10 Steps to E-Business on a Shoestring

Table of Contents

Introduction

Step 1. Define a Unique E-Business Niche
Thriving in a Tiny Niche
Differentiating Niches from Blocks
The Elusive Holy Grail of the "Ideal" Product
Unfilled Niches
Poorly Filled Niches
Camcordia.com
Partly Filled Niches
Creating New Niches
Brick-and-Mortar vs. Internet Niches
Finding and Filling Your Niche

Step 2: Devise an Adequate Revenue Plan
Traditional vs. E-Businesses
Advertising Revenue
Referral Revenue
Sales Revenue
Multiple sources of revenue

Step 3. Name Your Online Business
1. Develop a clear, simple statement describing your online business
2. List all the words that relate to your business idea
3. Brainstorm business name word combinations
Good Names, Bad Names
4. Check domain name availability
5. Check trademark availability
6. Purchase relevant domain name(s)
7. Apply for a trademark
Naming Resources for Your Online Business

Step 4. Assess Your Needs and Resources
Establish Phased Objectives
Consider Your People Resources
Examine Your Bartering Resources
Inventory Your Equipment Resources
Assess Your Financial Resources
Plan to Reinvest in Your Business

Step 5. Obtain Professional Website Design
Building Trust
Navigation Systems
Planning for Ease of Maintenance
Move Maintenance In-House
What Kind of Designer Should You Look For?
Clear Agreements and Specified Payments
Hosting and Domains

Step 6. Build the Trust Necessary for Success
Show Photos of Yourself or Your Staff
Show Photos of Happy People on the Front Page
Tell the Story of Your Business
Write in a Chatty Manner
Display Testimonials from Satisfied Customers
Make Credible Presentations
Provide Full Contact Information
Reverse the Risk for Your Customer
Trust-Building Associations

Step 7. Plan Low-Cost Marketing Techniques
Marketing Strategy 1: Search Engine and Directory Registration

META Tags
Search Engines
Directories
Paying for Directory Inclusion
Marketing Strategy 2: Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Algorithms and Alchemy
Gateway or Doorway Pages
Do-It-Yourself
Paying a Service
Marketing Strategy 3: E-Mail Marketing to Your House List
E-Mail List Servers
Privacy and Permissions
Collecting Information
Marketing to Your House List
Marketing Strategy 4: Paid Advertising
1. Sponsorships and CPM Advertising
2. Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising
3. Cost per Action (CPA) Advertising -- Affiliate Program

Step 8: Determine How to Receive Payments
Introduction to Internet Money Transfer
Comparisons of Low-Cost Funds Transfer Systems
Shopping Cart or Ordering System

Step 9. Deliver Products and Services Efficiently
Select a Low-Cost Way to Store Your Product

1. Warehouse Products Yourself
2. Buy from a Local Distributor
3. Drop-Ship from a Distributor or Manufacturer
4. Have a Fulfillment House Warehouse and Ship for You
Assessing What's Right for You
Select a Low-Cost Way to Ship Your Product
Digital Delivery System Options
How to Select a Fulfillment House
Fees and Policies to Ask About
Profiles of Two Small Business Fulfillment Houses

Step 10. Provide Excellent Service to Your Customers
The Importance of Happy Customers
The Importance of the Second and Third Sale
An Example of Excellent Customer Service
Finding Ways to Automate Customer Service
Investing in Customer Service
When Not to Automate Customer Service
Some Customer Service Resources
Customer Service Is a Management Decision
The Golden Customer Service Policy

Conclusion -- Wise Person or Buffoon

Appendix