The everything guide to starting an online business The latest strategies and advice on how to start a profitable Internet business
Book - 2013
Whether it is a full-time online consulting business or just selling your crafts on the side, starting an Internet enterprise is a very appealing prospect to a budding entrepreneur. This guide takes you from developing an idea to sharing it with the world, whether you just want to make some extra cash or a steady income stream.
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
Avon, MA :
Adams Media
[2013]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Physical Description
- 304 pages ; 24 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 296-298) and index.
- ISBN
- 9781440555305
- Top 10 Tips You'll Learn about Online Business
- Introduction
- 01. Setting the Stage!
- Self-Evaluation
- Pros of Starting Your Own Business
- Cons of Starting Your Own Business
- Before You Start
- The Upside of a Down Economy
- Know What You Don't Know
- Think Like a Businessperson
- Talk to the Experts
- Plan Your Exit Strategy Now
- 02. How Much Time Will You Spend?
- Make Money in Your Spare Time
- Building an Entire Business Operation
- Hybrid Offline-Online Businesses
- 03. When Opportunity Knocks
- The Upside to Downsizing
- Your Idea, Someone Else's Know-How
- Taking the Family Business Reins
- Business Brokers Shop for You
- Know What's Hot
- 04. Meet the Expert: You
- Highlight Your Track Record
- Licenses and Certifications
- Advanced Degrees
- How Many Letters Do You Need after Your Name?
- Get on the Speaker Circuit
- Blog Your Way to the Head of the Pack
- 05. Finding That Killer Idea
- All You Need Is One Great Idea
- Make Sure Your Idea Can Be Profitable
- Buy a Proven Winner
- 06. Networking
- Join Your Tribe
- Civic Organizations
- Associations and Organizations
- Industry Awards
- Professional Networking Groups
- Volunteering as a Strategy to Meet New Customers
- Social Networking Sites
- 07. Researching the Market
- Conducting Market Research
- Assessing Your Potential Market
- Industry Trends
- Scout Out the Competition
- Find Your Niche
- Name Your Business
- Domain Names
- 08. Online Businesses
- Business Acronyms
- Online Product Sales
- Online Services Sales
- Information Marketing
- E-Mail Course Delivery
- Online App Sales
- Membership Sites
- Online Service Marketplaces
- 09. Working "in" the Web Machine
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Content/Writing/Blogging/Tweeting
- Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing
- Training
- Setting Fees
- 10. Caution-Online on the Edge
- Fraud
- Spam
- Unethical Practices
- Know Your Moral Compass
- 11. Structuring Your Business
- Partnerships
- Sole Proprietorships
- Corporations
- Limited Liability Company
- Joint Ventures
- Get Tax Advice Now!
- 12. Crafting a Business Plan
- How to Know If You Need a Business Plan
- Getting Ready
- A Step-by-Step Guide
- Financial Plan
- Reviewing and Tweaking Your Plan
- 13. Get Your Capital Act Together
- Finance Basics
- How to Get Start-Up Cash
- Venture Capital-Know All Your Options
- Silent (or Not-So-Silent) Partners
- Opening Funding Doors in Any Economy
- Personal Credit Scores Matter
- Prove Your Business to Be Loan-Worthy
- Good Documents Are Gold
- 14. Put a Financing Plan in Place
- Traditional Loan Offerings
- Special Loan Programs
- Loan Sources Other Than Banks
- Vendors
- How Soon to Profitability?
- When You Have the Money in Hand
- 15. Regulations and Legal Matters
- Licensing and Regulations
- Inspections
- Zoning Ordinances
- Leases
- Fictitious Name Forms
- Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights
- Agencies, Agreements, and Regulations
- Privacy, Age Restrictions, and Digital Rights
- 16. Locating Your Business
- The Right Space
- Storefront Businesses
- Office Space
- Manufacturing and Warehouse Space
- Home-Based Businesses
- Shared Services
- 17. Furnishings and Equipment
- Assessing Your Needs
- Comfort and Layout
- Telephone Systems
- Cost-Effective Decisions
- Cost-Cutting Ideas
- Technology-Get Up to Speed
- 18. Building Your Online Presence
- What Is Your Site's Purpose?
- Building a Website
- Hiring a Professional Web Designer
- Ten Tips for a Site That Sells
- Web Hosting
- Domain Names-Again
- Preparing to Launch Your Site
- 19. The Laws of Website Attraction
- Start with Market Research
- Identifying Your Target Market
- Reaching Your Market
- Publicity
- Search Engine Marketing: Bidding for Keywords and Clicks
- SEO: Search Engine Optimization
- Social Media Marketing: Power and Pitfalls
- Link Exchanges
- QR Codes
- Posting in Forums and Groups
- Offline Marketing
- 20. Selling Online
- Service Business
- Retail Sales
- Get Linked with Compatible Sites
- Auction Sales
- Payment Options
- Shopping Cart Concepts
- Credit Card Gateways
- 21. Advanced Concepts: Converting Browsers to Buyers
- Conversion
- Landing Pages
- Copywriting Tips
- Squeeze Pages
- Pop-Ups
- Chat
- Cross-Selling and Up-Selling
- 22. Customer Relationship Management
- Capturing Nonbuyers
- E-Mail Marketing
- Marketing Automation
- Opportunity Management
- Play Fair When Getting Your Online Customers
- 23. Product and Services Management
- Nimble Inventory Management
- Product Procurement
- Pricing Your Goods and Services
- Services
- Automated Fulfillment and Supply Chain
- 24. Employees: Choose Well, Manage Well
- Prepping Before Hiring
- Where to Find Your Staff
- Staff Alternatives: Contractors, Freelancers, and Interns
- Interviewing Candidates
- Running Background Checks
- Outsourcing
- Virtual Assistants
- Attracting and Keeping Great Employees
- Establishing Rules and Policies
- Show Them the Money-and Benefits
- Letting People Go-Know the Law
- 25. Bookkeeping, Record Keeping, and Administrative Tasks
- Good Records Keep Things Going Smoothly
- Establish Bookkeeping Procedures
- Keeping Track of Your Business
- Choosing Accounting Software
- Record Keeping and Administrative Needs
- Who Should Do the Administrative Duties?
- 26. Insurance and Tax Information
- What You Need to Pay and When
- Proper Deductions Help Profits
- Employment Taxes
- Tax Planning with a Pro
- Insurance and Risk Management
- Evaluating Your Insurance Needs
- Appendix A. A Winner's Checklist-Tips and Tricks
- Customer Service
- Make Relationships the Highest Priority
- Employee Development
- Stay Abreast of Industry Changes
- Make Your Company a Leader
- Monitor Cash Flow
- Planned Expansion
- No One Knows Your Business Better Than You
- Hold On to Your Sanity
- Know When to Hold, Know When to Fold
- Appendix B. Case Templates
- Making a Few Dollars on the Side
- Building a Business All Online
- Moving a "Real World" Business to the Web
- Appendix C. Additional Resources
- Government and Association Sites
- Other Reference Sites
- Index