Get an idea:
Your idea needs to be unique, something that hasn’t been done a hundred times over. If you already have a business offline then half your job is done for you. Don’t make your website a ‘brochure’ website, offer your customers something new.
Legal matters:
Before starting up your online business consult an attorney. Many business ideas will require different legal actions and licensing agreements. The best place to get this advice is from someone qualified.
Domain name:
Your domain name needs to be something easily remembered and associated with your business.
Web hosts:
Finding a reliable and secure web host is a must. If you go through someone who isn’t reliable you run the risk of drop out and errors. Your customers can’t visit your website if the host isn’t working.
Design:
These days its all about how your website looks. If it’s poorly made you will lose customers. It’s best to hire someone to build the website for you.
Getting traffic:
Submit your website to a search engine, and advertise. Pay-per-click advertisements are quite cheap and effective.
Be interactive:
Give out email details so your customers can contact you, offer online shopping, surveys and contests. Make the customer feel like they have just had a good experience.
Gather information:
To build up a customer base you should take every opportunity to take their email. If they do give it out, be careful not to spam them, use their email address wisely.
Keeping you customers:
A great way to keep customers is to offer something free if they shop again, give out coupons which they could use themselves or give to family and friends or send out a monthly newsletter.