The Basics: What tools do you need to set up your website online?

One of the questions I answer for clients all the time — is what exactly do I need to get set up to start selling products online.   There are very few basics (most are inexpensive) and then there are some second wave items that make life a lot easer.

Here are the basics:

A defined audience - this is the biggest mistake that I need clients make.  They put up their site without really thinking through who the audience for their site really is.  Spend some time really thinking through your audience and their needs.

A domain name – Your own name isn’t a horrible way to start.  Beyond that, a name that describes your service with words that people might use to search for you.  Createhappinessinyourlife.com

A web host – The web host is the actual place were your files live on the web — the domain name is the address.

An autoresponder (or mailing list) – one of your primary objectives is to create a list of people who are interested in your product. A mailing list program (like aweber, or icontact) can collect names, segment them and automatically send e-mail messages on your behalf.  An autoresponder will even create the html or web code needed to create a sign in box on your site. Upscale e-commerce systems combine e-mail lists with interfacing with a payment gateway so that customers can buy and get automatically added to the appropriate autoresponder list.

Basic E-commerce – You need a way to take money from customers.  Usually most people start out with paypal.  Pay Pal allows customers to pay through credit card or the pay pal system and charges a small fee (2-3% per transaction).

Social Networking – This was not on my list last year.  But, networking online through Twitter and Facebook (and in some networks through Linked In) is becoming an essential part of online marketing.

And a few items that aren’t bare bones minimum but are very useful to have.

A Blog - Blogs allow you to easily publish content and they play nicely with twitter and facebook so you can increase your exposure.

Audio Acrobat -Makes posting audio and video very easy.

You Tube Account  - Also makes posting easy

Bridge Line - can get for free or pay for premium services — allows people to call in for teleseminars.

Of course, a talented virtual assistant can help you put all of these parts together and get you quickly and easily started online.  Start slow, keep your momentum going and watch your empire grow online.