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Business owners: How to develop and manage a website on a shoestring budget

by Cindy Hartzell

Created on: March 03, 2008

So, you want a professional looking web site for your business, but you can not afford the services of a professional web site designer. Never fear, there are plenty of great companies that offer on line business capabilities and will help you earn your share of revenue from the net!

Every entrepreneur knows time equals money. That's why it easier than ever to produce and have a professional looking web site that is capable of handling all your business needs. With WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) content editing, there is no need to learn html or spend your precious time agonizing over software tutorials. With WYSIWYG software, you simply just pick out the templates, formats and the other elements you prefer. Now, more than ever, WYSIMYG coding is behind the user friendly templates appearing before you on the computer screen.

If you are planning to sell items on the Internet, try testing the waters in an environment already proven successful, such as Ebay, Yahoo Small Business, or WebStore by Amazon. Many established businesses have segued from one or more of these sites. Your new store will be up and running as quickly as you can fill out a few on line forms, choose preferences and upload your merchandise! Of course, tapping in to all that success doesn't come free; each of these companies charge for the association, with monthly fees starting at $15.95, $25.97, $59.99, respectively, plus varying transaction fees and commissions. For more details and available options, visit the each of the web sites at the links provided:

http://pages.ebay.com/

http://smallbusiness. yahoo.com/

http://webstore.amazon.com/

Send marketing materials with your business contact information along with customer's merchandise for every sale placed through Ebay, Yahoo and/or Amazon. Once you have a good handle on Internet selling, you can transition over to your own independent web site, or you can continue and operate both. Many successful on line companies use more than one web site store and cross promote.

If you find you are ready for your own independent site or the retail format does not fit your business needs, there are still plenty of options. With WYSIWYG, you can literally have a web site up and running over night with web site building software packages like WebSite Tonight , Quick Shopping Cart and/or Merchant Accounts. Although there are other domain registrars, GoDaddy is well known for having competitive prices, excellent support and great customer service. Visit GoDaddy at: https://www.godaddy.com/. Check out all of their available products on line or call them (numbers are listed on site) to get help determining which products best suit your needs.

For added success, follow a few more simple guidelines:

1)Check with the Small Business Association (http://www.sba.gov/) to make sure your business will be operating legally by having needed licenses and collecting taxes.

2)Register a domain name that identifies your business and/or is an easy name to remember.

3)Add your web site link to all your correspondence.

174121_m Learn more about this author, Cindy Hartzell.
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