Starting an online business - tips

**JustOneUK** · 11-18-2007 08:37 PM

1000's of businesses come online every month (if not every day) people looking for a piece of the pie that frankly is just not there for most of them. I have seen so many businesses fail, websites close down, sob stories on forums etc etc. So let's post some....

TIPS FOR STARTING A BUSINESS ONLINE

My tip number 1: Get a GOOD domain name for your website.

If necessary buy several, talk to friends that you trust, ask advice from people, get ideas.. that name that you had in mind may not be the best.
Ask people what THEY think would be a good name for a website that sells <your product here>

Above all DON'T post the name you were thinking of in a FORUM, you might find that it's suddenly not available anymore!

**Pennywise** · 11-18-2007 09:45 PM

Good ideas. TY

**richkid** · 11-18-2007 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by JustOneUK

Above all DON'T post the name you were thinking of in a FORUM, you might find that it's suddenly not available anymore!

This is a good point. I always make sure I purchase a domain name before announcing anything of a forum... you never know who is reading

**zoobie** · 11-18-2007 11:35 PM

Great!

You're correct.

**AndrewJ** · 11-19-2007 04:55 PM

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Andrew

**deep_impression777** · 11-20-2007 05:07 AM

Yeah you must purchase them first if possible (especially if you think their great), even before you start pitching them in to people you know for their perspective. You might get all worked up for a name that has been taken in the time you have been deciding.

**JustOneUK** · 11-20-2007 07:44 PM

OY! You're supposed to chip-in with your OWN tips!

Tip 2
If you know nothing about websites... find someone who does.

Do NOT launch into trying to make your own website or simply sign up for a free/ready made website without discussing it with people who know about these things. If you are going to discuss your idea with them, and it's a unique idea, then get them to sign a non-disclosure agreement so that they cannot (legally) steal your idea. Before you agree anything with them in terms of websites...get another opinion, this is what forums are for

Again, make sure you don't give your idea away if it's something special/new/innovative.

**saquatch84** · 11-21-2007 10:06 AM

Here's a tip!
Remember that offline marketing is just as important as online marketing. A lot of the best internet marketers use classified and other forms of 'offline' and are making a killing from it.

**Sam0182** · 11-21-2007 02:46 PM

Tip 3

Niche. Niche. Niche.

**excelyourbiz** · 11-21-2007 05:16 PM

A big tip most new webmasters fail to realize is don't expect to become a millionare overnight, the process is long and you must be patient, your hard work will pay off in the long run.

**wealth2wealth** · 11-22-2007 12:51 PM

promoting is essential

**toml7379** · 11-22-2007 01:07 PM

Tip 4 - Pace Yourself

Concentrate on one thing at a time, this way you are more likely to succeed. If you have several projects running simultaneously, you are just going to get bogged down and you will ultimately fail. You CAN have more than one project, but only move onto the next one when the previous one has been perfected and is generating a steady revenue.

**JustOneUK** · 11-22-2007 08:46 PM

Tip 5
If you have a product or service.. KNOW WHERE TO SELL IT.

If you have something that will perform particularly well on eBay make sure you use it. Perhaps classifieds or local forums. Places not considered are potential sales lost. Amazon for example is somewhere not often mentioned in regular circles.

Search for your item and see where it crops up, see if you can get onto those places. Don't forget to check on different search engines - a sale is a sale.

James.

**gofrugal** · 11-22-2007 11:16 PM

For hosting , use godaddy.com.
There are several cheaper ones , but there will lots of headache.
When I hosted my site TheHardwareCity.com, I bargained with them and got dedicated server with 1GB ram for $61.50 /onth.

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