January 7, 2005

StartupJournal.com Says Starting an Online Business is a Few Clicks Away

Starting an online business may be easier than you think -- especially if you're willing to start small and grow gradually -- says StartupJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal's guide for entrepreneurs. The key is to take one step at a time, rather than try to launch the business overnight.

"It can seem daunting to hire a Web designer, find a hosting service and roll out an e-commerce platform while also getting the back-end of the business in place, but if tackled in pieces, it's a very straightforward process," says Tony Lee, editor in chief, StartupJournal.com.

To help entrepreneurs get started, a number of free and low-cost Internet services, including StartupJournal.com, have developed simple Web site startup tools that can easily put a business online.

"Today, an entrepreneur with no Web presence and little technical know-how can quickly get a basic site designed, registered and online for as little as $12 a month," Mr. Lee says. "These tools are a boon to the nation's 23 million small businesses."

StartupJournal.com offers the following tips for making your online enterprise successful.

* Cyberspace partnerships -- link up with other sites through their
affiliate marketing programs, which you can find using their site
maps.

* Stand out from the crowd -- offer live help and air live Webcasts to
differentiate your site.

* Advertise -- register with major search engines and research the cost
per lead to advertise on search results.

* Fulfillment -- ship orders quickly, keep items reliably in stock, make
it easy for buyers to find what they need and to return it if it's not
wanted.

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