Getting started is easy! Let us know if we can help you through any part of the process when signing up with us - we are happy to walk you through any step!

1.  Create a plan. A lot of people don't bother to take this step, but creating a business plan for your online store is just as important as it is with a brick-and-mortar store. Understanding what you are selling, who your target audience is will be critical to its lifelong success.



2. Choose a domain name. Don't rush!  Take time to brainstorm and pick something you will be happy with in the long run.  Remember to pick a domain name that does not limit products, such as "Clippies r us", for example which suggests you only carry clippies.  Choosing a catchy domain name can also be a extra motivator for buyers.  When they love the name they are more likely to spread the word about your business! 



3. Register your domain name. Registering your domain is easy and the first step to starting your website.  We recommend  Godaddy.com.  They are a leading provider of domain registration and are inexpensive. You can also easily reach friendly support by phone and e-mail. Godaddy provides registration for 1 year for $9.99.
   
   


4. Find a webhost (and choose a hosting plan). When you're just starting, even the most basic package you purchase will be sufficient.  Our favorite Host is Shoppe Pro. Shoppe Pro provides personal timely support and the owner, Karina, is extremely helpful in addressing any concern that might come up.  As far as the hosting plan you choose, if you need the extra capacity of a more expensive plan you can always upgrade your plan, its an easy and simple process.  Click here to browse our approved web hosts.
   



5. Build your site. All of the hosting companies in our approved hosts include a free shopping cart with the price of hosting, and are all easy to navigate and use.  They are user friendly and make it easy to add products, product photos and content.  We also provide tutorials for you to help you through the process.  In addition, we offer services such as product entry and photo resizing to make it easier to get your site up and running. 
   
   


6. Promote your online store. In order for customers to find your store, you must be listed in online search engines and directories. Shoppe Pro has great tips for SEO and Search tips for your website.  Click here to learn more.
   
   If you're just starting out, it might take a couple of months for search engines to find you. Using pay-for-click programs will get your site listed faster and can get you noticed right away. Overture.com, Sprinks.com, and Google.com are the major pay-per-click programs. Each allows you to deposit money into an account, and then select search terms that you think customers will use when searching for your type of product. You set a bid price for each search term (you are bidding against your competitors to be ranked higher on the search results page) and you pay your bid price out of your account each time a potential customer clicks on your listing. Strategy is useful in maximizing pay-per-click participation. "Though it is important to be in the top 10, it is not so important to be Number One. Many customers will click on the top 10 or so listings, just to compare. The number one listing is getting similar traffic to the number 10 listing, but paying a lot more per click for it." 
   



7. Maintain your site. You can completely run your website from the user friendly interface that is included with your hosting company.  We recommend frequently reviewing where people are coming from and which pages they are viewing.  Learn more about who is viewing your site and what keywords they are using. 



8. Improve your site. Find ways to make improvements. Run a contest or a giveaway to get people talking.  The more people are talking about your brand, your name, the more exposure and hits you will get and in turn equals more customers.  Ensure photos aren't too large, it should take lesst han 3 seconds for them to load.  If the photo uploading takes longer, you will loose your customer.  Put yourself in the buyers shoes - would you want to wait for the photos to load or would you just move on?  We can help you optimize your site for efficiency. 
   



9. Never stop learning! The more you know the more power you have to take hold of a successful online business.  There are tons of rescources and tools for you right at your fingertips, take advantage of the free sources and valuable info available to you.