How To Move Your Business Online in 7 Steps

So you have set up your company, fairly established and generating some sort of revenue. Why should you take the most important step of starting online?

The online audience is massive – it’s an information resource used by millions worldwide and continues to grow. Having your company information online can be a whole new way of attracting potential customers.

Step One: Choose a domain name

It is important to choose a domain name which is suitable for your business. If you want to be able to say your domain name over the phone, then it should be easy to spell and short to make it easier for your customers.

Usually, it’s best to have the name of your website as your domain name, for example; www.yourcompany.co.uk. If your company name has already been taken there are several ways around this, here are some examples:

www.your-company.co.uk

www.yourcompanyltd.co.uk

www.company.co.uk

You could also choose from .com or .co.uk which are the most common and popular, however there are different domains for organisations (.org.uk) or new ones such as .com.uk

Whichever you choose you must check the availability on www.123reg.co.uk

Step Two: Host your Website

What does this mean? Basically, you need to find a space where your website can be built on the Internet. A good metaphor for this, is finding land to build your house on, where the house is your website.

There are 3 main things you need to be aware of when choosing a company to host your site.

How large your site is i.e. total sizes of all pages which make up your site
How much bandwidth it requires i.e. how many visitors want to access it
How your website is built – if your site uses PHP, ASP, other languages or database driven this may increase the cost.
Step Three: Set Up your Email Accounts
Setting up your email accounts can be an easy stress free experience. There are 4 main components to each account, these are :

Username

Password

Pop account

SMTP account

These will be provided by your hosting company and all you need to do is add an email account with the above settings. Your hosting company will help you through this.

Step Four: Develop a Website

Either design the site yourself (see article called 'Can I design a website myself?') or hire a professional to design it for you. Ensure you capture all information you want to present to your visitors in an easy to navigate website - where information can be found easily.

There are many aspects to consider when developing a website. The content of your site is incredibly important, you may want to hire a copywriter or someone who is skilled in this area. Another aspect is the overall design and look of the site, depending on what kind of image you want to portray, a good eye for design would really help.

If you want to optimise your website, this is the time to be thinking about it. By optimisation we mean creating developing a website which can be easily read by search engines so that for certain keywords you can be listed at the top of a results page.

The last thing to consider is how you are going to maintain the content of your website. There are 3 basic options to this:

1. Website Maintenance - most web design companies will also offer to keep your website maintained for an hourly fee. So whenever you want to change bits and pieces you would get in touch with the designers who would up date it for you. This is best used for companies who may only want to change small amounts of their site from time to time.

2. Content Managed Systems (CMS) - if you feel that you want to up date your site more often, you can add a CMS. This is basically an easy to use, user friendly module where you can update, add, remove and edit your content and images.

3. DIY - of course you can Do-It-Yourself if you have some HTML knowledge (if your site is HTML) or are willing to put some of your time aside to learn. However, if your site is designed using Flash this may get a lot more technical.

Step Five: SEO Submission

Once your website is completed, you want to attract visitors to your site. The first step to allowing people to find you is to submit your website to search engines. The most important reason for this is so that search engines know you are out there, and if you get nothing else from it - at least when a user types in your company name, you should appear at the top of the search engines results. This is beneficial for anyone who may have heard from company name and wants to find your website on the Web.

Another important step is to add your web address to as many free directories as possible as this increases your page rank with search engines.

Step Six: Internet Marketing

There are millions of sites out there trying to get that number 1 position on search engines by optimisation, and unfortunately not everyone can have it! The more common keywords are exceptionally difficult and with search engines continually changing their method for ranking websites this has become a less effective way of Internet Marketing.

A much more proven Internet Marketing technique is Pay Per Click. The majority of search engines have premium listings where they sell the top positions on their results pages. The way they work is explained in more detail in the article 'How does Pay Per Click work'. However in a nutshell, the general idea is as follows:

You enter a price for every keyword you think a potential customer of your company would enter into a search engine, on average it is around 30p.
Every time a visitor clicks on that link they will be taken to your site.
You only pay when someone actually clicks on your link.
If more than one company put a price on a certain keyword, the company who has put the highest price gets the top position.

Other ways to attract visitors to your site is to place banners on other related websites which have a larger number of visitors. The banner would then have a link to your website.
Step Seven: Include your website on any stationery and promotional material
Now that you are set up, you can start publishing your website on any printed material so that your customers and clients are aware of it.

And that's it! Of course, this is just a summary, but in essence its the basic steps in having a presence online and getting the most out of it.


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Elaborations Ltd is a Design company with offices in West London. It was founded in 2003 by Brad Bagherian. Elaborations specialises in helping small to medium businesses create an image with an impact. A company’s image is just as important as its products and services, so we produce designs and create an image to give potential customers that crucial first impression and reflect what their company is all about. The main area which we concentrate on is presenting that image on the web, website design and development, as well as graphic design, internet marketing and multimedia.

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The Benefits Of Helping An Online Business Newbie

Do your remember when you first ventured out in the online business world? You probably had questions and problems along the way. Wouldn't it have been easier if you had help? When a newbie asks for your advice, educate them; answer their questions and help them solve their online business problems. If you do not have the knowledge to help them out, point them in the right direction. You'll get many benefits from helping online business newbies. Below are eight possible benefits you could receive:

1. You will feel good knowing that you had a part in helping them build their business. You can sit back and say "I had a part in their success."

2. They may become one of your best friends. Most people can use new friends, even business owners. You may even become business partners and create a totally new business together.

3. You could end up being strategic business allies in the future. You could regularly do joint venture and cross promotion deals with each other.

4. They may help you out with your business. Maybe they will give you some testimonials or endorsements for your products or services.

5. You might gain some valuable referrals from them. They may also join your affiliate program and make sales for your business.

6. They might offer you some free advertising space on their web site or in their e-zine for your help. You could also exchange advertising with them.

7. You both could end up developing a new product or service together. The product or service could be a combination of your current ones.

8. They might purchase the products you sell and become one of your best customers. You could sell them many back end products or services in the future. You help them with your previous valuable experience, and help them to save time and save money if you tell them which marketing resources and business opportunities are effective and reliable, and which ones are just hype to avoid. You will get rewarded greatly if you are doing a great job to help online business newbie.

There are probably many other benefits you could get from helping a new online business owner. Always remember to help them out because it's the nice thing to do and not just to benefit your own business.





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Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com

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The Top Ten Ways to Attract Buyers, Not Just Visitors to your Web Site

Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money into your site and are frustrated with low sales?

If you are like many professionals out there, you know your subject; you are excellent at your craft. You have a great service and maybe a great product to sell.

You may have hired a web master who didn't have a marketing background. You may have written home page copy about your mission and who you are. But when sales fall, you need to look at what's missing in your Web copywriting. You have only 10 seconds to impress your "to be" buyer.

Here's the top 10 ways to attract buyers, not just visitors to your web site:

1. Preplan and know your Web site's purpose.

When visiting other Web sites, do you often wonder just what they are about? What are they selling?

Without a clear purpose of what your web site does, your visitors will be confused and leave. First, make a list of everything you want to sell from the most important one to the least.

2. Write dazzling home-page copy.

If you don't give your reader a reason to buy or read further, she will disappear fast. For each product or service, write a benefit-driven compelling headline that leads your visitor to more information contained in your sales letter. You may have four different headlines on your home page because you want to sell four top products.

3. Use sparkling testimonials from the rich and famous on your home page.

On my site, a specific, outstanding testimonial by a fellow professional leads my visitors to my top-selling book "How to Write your eBook or Other Book Fast” sales letter. Make the whole testimonial a link.

4. Sprinkle testimonials throughout your web site.

Use at least five in each Web sales letter, on your coaching pages, free articles pages, and your teleclass pages. Most web sites miss the boat with just one link that says "testimonials."

5. Use a power benefit driven headline with specific benefits.

From your coach's web site this headline links to the sales letter for two books, "10 Non-Techie Ways to Market your Book Online," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet." It says "Discover How in Only 4 Months you can Quadruple your Monthly Book or Business Income and Reach 10,000 to 100,000 Internet Users Who Want your Information--GUARANTEED-To Move you to the Top Profits You've Been Dreaming About."

6. Make your layout clear, clean, and consistent.

You need to organize each page in the same layout—such as left centered, right centered, or centered. If you mix designs, your would be client or buyer will think you unprofessional. Go to other Web sites and choose a design that resonates with you. Keep every page in the same format.

7. Use color, font changes, and small graphics to spice up your site.

When visiting a popular site I couldn't even read it and get the email address because it was so dark. Use red and dark colors sparingly. Use a lot of white space between short paragraphs. Use graphics occasionally, but make sure they are small enough to load within ten seconds. Visitors are impatient and want information fast. Without easy-to-read and clear navigation, your visitors will leave.

8. Check your site often to see if you have any glitches.

Visit your site every week with a visitor mind set. What's clear? What's compelling? What turns you off? What do you like? Would you buy from you?

9. Put your content rich information beneath the headlines in short paragraphs.

When a visitor sees a long line of print, he gets discouraged because he wants his information fast, clear, and concise. Make each paragraph only 4-6 lines. Online readers want easy-to- read material they can get the main points from by skimming, and they want it faster than light rays.

10. Be consistent with your headings and body fonts.

Do not use all capital letters in your articles or headings. Make them upper/lower case such as *Sell More Books with a Powerful Back Cover.* Web copy is different from book copy. On the Web, make your headings in Times Roman or other with serif (tails) font. For the copy use Ariel 12 font without serifs because it's larger, and easier to read. This style is just the opposite of how you use fonts in your books.

When your web site thoughtfully helps your audience with a lot of fre.e information and shows them how to make a decision to buy, you can quadruple or more your web sales in just five months.
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Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says...and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Cullins

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7 Reasons You Want Referral Business and How to Get Them

Studies have proven that there is one reason why people don't do more referral business: they don't ask. There are two reasons why, they forget or they don't have a strong enough relationship with their clients, so they don't feel comfortable

The truth is every professional should strive to have all of their business be referral because the benefits of referral business are undeniable and extensive.


Referrals are more professional
Referrals make your job easier and more fun
Referral clients are more likely to call you back
Referrals are motivating
Referrals are more profitable
You have more credibility with referrals
Referrals take less time and resources

Keys to getting more referrals:


Ask for them - The worst they can say it no.

Have a specific and systematic way of asking for referrals. For instance, ask first within the organization, then within the industry, then within the industries that industry interacts. The process you use is not the most critical point, the critical point is your consistency, and making sure you don't forget.

Do not be too general and ask "who else do you know?" This will have him or her thinking about too many people. They will end up saying, "I can't think of anyone. I'll call with some names later." We all know what happens later, you never get the call or email.

Plant referral seeds throughout your sales cycle. During the course of your conversation(s)/presentation(s), the more people you get them to mention (the seeds), the more people you have to go back and harvest as referrals at the end of your conversation/presentation. Bring out and develop relationships, which you can later go back and use as referrals.
At the end of the day, the process of getting a referral is much less intimidating then the process of approaching someone completely new and with whom you have no history or reference point. Even more, referral business is generally much more rewarding then cold calling. Obviously, the referral process will differ depending on your industry and/or type of business (B2B, B2C, etc.), but no matter what you can develop a system. Increasing your referral business will make your job easier, your work more profitable, and your life more enjoyable. So next time start with the basics, and simply remember to ask.


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Jeffrey Czajka has been working in the training industry for three years with Freedom Speakers and Trainers. In that short time he has proven himself to be a rising star by motivating audiences to get the life they want. Not only is he an expert on referrals but he is also an accomplished memory trainer. Please click here for more information on Jeffrey http://www.deliverfreedom.com/speakers_jeffrey.html or Freedom Speakers and Trainers http://www.deliverfreedom.com. Call 888-233-0407 x215 email jeffrey@deliverfreedom.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Czajka

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5 Things You Must Do Well When Buying a Business to Not Get Burned

by Gregory_R._Caruso

Are you not sure what Business to buy? Need to know what is a fair deal?

Martin Smith thought he was buying an established business with good credit and collectable accounts receivable. The day after settlement the surprises began.

Inventory could not be used because expiration dates had past. Money shown as receivable had already been collected. Vendors that were only willing to ship COD. Over $100,000 of real problems that should have been detected during the business purchase process popped up and almost shut Martin down.

Can you afford to be surprised? Of course not.

You have the power to not end up like Martin.

Owning your own business is part of the American Dream. Buying a business has many advantages over starting one from scratch if you know how. Be prepared and get all the benefits of buying an existing business.

Tangible benefits such as existing cash flow, existing customer base, existing systems, knowledgeable employees, and locations can be obtained cheaper by buying an existing business than starting from scratch.

1. Understand and Know What You do Well and Like

You must really look at the activities you like to do and find a business that allows you to do them. For instance some people want customers to come to them. A retail store may work well for them. On the other hand some owners would loose their minds staying in a store all day; perhaps something with outside sales will work for them.

Are you a people person, a thinker, a leader, or a salesperson? Do you like steady hours, flexibility etc. How much money do you have to purchase with? How much money must you make every week?

Remember the process of buying the business is not the same as running one. Do everything possible to make sure you buy one you will love running.

2. Make a Comprehensive Search for a Business

Make sure you know how to look for a business. Don’t just go to one source but really check multiple reliable sources to find the business that is right for you.

Systematize your notes so you know what you looked at. Make sure you compare your strengths and weaknesses with the day-to-day tasks of running the business.

3. Understand and Value the Business Properly

Understand the basic financial techniques to value a business; it’s cash flow and other assets. Know how to prepare a basic business plan in order to make projections into the future.

Understand how the business is getting its customers. Know how it delivers goods and services. Know the cash flow and how you will keep the current cash flow and then grow the cash flow.

4. Know how to structure and finance a business

Have a basic understanding of how the business valuation and related cash flow tie together. Make sure you know a number of possible ways to put a transaction together to overcome different risks.

Understand what may be financed by a conventional bank loan, a SBA loan or seller take-back. Understand how to take your outline deal and put it into a final enforceable contract.

5. Perform Due Diligence Thoroughly and Correctly
Know what to look for when investigating a company. Know how to tie accounting records into source documents. Understand inventory, equipment, vehicle titling and other problems. Understand what should occur at settlement. Make sure you are getting what you have agreed to pay for.

Bonus Tip

Recognize that the Broker almost always represents the Seller. For most small business purchases you, the buyer, will go through most of the process on your own. Make sure you know enough to get select the right business and negotiate a fair deal.

Gregory R. Caruso is an expert at helping business owners plan and execute the sale of their businesses. Greg is an inactive CPA, attorney, and business owner with 20 years experience. He can be reached at http://www.successfulexits.com.



Article Source: Gregory_R._Caruso

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