SBGEN Blog by YEisHere! S-B Global Enterprise Network: Motivating, Assisting & Facilitating Entrepreneurial and Economic Self-Sufficiency

Being Self Employed – How To Set-up a Business Website

Steps 1, 2 and 3

For those of you that have been following the series, “Being Self Employed. . .” with the 15 Pre-Launch steps systematically checked off of your ‘to do’ list, the creation of your online presence is the next order of business.

The numbers 3 and 5 figure prominently in my life: born in the 3^rd month, on the 15^th day in a year that ends with both the numbers 3 and 5 ‘kinda’ marks me for being in resonant affinity with those numbers. Which is probably why my ’steps’ often come to mind in blocks of 5. . . . For this particular series, the business website, in order to keep things simple [Keep It Simple Sweetie – KISS] there will be 3 steps to each aspect of successfully creating your web presence. That being said, let’s get started!

1. Create a memorable and/or distinctive domain name. If you already have a following of customers for your home based or small business then by ALL means use the business name that is familiar to them. For example: you offer ‘in home’ pet sitting to people in your neighborhood and their families and friends. Generally you work 2 and 3 day weekends but are now ready to add week long ‘pet house sitting’ to your services. The city that you live in has a population of 100,000 and there are 10 pet shops that you frequent and you’re known at the local SPCA. You do some advertising by fliers, most of which are posted on public message boards around your neighborhood and your local library branch. All of your customers and potential customers know your service as ‘Annie Meyna – Pet Sitting at Your Service.’ Looking to acquire the domain name, AnnieMeyna.com would be an extremely wise first choice. I advise my customers to look also in the ‘.net,’ ‘.biz,’ and ‘.org’ domains for availability before giving up on the desired domain name. However, it is a good idea to have 2 – 5 alternate names, as ‘catchy’ or unique as possible, when doing your domain name search.

2. Conduct a domain name search. Of course if there are some domain names that you’d like to use, knowing if they’re available requires a domain name search. MOST web hosting sites offer ‘free’ domain name searches. You simply type in the desired name into the search box and within a minute it’s availability is returned for your further decision making. Also, you can go to WHOIS, DomainSearch, and Name Droppers which are domain name search engines and purchase/registration services. [Please note that I am not affiliated with nor recommending doing business with either of the aforementioned entities.]

3. Select a reputable hosting service. The web is FULL of web hosting companies and/or affiliates thereof. I am an affiliate for a few hosting services. I also own 2 domains and they are both hosted by different companies – neither of which I’m an affiliate of! Go figure. . . For my initial web host ’shopping’ I looked for services that had the lowest initial yearly cost, unlimited email accounts, unlimited sub-domains and 24/7 support services [although it appears that 24/7 only exists in alternate universes. . . .]. For the first year I received all of what I was looking for along with a pretty good control panel and some nice administrative ‘amenities’ [which means freebies that really add to the competitiveness of your site] all for under $25.00. In order to decide the type of control panel will be easiest for you to learn, you’ll have to contact the ’sales’ department of the potential host and inquire as to what their ‘back end’ or administrative control panel is. It appears that there are some control panel options that are fairly well used in the hosting communities such as VDeck, cPanel, etc. By clicking the links to VDeck and cPanel and reading the documentation, taking the tours, etc you can get a fair assessment for their ease of use. Certainly you can search the internet for ‘control panel software’ and come up with some additional options. At first the control panel wasn’t a major issue for me because I was determined to establish a web presence and I knew I’d learn to work whatever control panel I ended up with – it was a no brainer. NOW that I have brains, I want a really simple control panel that talks to me: says, Hello! when I log in; asks, How’s your day?; tells me my page hit stats and recommends new page layouts in line with the latest trends! That of course is something that some SUPER GEEK is working on this very moment and has yet to come to my attention, but I’m looking for it anyway. . . . In the meantime, do spend the time exploring the control panels offered by the hosting services that meet YOUR major criteria – doing so will give you a competitive edge in the do-it-yourself web management/design arena.

The best thing that I have found about surfing the internet for information, especially via articles and blogs, is most of what I want [in some cases wanted – when I run into a snag] to do has been done by some very intelligent, kind and sharing individuals AND is easily found when the right ‘keywords’ are entered into a search engine. And in light of all that I have gained by way of instruction, encouragement and plain old amusement on the world wide web, I trust that YOU are receiving note worthy assistance by way of reading my articles and blogs! Giving and Receiving is actually what makes the world a great place to be – for in the long run, and often in the short run, the good hearted giving is received and passed on in kind!

Taking the time to research domain names, site hosting and site management, which is what you’re about to engage in, is one of the most important investments you can make into your online business. Preparing for success is just like learning to walk – once you get your balance you can take off with ease!

YE is Here!

S-B Global Enterprise Network

S.U.R.-B.E.T. Enterprises

Money ‘Da’ Easy Way!

YE is an author; electronics, computer & gadget geek; certified holistic health consultant; grandmother and devoted traveler that currently resides in Georgia. She can be contacted for interviews, consultations and general comments at either of her websites.

©2008 S.U.R.-B.E.T. Publishing

Posted under $$Trend$, Being Self Employed, Business Opportunity, Money 'Da' Easy Way, SensiBusiness

Being Self Employed – How To Set-up a Business Website

Steps 7, 8, 9 and 10

Continuing with the step by step process for setting up a business website [for the purpose of both advertising your business AND doing business online] the following details require your creativity ‘cap’ is sitting squarely atop your head! In brief summary of what you’ve accomplished thus far, your preparations included: selecting a domain name and web host with a control panel that you’re comfortable with [learning if you haven't began 'administrating' your site yet]; choosing the site layout along with the design software [unless you've previewed the hosts complementary design software and are comfortable with it] and lastly you’ve made the purchase of both the domain and site hosting [preferably in one package]. With all of these matters behind you and squared away let’s proceed to the final aspects of setting up your business website!

7. Utilizing your word processing software create some verbiage for your first page. That includes the ‘about us,’ ‘our services’ or ‘our products, ‘contact’ information and a thank you note for visitors that sign up for your mailing list and/or sign your guest book. In the beginning it’s a good idea to draft anything that you plan to publish on your site in a word processor or even text editor so that you can gather your thoughts, allow your creativity to flow and make as many changes as necessary before opening your site design software or control panel! Generally, most computer/laptop users are familiar with either Word, OpenOffice or WordPerfect and this bit of familiarity can certainly work in your favor for draft purposes! Web sites are to be updated and perfected frequently and after 2 or 3 revisions in your site design software there won’t be a need to do your drafts outside of the software: all changes, additions and tweaks can be made and saved in the design software without being published to the web.

8. In order to publish your site from your desktop site editing software you’ll need an ‘ftp’ [file transfer protocol] client. Most ‘Basic’ grade software comes with a pre-installed ftp feature and following the instructions for entering your server information [provided to you by your hosting company], password and site file location [referred to normally as a directory within the 'root(domain name)/public_html/directory(site file)'. This may appear complicated for the absolute beginner but trust me, it isn't complicated at all! Just a matter of following the steps provided in the software documentation or guide/user manual [with this 'Being Self-Employed' information open in a window next to it] and the bulk of the uploading is automatic. If using the site builder software provided by your hosting company, launching your site consists of accessing the software, adding your information [cut and paste from your draft at first] and clicking on the ‘publish’ button!

9. Preview your newly published site and make note of where you want to place your ’shopping cart’ or payment preference information. Most hosting companies provide eCommerce options at no additional charge for up to 15+/- items and many site design software programs offer an eCommerce tool. There are also some free eCommerce options available which you can upload to your server and link your ‘market’ page to. Two popular programs are OSCommerce and ShopScript Free. Once you’ve chosen your ’shopping cart’ software, configure it with the products or services that you will be offering thru your website. Keep in mind that it’s fine to star out with one or two items, as you will have plenty of time and site space to extend your offerings at a later date.

10. The last and final step is actually comprised of two steps:

    1. Give thought to ‘monetizing’ your site by providing ad space to the major internet advertising promoters such as Google AdSense and LinkShare.

    2. Give thought to promoting your site in as many ways as possible: link and banner exchange programs; online forums and blog community announcements; pay per click and other marketing methods; email and electronic press releases are just some of the avenues you will want to take advantage of to draw traffic to our site.

Incorporating these ‘Being Self Employed: How to Set-up a Business Website’ tips and suggestions into your website creation and set-up with all of the other sound research that you have done will provide you with one option: success! Keep in mind that while your business may be ‘online’ and in ‘cyberspace’ the work involved and results netted will be ‘real world’ and therefor require real world expectations and effort.

Unless you’re selling the only known autographed copy of Ben Franklin’s 3^rd grade performance summary don’t expect to make zillions of dollars over night! Although with consistent promotional efforts, useful and/or unique products and services and the willingness to compete with others [as we do in every other aspect of life] you can make a very good living via an internet business website.

YE is Here!

SUR-BET Global Enterprise Network

S.U.R.-B.E.T. Enterprises

Money ‘Da’ Easy Way!

YE is an author; WebPreneur; electronics, computer & gadget geek; Certified Holistic Health Consultant; grandmother and devoted traveler that currently resides in Georgia. She can be contacted for interviews, consultations and general comments at either of her websites.

©2008 S.U.R.-B.E.T. Publishing

Posted under $$Trend$, Being Self Employed, Business Opportunity, Money 'Da' Easy Way, SensiBusiness