| The cost of developing an internet business can | | | | merchant account gateway. It's great to offer PayPal |
| fluctuate wildly depending on your goals, how fast | | | | as many customers are comfortable paying that |
| you would like the business to grow, and what type | | | | way, but I also recommend offering a second option, |
| of business it is. Let's list some of those costs, your | | | | since in my opinion just offering PayPal looks |
| options for each, and how in fact you can cover | | | | unprofessional. Just my opinion though... I nearly |
| many of these costs even if you're on a shoestring | | | | always offer PayPal and also a pure credit/debit card |
| budget: | | | | processor like 2CheckOut as a second payment |
| - Creating your website -- You can do this yourself | | | | option. |
| of course for free using software like NVU or Mozilla | | | | - Advertising -- Advertising costs money of course, |
| Composer. However, if like me, website design is not | | | | and any time you do advertise, you can't be sure |
| your strong point, you can get very good work done | | | | you'll get that money back from product sales. I |
| inexpensively. For example - I was looking for a | | | | would suggest that if/when you have money to |
| website design created, and the quotes I received | | | | spare, carefully test advertising sources and see |
| ranged from $200 to $5,000! So you can in fact get | | | | what happens by measuring your Return On |
| surprisingly good work done inexpensively, but it's | | | | Investment at every stage. |
| important you know what you want in a website, so | | | | - Web Traffic -- There's a lot of ways to get web |
| get clear on that by visiting other websites and using | | | | traffic that don't really cost money, just take time |
| those as examples of what you're looking for when | | | | and effort. These include writing articles, creating viral |
| dealing with the website designer you've chosen. | | | | eBooks, adding lots of quality content to your site so |
| - Web hosting -- Unless your website is going to be | | | | it gets links and search engine traffic, becoming a |
| incredibly high trafficked right from the start, you can | | | | guest author on other sites... but as mentioned, these |
| start with an inexpensive web hosting set up, and | | | | take time and effort, but long term the results can |
| then upgrade from there. However, do choose your | | | | be fantastic (my sites get hundreds of visitors every |
| web host carefully - you really are spoilt for choice | | | | day from viral eBooks I wrote years ago). |
| here, but quality of service can wildly fluctuate. | | | | - Audio and Video -- Whether you're creating audio |
| Unbiased personal recommendations from others can | | | | and video content to sell, or just to fill out your site |
| help you make the right decision here. | | | | with more content, you can do this very |
| - Email list management -- Your options are either | | | | inexpensively. For recording audio - if you're recording |
| installing email list management software on your site | | | | just your own voice, Audacity is free software that |
| (like Dada Mail) or using a service. Since email can be | | | | does this. For recording an interview - use Skype |
| a minefield if you manage your list the wrong way, I | | | | along with Skype recording software, which can be |
| always prefer using a service, many of which start at | | | | purchased for less than $20. And for recording |
| $20 a month if not less. | | | | videos, I do use Camtasia sometimes but that sells |
| - Domains -- Many, if not most domain registrars now | | | | for around $300. More and more these days though I |
| offer domains at less than $10 a year so this really is | | | | use the GoToMeeting service for creating video |
| a minimal expense these days. | | | | content as I find it works fantastically for creating |
| - Payment processing -- You can start for free by | | | | content quickly as you're sitting there talking to |
| using PayPal. Get set up inexpensively with | | | | someone, rather than just sitting in your office talking |
| 2CheckOut or ClickBank. Or maybe get set up with a | | | | into a microphone by yourself. |