Starting up an Online Business in Simple Steps

<p>Top Ten Tips</p> <p>1. Assess demand for your idea<br>2. Choose and all-in-one domain and site building package<br>3. Consider creating a logo<br>4. Register for a PayPal account<br>5. Keep in contact with your customers<br>6. Understand SEO<br>7. Protect your business information on a shared computer<br>8. Understand eBay business basics<br>9. Understand Amazon marketplace<br>10.&nbsp;&nbsp;Understand e-commerce regulations that apply to your business</p> <p>1. Develop your business idea</p> <ul> <li>Choose a product or service </li> <li>Adapt your existing business </li> <li>Study the market </li> <li>Assess demand for your idea </li> <li>Analyse your business idea </li> <li>Find a supplier </li> <li>Assess start-up costs </li> <li>Create a business plan </li> <li>Learn about affiliate marketing</li> </ul> <p>2. Prepare to get your business online</p> <ul> <li>Check your computer’s operating system </li> <li>Update your browser </li> <li>Understand domain names </li> <li>Register a domain name </li> <li>Understand web hosting </li> <li>Choose an all-in-one website building package </li> <li>Prepare your product descriptions </li> <li>Take photos of your products </li> <li>Consider creating a logo </li> <li>Register for a PayPal account</li> </ul> <p>3. Create a basic web page</p> <ul> <li>Set up your Quick Shopping Cart account </li> <li>Start Quick Shopping cart </li> <li>Edit your store information and add a logo </li> <li>Customize your website template </li> <li>Understand your VAT obligations </li> <li>Add postage options to your site </li> <li>Enable your PayPal account </li> <li>Add product descriptions </li> <li>Upload product images </li> <li>Assign images to your products </li> </ul> <p></p> <p>4.Add email and edit your web page</p> <ul> <li>Set up your website email </li> <li>Assign a name to your email </li> <li>Launch your email </li> <li>Edit your welcome message </li> <li>Add categories to your site </li> <li>Add products to your categories </li> <li>Change category page style </li> <li>Change product page styles </li> <li>Edit and add new products </li> <li>Publish your website </li> </ul> <p>5. Manage you orders</p> <ul> <li>Monitor your orders </li> <li>Process a PayPal payment </li> <li>Buy and print a shipping label </li> <li>Log payments in your store </li> <li>Assign a package to an order </li> <li>Complete the order and enter shipping information </li> <li>Send your customer a note </li> <li>Mark the order as shipped </li> <li>Manage unique or non-inventoried items </li> <li>Inventory your store items </li> <li>Issue a refund </li> </ul> <p>6. Promote your business</p> <ul> <li>Create a special offer </li> <li>Create a coupon code in Quick Shopping Cart </li> <li>Keep in contact with your customers </li> <li>Understand SEO </li> <li>Define your key words for search engines </li> <li>Understand website analytics </li> <li>Use advertising credits </li> <li>Create a Facebook page </li> <li>Use Pinterest </li> </ul> <p>7. Explore other payment options and online security</p> <ul> <li>Explore PayPal options </li> <li>Consider setting up an Internet merchant account (IMA) </li> <li>Learn about SSL security certificates </li> <li>Protect your computer against malware and viruses </li> <li>Protect your business information on a shared computer </li> <li>Use wireless Internet connections safely </li> <li>Back up your data </li> </ul> <p>8. Sell on eBay</p> <ul> <li>Understand eBay business basic </li> <li>Research completed BIN and auction listings </li> <li>Understand eBay sellers’ fees </li> <li>Decide on a pricing and strategy </li> <li>Create a listing </li> <li>Write a title </li> <li>Add photographs </li> <li>Write an item description and set a price </li> <li>Choose payment options </li> <li>Select postage options </li> <li>Include a return policy </li> <li>Monitor your sale and respond to queries </li> <li>Print postage </li> </ul>