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Summary

If you've thought of starting an online business or if you're already selling online, here's how to get your share of online customers. This second edition of Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies covers everything from creating a business plan and building a customer-friendly site to marketing with Facebook and MySpace. There's even a section about setting up shop in the virtual world of Second Life.Eleven handy minibooks cover online business basics, legal and accounting, Web site design, online and operating, Internet security, boosting sales, retail to e-tail, storefront selling, fundraising sites, niche e-commerce, and e-commerce advanced. You'll learn to: Build a business plan that translates your ideas into a profitable enterprise Choose software to help you manage taxes, balance sheets, and other accounting chores Create a Web site that helps your business make money Fill orders, pack and ship merchandise, and manage stock Set up, budget for, and implement a plan to protect vital computer equipment Use PR and advertising tools that best promote your business online, including Google AdWords Choose what sells best in Second Life and earn real money from your virtual store Market through niche communities, find and use special marketing tools for nonprofit organizations, and apply successful mobile marketing techniquesInside the book, you'll even find a Google AdWords gift card worth $25 to help spread the word about your online business!

Introduction
Book I: Online Business Basics
Starting from Scratch
Turning Internet Dreams into Reality
Getting Real: Creating a Usable Business Plan
Finding Money to Fund Your Online Start-Up
Creating Policies to Protect Your Web Site
Setting Up Shop: Everything You Need for Online Efficiency
Book II: Legal and Accounting
Minding the Law
Choosing the Right Foundation: From Partnerships to Corporations
The Trademark-and-Copyright Two-Step
Accounting for Taxes (And Then Some)
Book III: Web Site Design
What's in a (Domain) Name?
Designing Customer-Friendly Sites
Building a Site without Spending a Fortune
Finding the Host with the Most
Writing Content that Search Engines Want to See
Lights, Camera, Action! Taking Your Site Live
Book IV: Online and Operating
Determining Your Revenue Model
Making Money with Affi liate Programs
Turning Information into Profi t, from e-Books to Webinars
Paying Up with the Right Payment Options
Putting the (Shopping) Cart before the Horse
Taking Inventory
Fulfi lling Expectations and Orders
Book V: Internet Security
Understanding Security and Your Risks
Developing a Security Plan
Attacked! What to Expect from the Net-Thief
Securing Your Site and Your Business
: Overcoming Security Concerns in the Wireless World
Book VI: Boosting Sales
Driving Traffi c, Driving Sales
Special-Edition Public Relations for the Web
Web Marketing at Work
Converting Browsers to Buyers
Analyzing and Monitoring Your Customers
Mastering Search Engines, Optimization, and Rankings
Book VII: Retail to E-Tail
Knowing When to Put Your Store Online
Understanding the Differences between Real and Virtual Customers
Window Dressing for the Online Display
Making In-Store Customers Loyal Online Shoppers
Staying Local, Getting Mobile with M-Commerce
Troubleshooting the Transition to E-Tail
Book VIII: Storefront Selling
Instant E-Commerce with Storefronts
Mastering the Amazon
Let's Hear It for Yahoo!
Making eBay THE Way
New Storefronts, New Opportunities
Book IX: Fundraising Sites
Raining Donations: Why Not-for-Profi t Is Big Business Online
Adding Online Moneymakers to an Existing Site
Getting the Donor Base to Come to You
More Online Marketing Strategies for Nonprofits
Legal Considerations for Nonprofi t Organizations
Book X: Niche E-Commerce
Discovering Niche Markets
Discovering Niche Trends That Pay: Children and Boomers
Blogging for Profit
Socializing (And Profi ting) in Second Life
Book XI: E-Commerce Advanced
Overhauling the Business
Redesigning to Win New Customers
Expanding Products to Increase Stagnant Sales
Bringing Former Customers (Back) Home
Revisiting Marketing Strategies
Hiring Experts to Get Business Rolling Again
Transitioning a Small Site into Big Business
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

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