Business On The Internet

Five Kinds of Successful Online Businesses

2008-03-27T20:06:00.000+07:00

by: Scott Oliver

If you're seriously considering starting an online business, it makes sense that you would want to choose something that's going to do well right from the start. When you're investing time and money in your business, it would help to know if you're setting yourself up for failure or for success. Here are five different kinds of online businesses that have proven to be a hit with customers. Perhaps you can find your perfect business idea here too.

Health and Weight Loss

Everyone either wants to lose weight or wants to improve their health. We're a society that wants to take care of our bodies and if we look good at the same time, that's all the better. If you want to start an online business, you might want to focus on ways to help people lose weight or simply to improve their health. You can do this by offering fitness and health related products on your website or perhaps by offering eBooks that will help them make better health decisions. Try to find something that relates to a question or a concern a person has about their health - and then you have a viable and profitable business plan.

Beauty

While it used to be that beauty was something that only women talked about, that certainly isn't the case any longer. That said, women are still the consumer group that is much more likely to invest in makeup and skin care products, though men too are looking to improve their appearance. With anti aging face products, both genders can begin to reclaim their youthful appearance, which will help them feel more confident in any setting. Selling high quality makeup products and helping customers with their choices is a great business plan, as it allows customers to have the department store experience from the comfort of their home.

Exercise and Sports

But weight loss isn't the only concern with it comes to health for customers. Exercise and sports are other areas where you can make a profit with your online business. For example, selling sporting equipment or products related to sports fans is still a big business. When you work with the team and their product line, you will be able to access thousands of fans who want to support their team with licensed products.

Fashion

Of course, fashion is still a hot seller, no matter where you are. If you can present high quality fashions on your website, you will attract not only the teenaged sector, but also those in their twenties and thirties - of both genders. Look to celebrity and gossip magazines to show you what's hot and what's not and then look for a vendor that sells the same or similar items that you can them turn around to sell for a profit.

Low Price Goods

No matter what you choose to add to your website, if you can sell products available on other sites for a much lower price, you are going to do well. This goes for fashion, beauty, exercise, sports, etc. If you can find high quality products that can be sold at much lower prices, you will draw in many more customers than you could have with higher priced goods. For example, if you can find a way to sell organic goods and clothing for much cheaper than healthy food specialty stores, you can help those that want to be healthier, but can't afford the higher prices of other stores.

No matter what you choose, try at first to think of things that you yourself might want to buy online - chances are good that you're not the only one.

Internet Home Business Idea - How To Master The Art-And-Science of Making Money?

2008-03-19T06:31:00.000+07:00

by: Murtuza Abbas

Are you planning to get rich on the internet with your online business idea?

Do you ask this question - how to start an internet business?

If you answered yes, I have some secrets to share, if you apply them you will achieve massive success starting today.

Here are 4 simple easy to follow steps that will surely make you highly successful with your internet home based business beyond your wildest dreams...

Step 1 - Power of Focus.

Step 2 - Go With Your Passion.

Step 3 - Keep Learning.

Step 4 - Work Hard.

The purpose of this article is to tell you the exact truth about making money online with your internet home business idea.

Lets get down to dirty internet home based business details...

Step 1 - Power of Focus.

There are various opportunities on the internet to get started making money.

This includes...

1. Selling your own products.

2. Selling affiliate products.

3. Starting with online auctions like eBay.

4. Making money with google adsense.

The reason why so many people fail apart from having so many business opportunities is simple.

They lack focus. You have to pick up one thing and do it right and master it to the Nth degree.

Step 2 - Go With Your Passion.

You have to make sure that you move along with your passion and your interest.

If you like writing focus on writing and submitting articles in your niche.

This will get you traffic to your site and make money.

Step 3 - Keep Learning.

It is very important that you continue your education in whatever you are doing.

Learning will keep you updated with the latest tactics going around and you will be one who will tap into latest money making tactics instantly.

Step 4 - Work Hard.

There is nothing for free. Either you pay money and get the work done, or you work hard yourself.

If you lack money the only option left for you is to work hard to setup your internet business.

You have to either put your time or money to start and promote your internet business.

If you do this on regular basis and be consistent enough you will soon see massive success with your internet home business idea.

Are You Looking For a Genuine Internet Business?

2008-03-04T23:00:00.000+07:00

by: David Nettles

Are You Looking For a Genuine Internet Business?

Many people these days would love to work from home. The option of being your own boss, working your own hours and taking time off whenever you need it is extremely tempting. However, making the dream of working for yourself a reality can often be extremely difficult. With so many scams out there, how can you find a genuine internet business?

Finding Genuine Internet Business Opportunities

When it comes to selecting the right internet business opportunity for you it can be extremely difficult. So many opportunities sound too good to be true and the trouble is they are. If you read something online and it sounds absolutely amazing then it is extremely likely that you are looking at a scam.

The main misconception people have about internet businesses is that you do not have to work very hard to get the results that you crave. This is simply not true and if you really want to make a go of working for yourself and providing a comfortable life for your family then you will sadly have to put in a lot of time and effort. However, saying that; the reward that you get back from that time and effort is definitely worthwhile.

If you are thinking of investing your money into an internet business then there are some simple steps you should follow. Firstly you need to make sure that you are investing in something that you enjoy doing. This is because if you enjoy doing it you will dedicate more time and effort into the business and therefore gain back more rewards. You will also understand the business a lot more which is vital if you want to make the business successful.

You really will need to be dedicated to your business. It takes more than a little advertising to keep the clients coming in. You need to constantly advertise and ensure that you treat your clients with respect if you want them to keep coming back. Take the time to grow your business and it really will ensure that you earn enough to keep you and your family comfortable.

Doing your research before you start any business is also a really good idea. That way you can see who your competitors are, how you should be running the business and who you should be marketing your business towards. Setting up a website and thinking of more ways to advertise is also advisable. The more you advertise, the more clients you will draw into your business.

There are a number of genuine internet business opportunities but they do take some finding! You need to know exactly how to spot the scams and you need to realize that you will have to work quite hard to keep your business going. Working for yourself is definitely worthwhile but it does take time and effort.

Compaq Presario SR5310F Desktop PC

2008-03-02T20:38:00.003+07:00

Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
Whether you're e-mailing family and friends, balancing your online checkbook, or listening to your digital music collection, the newly restyled HP Compaq Presario SR5310F desktop PC offers a versatile, strong base for your home computing needs as well as easy-to-use multimedia features. Focusing on affordability, this desktop provides room to grow with the ability to add up to 2 GB of RAM, available PCI and expansion slots, and access to a wide variety of peripherals via its six USB 2.0. It's also chock-full of security and productivity software to get you going as soon as the PC's unpacked from its box, including Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 and Microsoft Works 9. You can also easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the 16x dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc, and manage your family's photo library with HP Photosmart Essential software.

Other features include a 1.8 GHz Intel Pentium E2160 dual-core, 64-bit processor, 250 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), Intel GMA 950 video card with 64 MB of dedicated video memory, and 6-channels of surround sound audio. It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

* Processor: The 1.80 GHz Intel Pentium E2160 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PC’s capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. Each core shares 1 MB of L2 cache, and they have an 800 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

* Hard Drive: The extra large 250 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive has a 3Gb/s interface speed that enables up to 300MB/s data transfer rates (double the speed of the current SATA interface of 1.5Gb/s).

* Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1024 MB, PC2-5300) is a good start, but you still have room to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. This desktop has a 2 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 1 GB). Also, to receive the benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

* DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 8x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R, 32x CD-RW write speeds and 40x CD-ROM, and 16x DVD-ROM read speeds.

This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

* Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Compaq keyboard and scroller mouse (both with PS/2 connections).

Video & Audio
Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides 64 MB of dedicated graphics memory. Windows Vista can also allocate up to 251 MB of total graphics memory from the system memory. It also has an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 6 speakers.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
For expansion, this desktop has two PCI slots (one available), one PCI Express x16 slot (available), one PCI Express x1 slot (available), two 5.25-inch external bays (one available), three 3.5-inch bays (two available). It comes with the following external connections:

* 6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 in front, 4 in rear)
* 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
* 1 VGA monitor port
* 1 headphone (front)
* 1 microphone/line-in/line-out (rear)
* 10/100 Ethernet
* 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 (60 days of complimentary live update), HP PhotoSmart Essential, Muvee autoProducer, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Microsoft Works 9, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial)

Dimensions & Weight
It measures 6.7 x 14.9 x 16.8 inches (WxHxD) and weighs approximately 21 pounds.

What's in the Box
The HP Compaq Presario SR55310F desktop PC comes with a power cord, keyboard, and scroller mouse. It is backed by a one-year warranty for parts and labor from date of purchase, one-year technical phone service, and 90 days of software application support.

Note: Monitor not included.

2008-03-02T20:38:00.000+07:00

8 Ways To Get A Shredder Online At Discount Prices

2008-03-02T20:13:00.000+07:00

by: Timothy Rudon

Security is of prime concern in the world today. Businesses big and small have to deal with identity theft, spying, stealing to business modules and more. To stay one step ahead business and individuals could use shredders to protect themselves.

There is a large number of shredders available offline and online. Depending on the volume to be shredded each day one can have a light duty shredder that shreds around 25 times in a day , or a medium one that shreds 50 a day, or a heavy duty shredder that can handle 100 a day or if your need is much larger than that there are continuous duty shredders.

It is wise to shred all old documents that have information about you, bank details or records, tax records, credit reports, credit card statements or details, and so on.

Shredders are available online and they are discounted too!

1. Log on to the internet and look for websites that sell shredders at discounts. There are websites that offer shedders at lower than wholesale rates and even get cash back offers, discount coupons, or free shipping.

2. Do your homework. Find out which are the top ten shredder brands. There are websites that offer unbiased reviews as well as ratings.

3. Make the time to deduce what your shredding needs are. Decide whether you need to shred just paper or CDS and DVDs too. And then locate a shredder that suits your needs. Choose a durable brand. Many kinds are manufactured by leading brands like GBC Shredmaster, Intimus, Destroyit, Dahle, Formax, Olympia and more.

4. Find out what the return policies are as well as shipping costs and warranties.

5. Always comparison shop get quotes from more than one leading website.

6. Most shredders need accessories like bags. Ask about accessories and their running costs.

7. Many online websites have special offers as well as coupons through which great reductions in price can be availed. Look for seasonal specials and bargains.

8. If you are gutsy you could get a shredder from an auction site. Many auction sites allow people to post wanted ads online and those who want to sell new or used shredders will respond with offers.

The federal trade commission and other online websites offer information to buyers on how to choose shredders and the need for shredders. Read online shredder guides, articles, and tips before buying a shredder.

Shredders need care and maintenance. Look for shredders that are low cost and give reliable trouble free service. Decide who will handle the shredder and be responsible for its upkeep. Choose wisely and you will get good value for money.

Internet Home Business - How to Make Your First Million Dollar Using Internet?

2008-02-23T06:43:00.000+07:00

by: Murtuza Abbas

Are you aware that there are tons of websites that fail to make a single dime online while internet has the power to make internet business millionaires?

The biggest reason that people fail to make a living online is that they donot educate themselves with the relevant knowledge required to setup a professional internet business.

After training hundreds of newbies I have come up with few points that I personally feel that leads to internet business failure of a newbie.

Check them out...

1. Internet Rich Quickies.

Newbies mainly hunt for get rich quick systems that can make them millionaires overnight.

However I have failed to found such a hot button in my five years of internet research that can make me rich overnight.

2. Information Overload.

Newbies keep jumping from one internet business opportunity to the next.

They fail to stick to one system and make sure that they put their time and money to make it successful.

3. Action.

It is useless if you have tons of internet business knowledge and you donot take any action to get started.

You have to pick up your BUTT and do something to get started with your internet business and make it a massive success.

4. Lack of Patience.

Internet business newbies do not have patience to make their internet business a massive success.

They are hunting for quick fix internet riches that can literally make them internet home business millionaires overnight without putting in any thoughts and efforts.

4. Lack of Vision.

They seriously lack passion, determination and a vision that is very important to succeed in anything you do online or off line.

If you have the right vision, you can succeed in your internet business beyond your wildest dreams.

5. Goal Setting.

They do not setup up goals. Goal setting is very important to the success of your internet home based business.

If you do not setup goals, everything is useless, believe it or not.

You need to know where you have to go, your final destination to shoot, if at all you want to achieve it.

Once you setup your goal, laws of universe will help you to reach there and provide you ways to achieve it.

Apply the above steps sincerely and I bet you will soon achieve your internet million dollar dreams very soon.

Compaq Presario C502US 15.4" Laptop

2008-02-16T11:46:00.001+07:00

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Wherever your hectic schedule takes you, you'll stay productive thanks to reliable Compaq Presario C502US notebook PC, which offers all the basics at a nicely affordable price. Optimized for mobile performance, this 6.6-pound laptop is powered by the battery sipping 1.86 GHz Intel Celeron M 440 processor and features 54g wireless networking (802.11b/g), enabling you to stay connected at coffeeshop and airport hotspots. Its 15.4-inch WXGA BrightView display supports High-Definition playback enhanced by Altec Lansing audio. Other features include an 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), Intel GMA 950 video processor with up to 64 MB of shared video RAM, and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive.
This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, which delivers a safer, more reliable, and more productive computing environment. It integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

Processor: The Intel Celeron M Processor 440 is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. The 1.86 GHz speed is complemented by a speedy 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and a 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) This processor sits near the top of its class (as of January 2007).
Hard Drive: The 80 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) has become the average size for notebook PCs. It provides enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

Memory: The 512 MB of installed RAM (1 x 512 MB DDR2) is enough to get you started, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. It provides two DIMM slots and has a 2 GB maximum RAM capacity. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

DVD/CD Drive: With the included DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, you'll be able to watch DVD movies as well as burn data and your favorite music mixes to CD. It has a 24x write speed for CDs.

Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a full-sized 101-key keyboard and touchpad with four-way scroll zone on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.
Screen, Video & Audio
The 15.4-inch LCD offers a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The widescreen display gives increases the width of the notebook's display while giving the computer the form factor of a smaller computer, so it takes up less space on your desk or in your briefcase. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 64 MB of shared video memory. It also offers an integrated audio card and built-in Altec Lansing speakers.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. You get a very basic offering of connectivity options:

2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 VGA monitor port
1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).
Operating System
Windows Vista Home Basic is the operating system for users with basic computing needs, such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks. Additionally, Windows Vista Home Basic integrates new search tools throughout the operating system to help you quickly find the precise file or program you need.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Muvee autoProducer DVD Edition, Sonic Digital Media Plus, PC Recovery, and Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.1 x 10.2 x 1.38/1.77 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 6.6 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which provides between 1.5 and 2 hours of battery life (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Compaq Presario C502US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.

Product Description
Compaq Presario C500 series Notebook PC is an affordable notebook with a neat design and powerful performance. Mobile computing brings more flexibility and convenience to use this PC on the move, whenever and wherever.

HP iPAQ hx2495 Pocket PC

2008-02-16T11:35:00.001+07:00

Better Together

Buy this item with HP iPAQ hx2495 ClearTouch Anti-Glare Screen Protector by BoxWave Corporation today!

Buy Together Today: $392.90

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Technical Details
3.5" TFT Active Maxtrix screen with 16-bit color
IrDA, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11b data link protocols
Includes touch-screen, five-way navigation button and stylus input sources
Operates on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium Edition
One-year warranty
› See more technical details

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Details

Product Dimensions: 3 x 0.6 x 4.7 inches ; 5.8 ounces
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
ASIN: B000AR7QXW
Item model number: FA674A#ABA
Average Customer Review:
22 Reviews
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4 star: (3)
3 star: (2)
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(22 customer reviews)
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,956 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

How Do I Get My Business On The Internet?

2008-02-16T10:08:00.000+07:00

by: Ivana Katz

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by small business owners. They are feeling the pressure from their customers and competitors, yet for many business people it is a daunting task, as they don't understand the whole process. In fact, many people are even asking the question whether they should have a website. Whether you are a consultant, florist, designer, builder, architect or a doctor, consider the many advantages a website provides: 1. Make money - Set up an on-line store or get paid for advertising from other companies 2. Save money on advertising - Instead of paying for large ads, simply advertise your website 3. Be flexible in your message - Change the content as your business changes. No need to re-print expensive brochures. 4. Exposure to new customers - You will reach more local clients as well as interstate and global markets 5. Having more professional image - Keep up with the times and your competitors 6. Save time - Don’t spend hours on the phone, direct customers to your website 7. Keep your business open 24/7 - Provide customers information when THEY need it. If you don’t, someone else will. So what does it really take to get your website set up? Step 1 - Register your domain name OR not. The big question is whether you need to register a domain name or not. The simple answer is NO, but a better answer is YES it is a good idea. What is a domain name? The purpose of a domain name is similar to that of a street address or telephone number. The domain name directs customers to you on the Internet. The domain by itself is not your email or web address. The domain does form the base from which these addresses are derived. For example: Company Name: QikPhone Domain Name: qikphone.com.au Web Address: www.qikphone.com.au Email Address: sales@qikphone.com Do I need to register a domain name to have a website? NO, you don't need to have your own domain name. Your website can be created and hosted without it. Your website address will look something like this: www.web4business.com.au/JBCleaning OR www.ozemail.com.au/~JBCleaning The only advantage of not registering a domain name is that you will save yourself a few dollars. The disadvantages of NOT having your domain name include: 1. If you decide to change your Webhosting company or if that company goes out of business, you will lose your website address. Your website can be transferred to a new company, but your address will change. And that means re-printing stationery and re-doing all your advertising, notifying all your customers etc. 2. Website addresses that contain information other than your company name are long and hard to remember and do not appear as professional. Compare these two and see which one you are more likely to remember: www.ozemail.com.au/~JBCleaning OR www.JBCleaning.com.au So it is a good idea to register a domain name, even if it is just to protect yourself for the future. Say for example, your business name is JB Cleaning and you decide not to register your domain name for now. Along comes Joe Bloggs who opens his own cleaning business and registers JBCleaning.com.au domain name. After a year you decide you want to have your own domain name, but since Joe Bloggs already owns it, you won't be able to register it. Not to mention your customers who know your business as JB Cleaning may visit his website, thinking it's your web address and instead hire Joe Bloggs Cleaning. Step 2 - Plan your website. Planning your website is a two part process: (a) Decide on the website design (colour schemes, buttons, special effects etc). This is your website designer's job. However, you may have a preference for a certain colour or look. To help you choose a design, you may wish to check out other people's websites or work with your web designer's pre-set templates. (b) The content. There are many items you may wish to include on your website. The most common ones include: 1 Product/Service Details 2. Contact Information 3. Pricing 4. Testimonials 5. Frequently Asked Questions 6. Response Form, such as "Join Mailing List" 7. On-line Magazine or Newsletter 8. Resources & Articles 9. Guarantee 10. Survey 11. Events Calender 12. Search My Website Form 13. Refund Policy 14. Privacy Policy 15. About Us Information 16. Site Map 17. Copyright information 18. Useful Links 19. Media Information 20. On-line store 21. News 22. Directions to Your Bricks & Mortar Premises Step 3 - Choose a Web Hosting Company. What is a Web hosting Company? A webhost is a company that provides server space for your website. You can think of a web host as a commercial building. The web host provides space for your website just as a commercial building provides space for your shop or office. You can build your own building and you can host your own website, but because of the cost and expertise required it is easier to rent the space. Which Company Should I Choose? Webhosting companies are not created equal so you need to take a number of things into account when selecting one. A proven track record, experience and reliability form the foundation of any successful business partnership. Some of the issues you should consider when choosing a webhosting company include: 1. Support - Does it provide comprehensive Technical Support - 24 hours a day, seven days a week? 2. Reliability - Does it have multiple large-scale links to the internet to provide a fail-safe path to your customers from anywhere in the world? 3. Security - Does it have a robust security system that minimises risk of web site intrusion? 4. State-of-the-art - Does the company utilises leading edge technology and is supported by a large-scale uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. 5. Scalability - Does the product range and services offered allow your business to grow without impediment by making it easy to upgrade and add components to existing product levels. Step 4 - Getting people to your site. The marketing of your website is important if you want to draw visitors to your site. If you don't promote your website no-one will ever see it. There are a number of different ways of advertising your website. The best strategy is one, which integrates your existing promotion methods with your website. 1. Office Stationery - Including your web address and email address on your stationery is probably the easiest way to draw attention to your site. It's cost effective and gets your Internet presence out there in the market place. 2. Business Cards - When printing business cards you should include the individual's email address and main address of your website. 3. Radio Advertising - Radio Advertising should include your web address. Don't include the http://, try "Visit us on the internet at w-w-w-dot-qikphone-dot-com-dot-au". If your budget is limited, you may wish to consider community radios. 4. Email and Mail-Outs - Let your current customers know the details of your website. You can either send them an email or a letter/postcard. Keep your website's content up-to-date and they will keep coming back! 5. Print Media - Print advertising should include a generic email address for the company and include your website address. Normally positioned at the bottom right or bottom centre of your advertisement. 6. Search Engines & Directories - People looking for your website who don't know the URL are most likely to use an on-line search engine to look for your organisation or the kind of products and services you offer. There are over 300 major search engines and directories, but you should concentrate on the larger, more commonly used ones. These include: Google, Yahoo, Altavista, Anzwers, Inktomi, Infoseek, Lycos, Excite, HotBot, MSN, Dogpile, AllTheWeb etc. 7. Links from other websites - A good way to attract visitors to your site is through the use of hyperlinks placed on other sites. If you know of another site which has a list of links and you think your website would be a good addition, let the website owner know. You might also offer to provide a link from your site back to the other site. This will encourage the webmaster to include your site. You should also seek out partners for trading links including vendors, suppliers and providers of complimentary products. 8. Link Exchange - Another way to getting a link is through a system called Link Exchange, a free public service designed to help websites advertise each other. With Link Exchange, you agree to display advertising banners for other Link Exchange members and they agree to display banners for you. The System is automatic, you simply add a piece of HTML code to your web page and Link Exchange will display an advertisement for another website. The disadvantage with Link Exchange is that you don't get any control as to where your banner ad appears or the type of banner ads that will appear on your website. It is not possible to guarantee that a competitor of yours may have their banner ad displayed on your site. 9. Paid Banner Advertising/Affiliate Marketing Programs - Various sites give you the opportunity to purchase banner advertising on their site. Some sites will charge you a flat monthly fee while other sites will charge you based on the number of people who see your ad. For more information about marketing your website read "30 ways to promote your website on a shoestring budget" http://www.websites4smallbusiness.com.au/ArticlesIK30waystopromote.htm Step 5 - Monitor your site's statistics Your website's statistics should show who visits your website, where in the world they come from, how they are finding your site and what pages are being viewed. Knowing your customers is the first step in effective marketing. Most webhosting companies will provide access to this information free of charge. Step 6 - Maintaining your website It is important to update your website regularly to keep your customers interested. One of the great advantages of having a website is that you can change its content virtually overnight at minimal cost (unlike re-printing brochures and flyers). This is just a brief overview of the process involved in getting your website up and running. In future articles we will cover each step in more detail. For more information about getting your business on the internet you may also wish to check out: Frequently Asked Questions About Websites http://www.websites4smallbusiness.com.au/ArticlesIKFAQsreWebsites.htm 10 Tips for Planning an Outstanding Website http://www.websites4smallbusiness.com.au/ArticlesIK10TipsforPlanning.htm 8 Tips for Designing a Great Website http://www.websites4smallbusiness.com.au/ArticlesIK8TipsforDesigning.htm

About The Author
Ivana Katz is the owner of Websites 4 Small Business, a company specialising in the design & promotion of growing, small and home-based business websites. She believes every business deserves to have a successful website. http://www.web4business.com.au