eBusiness: Setting up a web-site

Ask yourself:

• Is your business suitable? – Are you providing goods or services that can be delivered easily world-wide (or, at least, remotely from your present location)? Or, if not, can you attract customers to come to you (hotel, tourist resort)?
• Are your customers (and potential customers) connected to the Internet? – Think carefully about what you need to invest, simple e-mail may be sufficient.
• Are you clear about what you are trying to do? – A Web-site can be used for a number of purposes (often simultaneously), including providing product support to existing customers, providing product information to potential customers, selling on-line, identifying prospects, receiving feedback from customers, advertising your business’ existence, capability and excellence. Which are you doing?
• Can you afford it – time-wise? – Establishing a site is only the first step. You must then update it regularly. How often depends on the nature of your business and the traffic you generate. Once a month is a good target to aim for. But it all takes time
• Can you afford it – money-wise? – Setting up a web-site costs money. Not a lot, to be sure, but it all adds up. Domain name registration (between £50 and £150, depending on where registered), site design (“free” if you do it yourself to as much as you’re prepared to spend – budget for £1,000 to £2,000), site-hosting (from €50 per month), on-line shop software (from £500), etc.

Other eBusiness topics:

• Getting started
• Why have a web-site?
• Setting up a web-site
• On-line marketing & sales
• Security
• Legislation
• Domain names
• Other issues.