How to Start an Internet Business

Every year, businesses earn billions of dollars through the Internet. Internet businesses range from individuals operating out of their homes to large corporations employing thousands of people. Some Internet businesses come with everything you need to start, such as a drop shipping business. A drop shipping business allows a person to sell and ship thousands of different items from a wholesale company without actually handling any merchandise. The types of Internet businesses available to start are almost limitless.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Business plan
• Domain names
• Website
• Relationship with a merchant bank

1. Research Internet-based businesses whose focus is similar to your own to find out how viable your idea is.
2. Write a business plan before you officially start it. At the minimum, a business plan should include a summary of the business, business information (address, legal name, etc.), market analysis, financial analysis and management plan.
3. List as many options for domain names as you can think of in case the name you want is already taken. The domain name should be easy for people to remember and relate well to your area of business.
4. Purchase a domain name and web space. The web space plan can be a small plan at first and increase as you need it.
5. Design and publish a website displaying information about your company and what you have to offer.
6. Start a relationship with a merchant bank to process credit cards securely on your website.
7. Market your business online by trading links with other businesses and friends and purchasing advertising space on websites in your area of business.
8. Use mass email to let people know about your business. You can hire a company to send email out or purchase a list of people who show interest in what you offer.
9. Provide quality customer service by responding to inquiries from current and potential customers.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you purchase your domain name for as long as you can afford at the outset to show more stability for your company. Renewing a domain name one year at a time tells people you aren't sure you will last.
• Protect your personal assets by filing as an LLC or corporation (depending on business type) with your state.
• Purchasing more than one domain name for your business can direct more people to your business and protect you from the competition purchasing a domain name you want to use in the near future.
• If you don't offer secure credit card transactions on your website, the vast majority of people will not purchase from your online store.
• Search engines don't read pictures to learn about your business. You must have good text for the search engine crawlers to read and index your site.