With Steps 1 to 10, your online business is taking on shape. As analogy, if this is a physical store or real whole business, you now have created your company name, your product, your office or factory, your business contact information. Next we are putting in the finishing touches for the big opening ceremony, with these Steps.
Step 11
Start building your website. You can use redesign website templates, most come free.
You can build your website using website design software like XSitePro, Dreamweaver and FrontPage. In fact most web hosting accounts has build in website builder tools. The tools you finally chose depends on the level of refinement in your website and your skills.
Important points to note:
- If you find the website work too technical or too boring, you don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can outsource the work to people for a low cost.
- Most of the website hosting companies also offers that kind of services to their clients
- Although you don’t have to do it all, you need to know enough to tell them exactly what you want done
Step 12
You need to write your sales copy now, which will be a page on your website. Write it like you will be presenting your product to a prospective customer.
There are three ways to get this done:
- Write it yourself
- Use software to guide you.
- Hire someone to write for you
Day 13
Register for some accounts so you can accept payments online. Some resources you can use are:
- Click Bank – If you are selling digital information products
- PayPal.com
- 2CheckOut.com – Which accepts credit card
Day 14
Add your order link to your web site. This will incorporate the payment methods you signed up in Day 13.
Day 15
Get an auto responder, which is a mailing list automation system for you manage contacts and correspondents with your customers.
There are 3 types of auto responders:
- Local Hosted on your own computer
- Server hosted on your own server
- 3 party auto responder services like Aweber and Get Response
Day 16
Arrange a newsletter sequence in your auto responder and add a subscription form to your website
Day 17
You can now engage the help of other online marketers to sell your product for you for a commission. Set up a affiliate management system:
- Sign up for an affiliate management account or use some affiliate management software
- Configure your affiliate programs/links into your website site
Day 18
Upload your product (assuming you are selling a digital information product) to your website and arrange the download links.
Day 19
Upload your website to your server at the web hosting account your sign up for in Step 9.
The software to use is called ftp. A good ftp software is FileZilla
Day 20
This is opening day of your website or a soft launch. Unlike a real world business you don’t need to put up ads or brochures or engage a marketing company.
You use the power of the Internet in creating you instant-targeted traffic:
- Adwords by Google
- Yahoo Marketing
Congratulations, you have just opened an online store while working from the comfort of your home using just a personal computer and a broadband Internet connection.
