Main Page

From Online Business Guidebook

Jump to: navigation, search

Main Page

Contents

1. Establish Your Business

You will need to register your business with the federal and state governments, as well as register your website. To make it easier for customers to reach you and enhance your business credibility, you might want to purchase a 1-800 number.


Registering Your Business

If you are planning on creating your own online business, the first step is to register your business. Your local SCORE counselor or Small Business Development Center (SBDC)advisor can assist you with getting your business registered.

Determine which state you want to register your online business in. Business taxes and policies differ from state to state so you may want to take some time to examine their tax and state regulations when deciding what state is best for you. Many business owners simply register in the state in which they reside.

Select your business legal entity type. In most scenarios the options you will want to look at are Sole Proprietorships, General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Corporation, a Corporation, or an S corporation. Each option has different regulations for liability within your business. Usually the pros and cons of these options will be outlined on vendors’ web sites. Each of these options also has different tax implications based on what state your business is based out of.

Check the availability of your desired business name. This can be done through the use of online vendors who will cross check your desired name with already registered business names. This is usually a free service as long as you provide them with your contact information, and typically takes 1 business day to get the results back.

Check quotes from online business registering vendors to determine the best option for incorporating your business in the state of your choosing. After you have selected a service you should then fill out the required paperwork for the vendor so that they have the necessary information to complete the paperwork required for your state government.

Receive the completed documents and submit them to the appropriate offices. Many of the vendors listed alongside will save you the hassle by submitting the relevant documents to the appropriate authorities on your behalf.


Register a 1-800 Number

Learn how to shop for and setup a functioning 1-800 Telephone Line.

Vendors

Create Your Logo

A logo is a very powerful tool for marketing your business. Logos are a way for you to communicate to your clientele a number of messages about your business such as how professional you are, what it is you offer, your products and services and even something as powerful as whether or not your business is trustworthy. Follow these easy steps to get your business logo created:

Choose an online logo service vendor to help you create your logo.

Search through the different packages offered by vendors that is right for your business. This heavily depends on the scale of the business you are opening. Things to think about include whether or not you will have multiple logos, business cards, mail campaigns, etc,.

Sign-up at a logo service/web site for your logo creation package. You will be prompted for typical account creation information such as name, e-mail, address, and payment information.

Provide input to your logo vendor. They will take into account ideas and suggestions you have for your logo when they create it. Input that you will usually be prompted for includes your company’s color, contact info, and brand elements. They will then compile your info and preferences into a new logo for your company. Logos are typically generated within the week you send in the information to the logo vendor, with some even being instantly generated.

Buy the logo! Once you’ve paid for your logo, you’ll receive high resolution files containing the logo and full intellectual rights to reproduce it.

2. Analyze Your Competitors

Analyzing your competitors helps you understand your marketplace better. You can easily track your online competitors and better understand the characteristics (demographics) of their customers.

Automatically Tracking Competitors

Learn how to track your competitors using various tools.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Finding Demographics for a Website

Want to know who is visiting your competitor’s website, how they got there, and where else they go?

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

3. Develop Your Website

This section lists vendors who assist your business in developing your website.

Outsourced Web Design

Outsourcing is viable way to increase both the functionality as well as the look and feel of your website.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Build Your Own Website

In certain cases it may be possible to design your own website using your in-house staff which may save you money.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Templates, Skins, and Style Sheets

Templates, Skins, and Style Sheets are professionally built website layouts to help your business stand out with little or no cost. They make your website easier to maintain and give your pages a standard and professional look and feel.

Free Vendors:

Commercial Vendors:

Stock Photos

Can’t afford to hire a professional photographer ? Stock photo galleries provide a vast, cheap inventory of glamorous images.

Free Vendors:

Commercial Vendors:

Stock Icons

A stock icon is an attractive graphic, typically drawn by an artist using graphic design software, rather than photographed.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Web Content Management (CMS)

If you, or your staff, want to update the content (text and graphics) of your website, but don’t want to learn how to program web pages, you’ll need a Content Management System (CMS).

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

4. Develop Your Product

Useful resources for to use if you're selling your own product.

Finding Suppliers

Finding affordable and reliable suppliers for your business is one of the most important yet daunting task for your business.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Packaging

Packaging may be the only physical contact you make with your customer. Be sure to take this task as seriously as the product itself.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Create Product Demos

Product demos are an easy and interactive way of demonstrating a product. You can create a product demo yourself using special product demo software, or hire a company to produce a professional demo.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

5. Sell Your Products

Allow your customers to pick, pay for, and procure your products.

Shopping Carts

Shopping carts are an important aspect of any retail website, allowing you to easily create an attractive, searchable online catalogue, accept payments, and track sales.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Online Marketplaces

Do you want to display your product in someone else’s online storefront ? Online marketplaces and Comparison Shopping Engines let you do just that.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Live Chat on Your Website

Adding a live chat feature on your website allows you to add more interactivity with your customers.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Call Center and IVR Support

Want to receive incoming telephone calls from your customer. If call volumes are high, you may need a call center provider or an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Allowing Product Reviews�on Your Website

Product review software lets your customers easily rate and review your products.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Hosting Customer Forums�on Your Website

A forum gives participants the feeling of being part of a club where they can share personal experiences and information concerning products

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Certification of Trustworthiness

When conducting transactions on your website, customers need to know that your business is trustworthy, legitimate, and reliable. This is done by obtaining a “Certification of Trustworthiness.”

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Payment Processing

Payment processing is the ability of a business web site to take funds from different customers – e.g. via credit card, check, or direct deposit – and transfer these funds to its own account.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Shipping

Shipping is an essential part of any retail company running a virtual online store.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Drop Shipping

With drop shipping, the retailer passes customer orders to a wholesaler or manufacturer, who then ships the products directly to customer.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Outsourced Fulfillment

Outsourced fulfillment companies can store all your products in gigantic warehouses, and package and ship them as you receive orders.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Document Management

Document management software lets you share documents within your company.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

6. Promote Your Business

Allow your customers to pick, pay for, and procure your products.

List Your Business

Registering and posting your business with established directories with solid reputations can be an excellent and cheap way to help customers find your business.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Email Marketing

Email Marketing lets you get your company’s information out to prospective clients by sending targeted promotions via email.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):


According to Email Marketing Services Reviews, the top 5 Email marketing services based on features, ease or use, campaign creation, help/support are:

1. iContact $47 2. BenchMark $35 3. Constant Contact $50 4. Pinpointe $69 5. Mad Mini $24

Included next to each service is the price per moth of up to 5000 contacts.

Some special features for each of these companies are:

iContact- imports mailing list, removes unsubscribed contacts, groups contacts, adds images and hyperlinks and creates surveys

Benchmark- imports mailing list, removes unsubscribed contacts, groups contacts, adds images and hyperlinks and creates surveys

ConstantContact- imports mailing list, removes unsubscribed contacts, groups contacts, adds images and hyperlinks and creates surveys

Pinpointe- imports mailing list, removes unsubscribed contacts, groups contacts, adds images and hyperlinks and integrates with Google Analytics

MadMimi- imports mailing list, removes unsubscribed contacts, groups contacts, adds images and hyperlinks, converts tracking reports, and integrates with Google Analytics

Direct Mail

A direct mailing piece is a printed promotional item that you send via postal mail to a list of prospective clients. Examples include Brochures, Business Cards, Post Cards, Calendars, Flyers, and Promotional Gifts.

Vendors:

  • Click2Mail.com
  • ExpressCopy.com
  • PSPrint.com
  • Idronline.com
  • VerticalResponse.com
  • GladHandle.com
  • Pip.com
  • Fmidm.com
  • MyPostcardPrinting.com
  • Postcardmania.com
  • Harte-hanks.com
  • RoyalMail.co.uk
  • MailSouth.com
  • Amazon.com
  • Directmail.com
  • Vistaprint.com
  • Cactusmailing.com
  • Csgdirect.com
  • Redclaymedia.com
  • Godirectmailmarketing.com
  • Zairmail.com
  • Postcardmania.com

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing can be a very powerful tool to increase the amount of traffic and publicity your company gets, through a network of referring organizations.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

google.com/ads/affiliatenetwork/

cj.com / commissionjunction.com

Azoogleads.com

LinkShare.com

affiliateTraction.com

Amazon Associates

AffiliateShop.com

AffiliateZone.com

iDevAffiliate (from iDevDirect.com)

ClickXchange.com

Kowabunga’s MyAffiliateProgram.com

Fluxads.com

Axill.com

DirectTrack.com

WinBuyer.com

Incentaclick.com

AffiliateTip.com

Clickbooth.com

Ourfreestuff.net

Copeac.com

Xy7.com

Revenueloop.com

Clickbank.com

Friendfinder.com

Shareasale.com

Zanox.com

Tradedouble.com

Hydranetwork.com

Adsmarket.com

Advaliant.com

Webgains.com

Instantdollarz.com

Marketleverage.com

Pantheranetwork.com

Levelclick.com

Directleads.com

Maxbounty.com

Motiveinteractive.com

Roirocket.com

Shareresults.com

Platinumpartner.com

Rextopia.com

Ironoffers.com

Leadermarkets.com

Markethealth.com

Triadmedianetwork.com

Offerweb.com

Convert2media.com

Pepperjamnetwork.com

Ilogins.com

Primaryads.com

Affiliateer.com

Affiliatewindow.com

Logicalmedia.com

Affiliatefuel.com

Moreniche.com

Affiliatebot.com

Linkconnector.com

Comparison:

Clickbank.com - Help Center, Tracking Services CJ.com - Help Center, Advanced Services / Custom Made Feeds, Education Services, Tracking Services LinkShare.com - Help Center, Video Ads, Advanced Services / Custom Made Feeds, Contextual Links, Education Services, Tracking Services Axill.com - Video Ads, Tracking Services

Online Advertising (Pay-Per-Click)

Online advertising is a form of promotion that uses the Internet and World Wide Web for the expressed purpose of delivering marketing messages to attract customers.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Your website will get far more visitors if people can find it when they search the internet. Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a set of techniques for helping you improve your ranking on search engines.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Blogvertising

Blogvertising is a way of advertising your product or service to an interested community of readers, at little or no cost.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Social Networking

Social Networking sites have taken the world by storm in the past several years and can be a very powerful marketing tool if used properly.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is allows you to promote and reach an ever expanding audience over the internet.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Online Coupons

A good way to try to obtain business is to offer deals to customers.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Viral Video

A viral video is an online clip that gains popularity by word-of-mouth, and people sharing.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

TV and Radio Advertising

TV and Radio is still a great way to advertise your product.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Sales Force Automation

Sales force management systems are online services that help you store leads, assign tasks to salespeople, and monitor their sales performance.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

7. Track Your Performance

Want to know what your customers like and dislike, which promotional campaigns paid off and which didn’t, what products or pages were most popular, or when your website is down ? Its time to track your performance ! If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it !

Online Customer Feedback Tools

Online feedback tools – also known as survey tools – help companies create a survey to collect user suggestions and complaints in a structured fashion.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

Surveymonkey.com

Vovici.com

Articulate.com

Zoomerange.com

Keysurvey.com

Foreseeresults.com

Kampyle.com

Uservoice.com

Circleup.com

Surveyshare.com

Surveygizmo.com

Formsite.com

Cvent.com

4qsurvey.com

Freeonlinesurveys.com

Opinionlab.com

Createsurvey.com

Opinion-central.com

Questionbuilder.com

Hostedsurvey.com

Confirmit.com/software/features

Sysurvey.com

Supersurvey.com

Surveywriter.com

Constantcontact.com

Artologik.net

Custominsight.com

Apian.com

SurveyMonkey - PDF, Format Change

Kampyle - Extensive Reporting, Google Analytics

Articulate - Format Change, Use Plug-Ins

Zoomerang - PDF

Keysurvey - Extensive Reporting, PDF, Use Plug-Ins

Web Analytics

Web analytics software helps you determine who is coming to your site, where they came from, and what they visit on your site.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Automatic Website Monitoring

Since you are not on checking your website all the time, these tools can assist you in monitoring the status of your website.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3

Automatic Website Monitoring

Since you are not on checking your website all the time, these tools can assist you in monitoring the status of your website.

Vendors (click to view more information on vendor):

  • Vendor1
  • Vendor2
  • Vendor3


Getting started

Retrieved from "http://www.businessguidebook.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page"
Personal tools
TOOLBOX
LANGUAGES