eBu$iness: 7 steps to getting your small business online and making money now!

eBu$iness: 7 steps to getting your small business online and making money now!

by Paul Wallbank
Released August 2011
Publisher(s): Wrightbooks
ISBN: 9780730376255

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Book description

Is your business website a money pit?

A source of frustration? A time-waster?

Does your business even have an online presence?

It's time to get your website working for you and making money.

The web and social media have become the new shopfronts where customers, staff and suppliers look to find people to do business with. eBu$iness will help anyone who wants to set up and maintain a professional web presence by showing you how to:

  • register an effective domain name

  • set up your own free or cheap website

  • use social media to your advantage

  • optimise your website so that search engines and customers can find you

  • take advantage of free local listing services

  • and much more.

Whether you already have a website or you're just starting out, eBu$iness gives you the tools and know-how to save time and money, and will help you to grow your business and make a profit.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Title Page
  4. About the author
  5. Chapter 1: Define your business
    1. What is your business?
    2. Which markets are you catering to?
    3. Where do you want to sell?
    4. What do you want from the Net?
    5. Budgets
    6. How do you sell?
    7. Timelines and business plans
    8. Credibility: the 360 degree brand
    9. Conclusion
    10. Checklist
  6. Step 1: The free web tools
  7. Chapter 2: Local directories
    1. Search engine submissions
    2. Google listing
    3. Microsoft Bing
    4. Yahoo!
    5. Local business centre listings
    6. Conclusion
    7. Checklist
  8. Chapter 3: Social media
    1. Talking, not shouting
    2. Facebook
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Flickr
    5. YouTube
    6. Twitter
    7. Conclusion
    8. Checklist
  9. Chapter 4: Blogging platforms
    1. Your internet provider
    2. Blogger
    3. Wordpress
    4. Weebly
    5. Other choices
    6. Conclusion
    7. Checklist
  10. Step 2: The name
  11. Chapter 5: What's in a name?
    1. The importance of a name
    2. Google search
    3. Domain search
    4. Social Media Search
    5. Business name search
    6. Trademark search
    7. Language issues
    8. International concerns
    9. Other intellectual property concerns
    10. Conclusion
    11. Checklist
  12. Chapter 6: Types of domain
    1. What is a domain?
    2. Choosing the domain name
    3. Explaining the DNS
    4. The types of domain
    5. Country-specific domains
    6. Alternative domain types
    7. Industry domains
    8. Conclusion
    9. Checklist
  13. Chapter 7: Choosing a registrar
    1. What does a registrar do?
    2. Country designations
    3. Costs
    4. Researching registrars
    5. Registration details
    6. Conclusion
    7. Checklist
  14. Step 3: The technology
  15. Chapter 8: Hosting your site
    1. Choosing a hosting company
    2. Reputation
    3. Data allowances
    4. Shared versus dedicated hosting
    5. Control panel
    6. Support services
    7. Local versus international hosting
    8. PHP scripting
    9. Email
    10. Other included services
    11. Reliability
    12. Price
    13. Conclusion
    14. Checklist
  16. Chapter 9: Site platforms
    1. Proprietary platforms
    2. Open source content management systems
    3. Wordpress
    4. Joomla
    5. Drupal
    6. Conclusion
    7. Checklist
  17. Step 4: The look
  18. Chapter 10: Designing a website
    1. Templates versus designers
    2. Choosing a template
    3. Shopping around
    4. The basic layout
    5. Watch the fold
    6. Hidden information
    7. Basic customisation
    8. The favicon
    9. Add-on features
    10. Keep it clean and simple
    11. Keep it fresh
    12. Search engine obsession
    13. Conclusion
    14. Checklist
  19. Chapter 11: The content
    1. Home page
    2. About us
    3. Contact information
    4. News and blogs
    5. Your products
    6. The elements of a page
    7. Allow comments
    8. Images and video
    9. Checklist
  20. Chapter 12: Payment options
    1. Online payment processing
    2. The chargeback
    3. Data security
    4. PayPal
    5. Google Checkout
    6. Other payment gateway services
    7. Shopping cart plug-ins
    8. Wordpress shopping carts
    9. Conclusion
    10. Checklist
  21. Chapter 13: Tracking progress
    1. Google webmaster tools
    2. Hosting services
    3. Wordpress
    4. Other tracking tools
    5. Comparing with other sites
    6. Google Website Optimizer
    7. Conclusion
    8. Checklist
  22. Step 5: Getting your name out
  23. Chapter 14: Search engine optimisation
    1. Who is your market?
    2. Finding keywords
    3. Relevant content
    4. Organic search
    5. Search engine optimisation
    6. Hints for search engine success
    7. Paid SEO
    8. SEO snake oil
    9. Images and media
    10. Local search
    11. Offline channels
    12. Conclusion
    13. Checklist
  24. Chapter 15: Paid advertising
    1. Google Adwords
    2. Other online advertising services
    3. Social media advertising
    4. Conclusion
    5. Checklist
  25. Step 6: Creating fans and customers
  26. Chapter 16: Social media rules
    1. Watching the feeds
    2. Twitter
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Facebook
    5. Forums
    6. Other social media services
    7. Conclusion
    8. Checklist
  27. Chapter 17: Staying in touch
    1. Email newsletters
    2. MailChimp
    3. Surveys
    4. Social media
    5. Web forums
    6. Old-fashioned media
    7. Coupon offers
    8. Conclusion
    9. Checklist
  28. Step 7: Staying relevant
  29. Chapter 18: Ongoing maintenance
    1. Where should you be updating?
    2. Cyclical information
    3. Current events
    4. New products
    5. Special offers and coupons
    6. Images
    7. Personal opinions
    8. Guest posters
    9. Dealing with the haters
    10. Conclusion
    11. Checklist
  30. Chapter 19: Future opportunities
    1. The SoLoMo revolution
    2. Online commerce
    3. Cloud computing
    4. Augmented reality
    5. Social media
    6. The customer
    7. Staff
    8. Conclusion
    9. Checklist
  31. Appendix A: Getting Australian Business Online
  32. Appendix B: Choosing a consultant

Product information

  • Title: eBu$iness: 7 steps to getting your small business online and making money now!
  • Author(s): Paul Wallbank
  • Release date: August 2011
  • Publisher(s): Wrightbooks
  • ISBN: 9780730376255