Establishing an online business on the Internet requires a few more steps specific to the electronic medium, but the process still follows the basic principles of a business startup. The Internet is simply a means to an end. Unfortunately, the basic principle gets a bit lost with the ease with which the Internet can help.
The Basic Business Side of Things
A business needs either a product or service to sell. By selling that benefit, the business makes money which pays for operating expenses and allows a business to grow, get bigger, and reach more customers. To do all this, a viable business needs customers, a target market, and a system for accounting to track money earned and money spent. These aspects represent the traditional bread and butter of a running a business.
The Internet Side of Things
With the basic mechanisms in place to create a business, moving to the Internet simply changes the environment that the business operates in. Instead of using a brick-and-mortar storefront, the business uses a website as its storefront. While technically a business can use an Internet website provider to create a virtual address once Internet access is established, having a dedicated Internet domain is far better. It guarantees a dedicated address for customers to go to.
A domain is established by choosing a name and confirming no one else has taken it yet as a domain through a domain service provider. Once confirmed, a business then pays the provider to secure the domain and register it in the business’ name. From there the business can then pay the provider to also provide website hosting or the company can secure it elsewhere, simply forwarding the domain address to the web hosting chosen.
With the domain and web hosting squared away, the business can then begin creating the website. It should not be made publicly accessible until the site is fully ready. Nothing hurts a business more online than a half-done website. It signals a lack of professionalism on a modern Internet.
A business website should be based on an Internet business plan, much the same way a company runs on a traditional business plan. The detail in the document should spell out what each web page on the site does and the function it serves. This should include:
- A landing page as the entrance to the site.
- An “about us” page to describe the company.
- A “services” page to detail what the company offers customers.
- An email link or message field for customer communication.
- Samples of work performed or products sold to customers.
- An ordering and payment system for good sold online.
Far more can be added but the above components are the very basic requirements almost all business website have to communicate, interact and gain business from new virtual customers.
Paul spends a good portion of his time blogging, and currently runs an automotive siteCashForUsedCarsSanDiego.com.
It’s important to keep Branding in mind with your online business – read about it here.