Product Sourcing News   

Website Set Up - 3 Tips for Starting Up Right

By: Chris Malta
CEO, WorldwideBrands.com

Starting an online business is getting easier all the time. Whether you're a current business owner, or a new Internet entrepreneur, there are many terrific ecommerce solution providers that make it simple for you to create a great-looking, low-cost web site that will allow you to instantly connect with countless potential customers.

3 Beginner Considerations
When creating your E-Biz, you need to view everything through your customers' eyes. The following are some key areas that new ecommerce site owners often overlook, that can make your web site more consumer-friendly and more attractive to prospective buyers:

• Choose Your Domain Name Carefully.
Your domain name is, in a sense, your business' online identity – it tells your visitors who you are. Consider the domain name that is right for your E-Biz: you want a name that describes your business, and is easy for shoppers to remember and to spell. Whenever possible, try to use a dot-com (rather than a dot-biz or dot-net), as this is what users will automatically type.

If your ideal domain name is taken, consider adding a word that more fully describes what you do, or indicates your location. For example, if BanglesAndBeads.com is taken, try HandCraftedBanglesAndBeads.com or BanglesAndBeadsFlorida.com.

• Create Your Image to Appeal to Your Target Market.
Web site design services typically offer hundreds of customizable templates to choose from, as well as the costlier option of a custom-built site. Regardless of which route you go, your web design should feel professional. A professional looking site will inspire confidence in your potential customers and help generate sales.

It's also important that your site projects the appropriate image for your business. If you sell home spa products, for example, you'll want to convey a very different mood than if you sell law dictionaries or preschool toys.

• Communicate Credibility to Your Customers.
You must build your customers' confidence, in order to sell to them. Don't just tell your visitors what you do; tell them why you do it better than your competitors. In other words, explain to them why they should buy from your online store, specifically. It also helps to include something about yourself – let visitors see the person behind the site, not just a cold storefront. That kind of personal touch helps create a positive connection with your prospects, and adds legitimacy to your site.

For many e-tailers, creating this kind of content is the most difficult part of building a web site. One way to generate ideas is to look at other web sites and see how they present themselves, their content and their layout. Be careful, however, not to simply copy someone else's site. You may find a jumping off point for understanding what works and what doesn’t, but your site should reflect your brand and your vision.