of purchasing a name. Several links to free domain-generator sites also are provided.

Hosting & Managing Your Web Site

• Hosting Overview - Web site "hosting" is one area that can really baffle entrepreneurs new to Internet commerce. This section focuses on the novice user, defining various technical terms in plain language. It also lists key considerations in choosing a Web hosting company.
• Types of Hosting - If only choosing a server was a one-step process! The fact is, though, business owners have plenty of choices to make before signing on with a hosting company. Fortunately, this section helps make those decisions a bit easier. Topics include: shared hosting; dedicated servers; virtual private hosting; collocation; clustered hosting; file/image hosting; blog hosting; and ffmpeg hosting.
• Choosing a Web Hosting Service - With the Internet fast becoming the entrepreneur's marketing tool of choice, it's not surprising that the number of hosting services has skyrocketed. Still, what works for one business owner may be a poor choice for another. This section outlines the chief considerations in choosing a server, among them: budget; range of services; software; bandwidth, storage space and data transfer rate; security and reliability; control panels; scalability; and front-end tools.

Marketing Your Web Site

• Capitalizing on Search Engine Marketing - Techniques for driving traffic to individual Web sites have increased almost as quickly the number of entrepreneurs going online. This section tackles the basics of search engine marketing, with detailed explanations of strategies such as paid inclusion; pay-per-click campaigns; search engine optimization; permission-based e-mail marketing; Internet yellow pages; RSS feeds; blogging, and many more.
• Optimizing Your Site - Search engine optimization (SEO) can quickly boost positioning on search result pages, with no undo strain on your marketing budget - particularly if you do the legwork in-house. This section offers a primer on SEO implementation covering many fundamental topics, among them: keyword utilization; appropriate META tags; and structuring titles, descriptions and keywords.
• Using Permission Based Email - Sending mass e-mails to peddle products and services can be a time-waster - UNLESS you go with a permission-based e-mail marketing program. This section offers a step-by-step system for conducting an e-mail campaign, from choosing a marketing firm to avoiding the SPAM box, using sign-up forms, boosting click and open rates, and tracking progress.

Taking Orders On Your Site

• Overview of e-Commerce - E-commerce - or conducting sales and services online - has become a routine matter. This section summarizes a number of studies and surveys illustrating why Internet sales activity is booming. It also provides data on customer service areas retailers must address.
• Equipment Needed - A retail Internet page serves the same purpose as a bricks-and-mortar store - to move product; and a good hosting provider can help this happen. This section summarizes what requirements to look for when shopping for a server, including tech support and sufficient uptime.
• Payment Options - When it comes to cyber-retail, checks and money orders are practically obsolete. Most Internet shoppers prefer using credit cards to purchase goods and services, though other payment types are available. Refer to this section for guidance on choosing payment processes, and the costs and features of various systems.

Securing Your Website

• Protecting Your Website - Running an online retail operation opens up a wealth of possibilities - not all of them good. Today's Internet merchant can't afford to ignore security issues such as data pilfering and identity theft, which unfortunately are burgeoning. This section provides a comprehensive checklist of practical and technical strategies designed to secure your Web site and to protect the customers who use it.