The Beginner's Guide to Starting an Online Business

by Christin Johnson, Owner of Trendy by Design

Starting your online business can be an exciting, but sometmes daunting task. In order to help you establish your online presence quiclkly and easily, we have outlined a simple guide to starting your online business in 5 easy to follow steps:

1. Register a Domain Name
2. Choose a Web Host
3. Purchase a Pre-Made Design or Order a Custom Web Design from Trendy by Design
4. Site Set-up and Configuration
5. Promotion

1. Register your domain name

• Registering your domain name is the essential first step that you need to undertake when you consider taking your business online. An example of domain name is http://www.yoursite.com . This is your online "Address", and will help your customers to identify you on the web.

Tips on Choosing a Domain Name

• Try to choose a domain name that is the same as your intended business name, easy to remember and/or will be reflective of your business concept. We recommend that you register your domain name yourself, rather than have your web host register it for you. This ensures that you have full control and ownership of the domain name.
• GoDaddy offers excellent domain registry services at affordable prices. We have registered several domain names with them, and highly recommend them.
• Be sure to check the spelling of the words in your domain name prior to registering your domain. Use Dictionary.com to ensure that each word in your domain name is spelt correctly.

2. Choose a Web Host

• When faced with the issue of choosing a web host, you must consider a variety of factors. You should choose a host that offers
• Disk Space and Data Transfer (Traffic/Bandwidth) adequate for your needs
• Easy to reach customer service,
• CPanel Hosting,
• Relaibility Guarantee
• FTP Access
• Email Adresses
• We have identified a list of web hosts that offer the above features and more. These hosts offer Content Management System/Shopping Cart systems all in one, and are appropriate for either Informational Sites or E-Commerce Sites. These systems allow you to manage the site yourself, AND sell products on your site if desired. You can find a list of these web hosts on our "Approved Carts" page.
• If you would like to create a Blog, or an HTML Information only site, or if you decide to use a different shopping cart system (such as ZenCart or CubeCart), we will be happy to recommend alternative hosts to suit your needs upon your order from our site.

3. Purchase a Pre-Made Design or Order a Custom Web Design from Trendy by Design

• Take a look at our unique Pre-Made templates and simply add the site that you love to your shopping cart, as well as any additional extras (e.g. business cards, eBay templates, etc.)

Please Note: All of our pre-made templates are designed to work with our Approved Carts , unless otherwise stated in the design details. Installation is Free for Approved Carts only. If you would like to use our Pre-Made design with another cart system, or as a stand-alone site, you must have knowledge of HTML and be able to install the site yourself.

• If you can not find exactly what you are looking for, we can create a Custom Design to suite your exact needs. We offer 2 categories of Custom Design: Informational Site Design and E-Commerce Design.

  An Informational Site is a non-ecommerce site (i.e. WITHOUT A SHOPPING CART), which serves to provide information about your business, products and/or services. Information on Informational Site Design can be found HERE.

  An E-Commerce Site is one which not only tells your audience about your company's products and/or services , but also enables clients to quickly and easily make purchases from your website. A SHOPPING CART IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN E-COMMERCE SITE. Information on E-Commerce Site Design can be found HERE.

• After you order your site, we will work closely with you to create your site according to your needs. Please see our Design Process to get an idea of what it takes to make your website dreams a reality.

4. Site Set-up and Configuration

• After you purchase a design, we will make the necessary adjustments to your site. We will install your template to your chosen web host (the cost of installation is Free only for installation to one of our Approved Carts ). We will email you as soon as your template has been installed.
• While we work on your site, we recommend that you organize your product descriptions, site photos, and setup your site's catalog. If you have chosen our "The Works" package, we will set-up your site's catalog and begin to install your inventory.

Although we have a modest client load, we work quickly and closely with you to ensure that your site is uploaded in a timely fashion.

5. Promotion

• Once you site is complete, you can begin promoting away! Be sure to submit your site to online directories such as DMOZ, join networking groups such as Ryze, post on message boards and Join Free Topsites, such as our Top Trendy Boutique Sites for maximum exposure!

Promotion Tips

• When posting on message boards, be sure to follow forum rules in regards to Ads ~ some forums prohibit ads.
• ALWAYS use your domain name and/or you banner in your signature for maximum exposure.
• Be sure to include your site's domain name name and oyur compan's name and slogan in the signature portion of all ourgoing emails.
• Word of Mouth Advertising works! Tell EVERYONE about your site.
• Have your domain name printed on your business cards, and be sure to hand out at least 2 business cards to potential clients daily. Ask friends and family members to do likewise!

For more Marketing and Website Tips, be sure to sign up for the Trendy by Design Mailing List.