I had a children's retail store for 7 years. I just closed the store due to a huge rent increase.  I would like to now build a website (with a shopping cart ETC.)  But is it really that easy?  Or do I hire someone to do if for me?  Thanks!
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Easiest: Find someone to build ,maintain and secure your website.\n              They know web design, CGI, Html and SSL/TSL.\n               Price is not important, They must know what you want or required.\nEasy and Best: Get a seller/merchant account on Ebay(tm) and PayPal(tm) http://www.ebay.com \nSmall fee, great flexibility\nDIY :\n1)Get OpenSSL free at http://www.openssl.org \nFor secure Credit,ATM and Mastercard processing\n2)Get Apache Server free at http://httpd.apache.org \nFor processing the Site online\n3)Get a Static IP address from your Internet Service Provider so the customer can always find you. Need cash too.\n4)Learn SQL(Stock data and Client data), Html, CSS and JavaScript(Browser interaction) from\n    http://www.w3schools.com\nto design your Site\nHope This is Useful :)\nsidenote: You can use cookies to track buyer preference.\nIf possible read up on Firewalls Too.
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What web design software do have? Will be using Front Page? Once you understand 20% of the software you can build a site. There are hundreds of sites that offer free scripts etc...\n\nAlso I don't know where you are in the process, however if you see some function you like on another site, just right click click on view source and you can see how it was done - it will take practice.\n\nI am including a few places of help:
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Hi,\n\nIf you don't mind, could you please email us the project details, so that, we can also quote for a fair (and low) price?\n\nWe are the global provider of web, media, e-business and telecom solutions, since 1996, and have designed and developed over 350+ web sites, including some very big internet portals, large e-commerce sites and Flash based web sites.\n\nYou can contact us at 'contact at w2n dot net' any time, for more details, or to get a list of our past projects, and then decide yourself.\n\nBy the way, if you will choose us, you will get everything needed. Domain, Hosting, Designing, Development, SEO, Other Promotions, SSL Products, Marketing, and many other services.\n\n** You can search for 'rozaleenda' (without quote) in Google, and see the results yourself. **\n\n:-)
601914
With the continuous growth in competition in retail sector and retailers even struggling for survival, new and new techniques are being applied to set-up, establish and run the show successfully.\n\nYou have many suggestions above and there are hundreds of examples in real life, yet business are not the same over period of time with the retail stores and they keep on modifying with the changing pace and market situations.\n\nSo many factors would determine your marketing and business running techniques such as your competition, location, type of products - consumable or durables, your resources, flexibility in business model......Have you thought of seeking professional advice on the subject?\n\nYou have options of trying hit and trial methods, from amongst the various suggestions applying your logics or you can avail qualified and experienced business advice. It is ever changing market and you need to be continuously on alert and not just once to start and make it move a business.
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Hi!\n\nWell, I presume this will be a website showing you off, vs. a generic download site...\n\nSuccess will all depend on how well you market yourself, how "close" you make your members feel and how fresh you keep your content. \n\nI knew a girl who lived off of her web revenue for a couple of years... she was considerably overweight, but even with that, she was able to get enough monthly memberships to make around 30K / yr with almost NO marketing, web expertise, etc.\n\nHow much to start? Hard to say, but if you start small and build up, you can begin for virtually no money. \n\nDo you know how to do web coding, etc? \n\nI too am considering a concept for a site, but it will take months of planning and more money than you will need, because no one wants to see this guy "nekkid"..  :)\n\nFeel free to contact me with any add'l questions.
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One article that I found very useful is "7 Steps to Successful Web Site Development" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol142/website.htm as it takes to you all the decision steps that you need to take when starting an online business. Like any other business, startup period is full of "should I do this" or "should I do that" questions. The article is useful because it helps you think through every step of the way - from why do you want a website to who is your audience to how will you create your website to how you will market your new website.\n\nHere are the steps you need to take when creating your online business:\n\nSTEP 1: Set Your Goals - Why do you want a web site? What is the size of the online market? What are the goals for your website?\n\nSTEP 2: Develop Your Web Site Strategy - Who is your website target audience? What typically appeals to your target audience? How are the other websites (your competition) reaching out to this target audience? How will you measure your performance?\n\nSTEP 3: Set-Up Implementation Plans - What name will you give to your site? How do you envision the design of your web site? How will you create your website? How will you create your content? How will you maintain your website?\n\nSTEP 4: Start the Ball Rolling - Do you have a logo? For e-retailers, do you have the critical components needed to run an e-commerce site? How are you going to host your site?\n\nSTEP 5: Create and Launch Your Web Site - Have you uploaded your site with your chosen web host provider? Are the scripts and application you need for your website functioning well? Have you tested your website? \n\nSTEP 6: Promote Your Web Site and Measure Its Results - Do you have a plan in place to market your website? Do you regularly review your traffic logs and web site performance tracker? How are you going to get sites to link to you? Do you know the search engine keywords that you rank well? If your site is not visible in the search engine results pages for its keywords, what strategies do you intend to do? \n\nSTEP 7: Maintain Your Website and Grow Your Web Business - Continue to find ways to grow your web business. How do you intend to continue your education on web development? \n\nAs for getting traffic, here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible: \n\n1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement - if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.\n\n2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important -- and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more - that's additional traffic that you get for FREE!\n\n3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.\n\nIf you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com's "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm \n\n4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email
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A wise man once told me, "Fast, good and cheap. Pick two."\n\nIf you need it fast and you need it all, it isn't going to be cheap. That said, for what you want, you are best off hiring a consultant who will work out the details for you, rather than trying to find a single Web host or the like. \n\nThe skills you want are disparate enough so that you'll need several providers to do it right. A consultant who knows what he is doing will be able to find what you are after.
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If you are planning an e-commerce venture, I suggest you subscribe to the magazine Internet Retailer http://www.internetretailer.com . This magazine gives you strategies used by successful etailers and other tips/case studies that you can apply to your business. They have a Top 400 Top Etailers special edition that you can order that lists the top online sellers and what made them succeed (almost all are "big boys" but you sure can get good ideas).\n\nOne article that I found very useful is "7 Steps to Successful Web Site Development" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol142/website.htm as it takes to you all the decision steps that you need to take when starting an online business. Like any other business, startup period is full of "should I do this" or "should I do that" questions. The article is useful because it helps you think through every step of the way - from why do you want a website to who is your audience to how will you create your website to how you will market your new website.\n\nHere are the steps you need to take when creating your online business:\n\nSTEP 1: Set Your Goals - Why do you want a web site? What is the size of the online market? What are the goals for your website?\n\nSTEP 2: Develop Your Web Site Strategy - Who is your website target audience? What typically appeals to your target audience? How are the other websites (your competition) reaching out to this target audience? How will you measure your performance?\n\nSTEP 3: Set-Up Implementation Plans - What name will you give to your site? How do you envision the design of your web site? How will you create your website? How will you create your content? How will you maintain your website?\n\nSTEP 4: Start the Ball Rolling - Do you have a logo? For e-retailers, do you have the critical components needed to run an e-commerce site? How are you going to host your site?\n\nSTEP 5: Create and Launch Your Web Site - Have you uploaded your site with your chosen web host provider? Are the scripts and application you need for your website functioning well? Have you tested your website? \n\nSTEP 6: Promote Your Web Site and Measure Its Results - Do you have a plan in place to market your website? Do you regularly review your traffic logs and web site performance tracker? How are you going to get sites to link to you? Do you know the search engine keywords that you rank well? If your site is not visible in the search engine results pages for its keywords, what strategies do you intend to do? \n\nSTEP 7: Maintain Your Website and Grow Your Web Business - Continue to find ways to grow your web business. How do you intend to continue your education on web development?
110992
I don't think it's possible to open 1 yourself :( \nYou need to make a company O_o first!
119643
I am 16 and I have a small buisness doing what the first guy said. I have made tons of money just helping people do mundane things. Just reimage peoples computers, or hook up VPN, that sorta thing. Like he said, competeing w/ dell is going to be hard. But if you start to fix people computers, make sure you tell them that you are "starting out" because just in case something goes wrong, it will be all you fault, and the world is going to come crashing down. Drum up some customers, and you will have a small clientel. Take it from me, I have a samll amount of experiacne. Just don't take my customers...
631615
My site, the company, is a pain, if you have those programs all you need to do is find a 'hosting company.' Do a web search there are even still a few 'free one's' out there otherwise pick a company and sign up, send your money and they will give ya your URL. You need that to launch your site. My space ya used to be able to make the page using their site. Dunno if you still can?\n\nhttp://www.total-knowledge.com/~willyblues/
97201
1. You can sell products and run an ecommerce website like Newegg or Amazon\n\n2. You can publish information earn by advertising (through contextual advertising like Google Adsense and Yahoo Publishers Network; banner advertising such as Fastclick, Tribal Fusion and Burst Media; or your own ad sales)\n\n3. You can create members-only website and earn money throough monthly or yearly subscriptions such as most adult websites or Economist.com\n\n4. You can sell information products such as downloadable ebooks or CDRoms\n\n5. You can bring buyers and sellers in your portal such as eBay\n\n6. Sell services such as search engine optimization, graphics design, web design, online incorporation, domain broker, etc. \n\nOne article that I found very useful is "7 Steps to Successful Web Site Development" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol142/website.htm as it takes to you all the decision steps that you need to take when starting an online business. Like any other business, startup period is full of "should I do this" or "should I do that" questions. The article is useful because it helps you think through every step of the way - from why do you want a website to who is your audience to how will you create your website to how you will market your new website.\n\nHere are the steps you need to take when creating your online business:\n\nSTEP 1: Set Your Goals - Why do you want a web site? What is the size of the online market? What are the goals for your website?\n\nSTEP 2: Develop Your Web Site Strategy - Who is your website target audience? What typically appeals to your target audience? How are the other websites (your competition) reaching out to this target audience? How will you measure your performance?\n\nSTEP 3: Set-Up Implementation Plans - What name will you give to your site? How do you envision the design of your web site? How will you create your website? How will you create your content? How will you maintain your website?\n\nSTEP 4: Start the Ball Rolling - Do you have a logo? For e-retailers, do you have the critical components needed to run an e-commerce site? How are you going to host your site?\n\nSTEP 5: Create and Launch Your Web Site - Have you uploaded your site with your chosen web host provider? Are the scripts and application you need for your website functioning well? Have you tested your website? \n\nSTEP 6: Promote Your Web Site and Measure Its Results - Do you have a plan in place to market your website? Do you regularly review your traffic logs and web site performance tracker? How are you going to get sites to link to you? Do you know the search engine keywords that you rank well? If your site is not visible in the search engine results pages for its keywords, what strategies do you intend to do? \n\nSTEP 7: Maintain Your Website and Grow Your Web Business - Continue to find ways to grow your web business. How do you intend to continue your education on web development?
602704
With regards to planning your online business, I suggest you read the article "7 Steps to Successful Web Site Development" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol142/website.htm as it takes to you all the decision steps that you need to take when starting an online business. Like any other business, startup period is full of "should I do this" or "should I do that" questions. The article is useful because it helps you think through every step of the way - from why do you want a website to who is your audience to how will you create your website to how you will market your new website.\n\nHere are the steps you need to take when creating your online business:\n\nSTEP 1: Set Your Goals - Why do you want a web site? What is the size of the online market? What are the goals for your website?\n\nSTEP 2: Develop Your Web Site Strategy - Who is your website target audience? What typically appeals to your target audience? How are the other websites (your competition) reaching out to this target audience? How will you measure your performance?\n\nSTEP 3: Set-Up Implementation Plans - What name will you give to your site? How do you envision the design of your web site? How will you create your website? How will you create your content? How will you maintain your website?\n\nSTEP 4: Start the Ball Rolling - Do you have a logo? For e-retailers, do you have the critical components needed to run an e-commerce site? How are you going to host your site?\n\nSTEP 5: Create and Launch Your Web Site - Have you uploaded your site with your chosen web host provider? Are the scripts and application you need for your website functioning well? Have you tested your website? \n\nSTEP 6: Promote Your Web Site and Measure Its Results - Do you have a plan in place to market your website? Do you regularly review your traffic logs and web site performance tracker? How are you going to get sites to link to you? Do you know the search engine keywords that you rank well? If your site is not visible in the search engine results pages for its keywords, what strategies do you intend to do? \n\nSTEP 7: Maintain Your Website and Grow Your Web Business - Continue to find ways to grow your web business. How do you intend to continue your education on web development?\n\nWith regards to licenses, check with your local county and ask them for what an online business needs. You may need to register your business, know the rules for collecting sales tax, etc. Your county will be in the best position to help you.
415740
i currently use Yahoo! Small Business and their web hosting services. they are fantastic and have really grown my own website over the past four years. they have a merchant program which gives you support as you set up an online business and gives you pointers as to where exactly you can go from the start.\n\nif you don't want to start an online merchant store just yet, i still would recommend the web hosting package. it comes with site builder and pagebuilder so you can design the site yourself instead of paying a designer to do it for you. the package i have is web hosting starter and it costs me a little over 8 dollars a month. i have unlimited storage and great 24/7 support with Yahoo!. its cheap and has tons of storage and greap options. you should check it out.
174989
I have been selling home decor items online for about 6 months, with a friend's help (she does most of the work, I do the books & finances).  We have experienced several frustrating situations: many damage claims with UPS and FedEx, even though we have researched best way to pack our product; ebay has been making many changes to their site, which always affects the listed items in some way; and also the fees incurred to list items and to have a store is really ridiculously high. There is a fee for everything!\nOverall, we have enjoyed it-the shopping for inventory is the best! After 6 months, we are finally beginning to show a profit. We hope to expand to other auction sites soon.  Next will come a "brick & mortar store." My friend  just dreams of having a "real" store!
25983
You have no idea how long the answer to that question could be. Try searching Yahoo! for "setting up an ecommerce website" and read some of the articles.
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I know this might be for kids but it works: Go to yahooligans.com. go to "Ask Earl" and If you can't find the question "How do I create a website?", ask and keep checking back just in case there is actually an answer. He will probably tell you to go to a website that I forgot the name of. It tells you how to create a website, so follow the instructions and give your friends the URL so they can visit!