How To Run A Profitable Business Online By:

Nina Mesina nina@contessabags.com www.contessabags.comwww.chicacharms.com

How To Run A Profitable Business Online

Service or Product

Most Important Thing About Having A Business

• Making a Profit• Impeccable Service• Ethical Practice

If you have a product or service and you can sell it and make a profit, then you’ve got a business!

8 Myths About Starting A Business

• Myth 1 - You need to be extraordinary• Myth 2 - Involves lots of risk - One shot deal• Myth 3 - You need lots of money• Myth 4 - You need lots of experience• Myth 5 - The best business ideas are taken• Myth 6 - Can’t compete against big box

retailers• Myth 7 - Can’t get a new business noticed• Myth 8 - Difficult and stressful to grow

9 Reasons You Should Be Online

• 1. Cheap• 2. Fast• 3. Easy Updates• 4. No Printing and No Mailing Costs• 5. Cut Staffing Costs• 6. Open 24 hrs• 7. National & Global Audience• 8. No Store Front• 9. It's Easy to Get Your Message Out

Create A Business Plan

OutlineOf What You Plan

To Offer

Who AreYour Customers

Plan To MarketYour Business

Business Plan

Does not need to be fancy or complicated

Forming A Business

• Business License - Contact City HallAllows you to conduct business legally

• DBA (doing business as) - Contact County Clerks OfficeHave a professional image and operate and advertise under your own business

• Publish DBA - Small Local NewspaperPut others on notice that your business exists and they should not conduct business using a similar name

• Sellers Permit - If Engaging in Retail Sales Register by contacting the Board of EqualizationAllows you to collect taxes from customers, which you in turn pay to the state

• Federal Tax ID# (EIN) - Used to Identify Business EntityApply online www.irs.gov - Free service by IRS

Forming A Business

• Bank Account - Get Checking Account and Debit cardImportant step for creating business identity

• Create a Free website - To Get Business NoticedGo to www.webs.com follow easy step by step instructions

• Create Free Email Account - Gmail or YahooAllows customers to contact you

• Create Paypal Account - To Accept Payments via Credit Card

Link Paypal account to bank account www.paypal.com One click can deposit funds from Paypal account into your bank account

• Create Shipping Account - To ship your orders and track them online go to www.usps.com They provide packaging and will pick up packages from you for free

Know Your Target Market

• Who are they?• Where are they?• How old are they?• What do they want? • Why would they buy your product?

This is the group you want to sell your product or service to specifically

Be specific - zero in on who your real customers are or could be. This will save you time and money in future marketing efforts.

Marketing Plan

• Create a Company Slogan - • Create Free Business Cards - Go To www.vistaprint.com

Include your name, business name, website, slogan, & email

• Join Social Networking Sites - www.facebook.com

Spreads the word about your business

• Create a Blog - Keep Everyone Informed About Your BusinessStart a blog about your business on www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com

• Participate in Blogs - Free PublicityParticipate in blogs that relate to your business (be proactive). Go to the about page or contact page of that blog and email them about your business. Ask if they’ll mention your website on their blog.

Marketing is everything you do to get your product or service in the hands of potential customers!

Marketing Plan

• Create Articles About Your Business Online - Exposure Go to www.digg.com & www.reddit.com to drive traffic to your website

• Create Account on Ning.com - Free Interactive Membership SiteNing is like facebook except you get to create it for yourself and your business and it’s easy to find for people who are interested in what you do www.ning.com

• Post on Craigslist.com - Free Advertising• Create a Youtube Account - www.youtube.com

Upload videos talking about your business Invite customers to give video testimonials

• Create a Twitter Account - www.twitter.com

Talk about the latest news with your business

• List Your Business on Local Search Engines - Free ServiceYahoo local, Google local, Bing.com, Hofrog.com, Superpages.com, Yelp.com

Customer Service

• Build a reputation for impeccable service

• Respond to emails immediately

• Process orders immediately

• Make good on your word

Word of mouth is still the cheapest form of advertising

8 Things You Can Do Now!!!

• Pick out a name from your business• Create a free website• Create email account • Start Facebook, Twitter• Start blogging about your business • Create buzz on digg.com & reddit.com• Create account on Ning.com• Create free business listings:

Yahoo Local, Google Local Bing.com, Hotfrog.com Yelp.com, Superpages.com

How To Run A Profitable Business Online By:

Nina Mesina nina@contessabags.com www.contessabags.comwww.chicacharms.com