| Starting a business website is the easiest thing under | | | | the root (also called public_html) of your hosting space. |
| the sun - if you know someone who can guide you. Of | | | | This way you can set up a temporary index file to |
| course you can outsource but why would you | | | | redirect all traffic landing on the root to go to the |
| outsource if it is easy and the best man or woman for | | | | WordPress installation instead. Later on you can |
| the job is none other than yours truly. You may be | | | | always set up an introduction page or picture on the |
| scared of all the computer, internet and website | | | | root of your domain. You will then also be able to |
| information that you probably know nothing of. And it is | | | | easily reroute website traffic to a second platform you |
| OK to be scared. | | | | may later decide to install. |
| Every business should have the following: | | | | Most hosting companies provide Cpanel as the |
| 1. Domain Name | | | | software that you use to manage your hosting. Cpanel |
| 2. Website Hosting | | | | usually comes with Fantastico which include some of |
| 3. Website | | | | the latest well tested website scripts. With Cpanel you |
| 4. Mailing Lists | | | | should be able to install a WordPress blog within |
| 5. Marketing Plan | | | | seconds. The installation may be a bit tricky and you |
| Getting your business online can be done in under 30 | | | | may want to ask someone who have already installed |
| minutes. Before I tell what 3 steps you need to take in | | | | WordPress before, to either look over your shoulder |
| order to get your business website online, I want us to | | | | while you do it or to do it while you look over his or her |
| look at the 5 must haves I listed above. | | | | shoulder. That way you can see how it is done. If you |
| Registering A Domain Name: | | | | have Skype installed on your computer, you only need |
| Registering your domain name for your website | | | | someone who also have Skype but with a screen |
| means you hire the name for a term of a minimum of | | | | sharing add-on to show you what to do. |
| one year. Your domain name is yours as long as you | | | | Mailing Lists Are Essential But Can Be Illegal: |
| keep on paying for it and as long as it does not include | | | | Mailing lists are the most essential databases of |
| a registered trade name. | | | | contacts any business can have. You can have a |
| If you sell security systems you may want to use a | | | | mailing list of all the customers that bought a product |
| related search term in your domain name. If ABCSDF | | | | from you in the past, so that you can inform them of |
| Security is the name of your business, you do not | | | | future developments like upgrades or even related |
| have to register You want people looking for security | | | | products that they might be interested in as well. A |
| systems to find your website. Therefore you want | | | | restaurant owner can use a mailing list to collect casual |
| your site listed for a search engine result for the | | | | customers to promote his fancy dinners on Saturday |
| keyword "security systems". Looking at the | | | | nights or special events like a romantic Valentine |
| competition that already exist for that keyword, you | | | | supper. The fact is that mailing lists are essential to any |
| may want to go for a search term less people are | | | | business, whether online or off. |
| using online. A search term like "security systems for | | | | I suggest you stay clear of cheap software and to |
| homes" would be much easier to rank for. A Domain | | | | only make use of a double opt-in white listed automatic |
| without dashes is preferred and is also the most | | | | responder service. It is a nerve wrecking experience to |
| sought after domain name. | | | | lose your database of mailing lists or to have your |
| This name will also determine your business email | | | | website domain blacklisted. This can happen to you if |
| address. You can create countless email addresses at | | | | the autoresponder service cannot handle a spam |
| your registered domain. If you registered a domain like | | | | complaint on your behalf or because the mailing list |
| securitysystemsforhomes.com, then you can have an | | | | software you used, sent out more emails than your |
| email address such as john @ It not only looks | | | | webhost allows. |
| professional but it also promotes your online business | | | | A Website Without A Marketing Plan Does Not Exist: |
| website. | | | | If you do not get traffic that walks into your front door, |
| Getting Website Hosting: | | | | your off-line business cannot succeed. This is the |
| Website hosting is the place where you upload the | | | | same for your online business website. Once your |
| files for your website. The hosting companies have | | | | website is online you need to establish a marketing |
| computers that are nearly 100% of all time online. | | | | plan that will bring in traffic and brand your website. It is |
| Those computers are mostly super fast state of the | | | | not difficult at all and many free marketing resources |
| art and configured so that you can login and either set | | | | can guide you doing it yourself. Outsourcing should be |
| up or update your website. Business websites can | | | | carefully considered. Do not fall for any website |
| make use of shared hosting which is the cheapest | | | | promotion company or individual that promise a first |
| form of hosting package available. | | | | page ranking in the search engines. Search engine |
| Website Design: | | | | ranking is based on a secret formula that each search |
| One way to set your hosting space is to divide your | | | | engine company keeps locked up very tight. First page |
| installations into folders. This will help you if you want to | | | | listings for more popular search terms is more often |
| change things in future. Every website have to have a | | | | achieved by spending huge amounts on online |
| design. Your website does not have to be fancy at | | | | marketing, than not. Anyone that promises you a |
| first. I suggest using a platform that is free, easy to | | | | decent ranking in the search engines, is either going to |
| learn to operate and has plenty of templates readily | | | | have your website blacklisted for doing unnatural and |
| available for you to download for free or at a fee. I | | | | or illegal black-hat marketing or he/she lies to your |
| am talking about the most popular website platform | | | | face. |
| called WordPress. WordPress is a blogging platform | | | | 3 Easy Steps To Starting A Business Website: |
| that is ideal for someone that just want to write and | | | | Now that you have a decent idea about the needs of |
| have the website display what he/she wrote. You can | | | | your business website, here are the three easy to |
| enhance the look of your WordPress blog so that it | | | | follow steps as promised. |
| looks totally different. You only need to choose | | | | |
| another template for it to use when displaying the | | | | 1. Register a domain name and get a hosting account |
| content you wrote. Since your website can be | | | | (costs total about $5 - $10 per month) |
| operational with a minimalistic template that you can | | | | 2. Setup a blog & get a decent autoresponder account |
| edit and update later, do not think of buying a template | | | | (costs total about $10 - $20 per month) |
| or having one designed for you at this stage. | | | | 3. |
| I suggest installing WordPress into a folder and not into | | | | |