[Dummies 01] • Starting and Running an Online Business For Dummies by Matthews, Dan -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Contents Introduction

About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organised Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here

Part I : Strategies and Tools for Your Online Business

Chapter 1: Opening Your Own Online Business in Ten Easy Steps

The Time Is Now Step 1: Identify a Need Step 2: Know What You’re Offering Step 3: Come Up with a Virtual Business Plan Step 4: Get Your Act Together and Set Up Shop Step 5: Get Help Step 6: Construct a Web Site Step 7: Process Your Sales Step 8: Provide Personal Service Step 9: Alert the Media and Everyone Else Step 10: Review, Revise, and Improve

Chapter 2: Choosing and Equipping Your New E-Business

Starting Off on the Right Foot Mapping Out Your Online Business Flavours of Online Businesses You Can Taste Test Marketing One-to-One with Your Customers Easyware (Not Hardware) for Your Business Getting Online: Connection Options Software Solutions for Online Business

Chapter 3: Selecting the Right Web Host and Design Tools

Getting the Most from Your Web Host Finding a Web Server to Call Home Fun with Tools: Choosing a Web Page Editor

Chapter 4: Profiting from New Business Tools

Advantages of Doing Business Online Exploring New Products and Services You Can Sell Adding Online Content and Commentary Building a Community Web 2.0 – What on Earth Does That Mean?

Part II : Establishing Your Online Presence

Chapter 5: Giving Your E-Business Site Structure and Style

Feng Shui Your Web Site Nip and Tuck: Establishing a Visual Identity Extreme Web Pages: Advanced Layouts Hiring a Professional Web Designer

Chapter 6: Attracting and Keeping Customers

Including Features That Attract Customers Writing Unforgettable Text Inviting Comments from Customers

Chapter 7: Building in Security Up Front

Practising Safe Business Installing Firewalls and Other Safeguards Using Public Keys to Provide Security Keeping Other Noses Out of Your Business

Chapter 8: Monitoring and Improving Your Business

Bolstering Your Infrastructure Performing Basic Web Housekeeping Managing Goods and Services

Part III : Running and Promoting Your Online Business

Chapter 9: Easing the Shopping Experience

Attracting and Keeping Online Customers Looking for a Good Web Host: The 411 Boosting Business through Efficient Communication Making Sure That Your Web Site Is Up to Scratch Outsourcing Your Business Needs

Chapter 10: Running a Business on eBay.co.uk

Understanding eBay.co.uk Auctions Building a Good Reputation Preparing Sales Descriptions That Sell Providing Good Customer Service Moving from Auctioneer to eBay.co.uk Businessperson

Chapter 11: Accepting Payments

Sealing the Deal: The Options Enabling Credit-Card Purchases Exploring Online Payment Systems Fulfilling Your Online Orders

Chapter 12: Service with a Virtual Smile

The Best Customer Is an Informed Customer Helping Customers Reach You Making Customers Feel That They Belong

Chapter 13: Search Engines: What You Need to Know

Understanding How Search Engines Find You Going Gaga over Google Leaving a Trail of Crumbs Monitoring Traffic: The Science of Webanalytics

Part IV : The Necessary Evils: Law and Accounting

Chapter 14: Making It All Legal

Thinking about Trade Names and Trademarks Practising Safe Copyright Understanding Legal Basics Your Business in the Eyes of the Law Keeping Out of Legal Trouble

Chapter 15: Online Business Accounting Tools

ABCs: Accounting Basics for Commerce Accounting Software for Your Business The Taxman Cometh: Concerns for Small Business

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 16: Ten Must-Have Features for Your Web Site

Secure Easy-to-Remember URLs Provide a Convenient Payment Method Promote Security, Privacy, and Trust Choose Goods and Services That Buyers Want Have a Regular Influx of New Products Be Current with Upkeep and Improvements Personally Interact with Your Customers Post Advertisements in the Right Places Blow Your Own Trumpet Create a Well-Organised Web Site

Chapter 17: Ten Hot Ways to Be an Ontrepreneur

Start a Blog Turn Your Hobby into a Business Get Other People to Contribute Inspire Others with Your Thoughts Offer Your Services on a Directory Ask for Contributions Give Out Not-So-Free Advice Turn to Your Pets for Help Become a Mine of Information Need Income? Just Ask! Expand Your Existing Business to the Web

Chapter 18: Ten Must-See Web Sites for Online Entrepreneurs

Realbusiness.co.uk Google.co.uk UKWDA.org Businesslink.gov.uk HMRC.gov.uk Ebay.co.uk Startups.co.uk Guardian Technology Idiottoys.com Order-order.com

: Further Reading