Category Archives: Industry Insight

How To Start A Used Car Sales Business

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This blog is for those who want to learn how to start a used car sales business. This business can be started within a few months, or it can take longer. It’s completely up to you. This blog will teach you everything you need to know about how to start a used car sales business, without getting too complicated.

Did you know you could start a used car business and make money without investing a lot of money? Many people think it’s impossible to start a used car dealership, and that’s because it is considered way too complicated. However, if you know how to do it properly, it is actually easy. For instance, if you know what are the necessary elements for operating a used car business, you would be fine. For starters, you would need to register your business. You will also need a dealer license that can prove that you have the right to deal in this business. Besides this, you would also need to obtain a $50,000 Motor Vehicle Surety Bond. It is a type of insurance that all car dealers are mandated to have before they can open their business, primarily because it protects customers from any fraudulent or unethical actions made by the dealer and shows that the dealer is financially secure enough to operate their business.

So, as you can see, it is not really tough to establish a used car dealership. You just need to know the right and the wrong ways to ensure you start a successfully used car business.

That said, here are a few more useful steps to setting up a business:

  1. Find a franchise as a used car sales business –

The used car sales industry is big, and there are plenty of franchise opportunities out there. Not all franchise opportunities are created equal, however. There’s a lot to be said for using a proven business model that has been around for a while. Some of the most successful franchises in the US started out as used car lots. Whether a used car lot is a good business to start depends on your personal situation. While the market for used automobiles is shrinking, there’s still a lot of money to be made in the used car business. But you must have a good business plan to market the franchise idea to potential franchisees.

  1. Learn as much as you can from the franchise –

Used Car Sales Business is a franchise opportunity that is all about selling cars through a franchise system. Being a successfully used car salesman is all about doing your research. It is essential that you know the product you are selling inside and out. Without prior knowledge, you cannot know how to pick the price, how to package, how to advertise, or how to handle customer inquiries. You also need to know where you will be sourcing your cars from, and whether they need to be transported to the place of your business. In that case, you might also need to look for a car transporter for sale (or rent) to ensure safe transportation of your vehicle fleet. Make sure that the providers you deal with are reliable and give you the best prices possible.

  1. Budget for your business –

When you are starting a business, you need to consider what finances you need to start with. Whether you are planning to run a few cars in your garage or build a large network of dealerships, you need to know the amount of money you are going to spend. As a used car sales business owner, you need to start somewhere when it comes to getting your business up and running. Starting with a budget can be hard when you don’t know what you’re doing. From various kinds of software (you might want to see here now for additional information on the topic) to improve efficiency in your business to hiring the right employees – you would need the right budget to get the best resources for your venture.

  1. Finally, Start a Used Car Sales Business –

The idea of a used car sales business is a great one, but there is a lot of work involved in getting your business going, as we have already covered. You will also have to find a location for the building, get the construction started, and secure a location for a lot of your inventory. Once you get all of this done, you need to set up a bank account and give all of your customers contact information, in case they have any issues. Also, you will want to get an internet connection and a telephone system that works before you can start selling used cars. To provide excellent customer experience, you might have to invest in dealer software like Dealer.com (why not try here) that can also improve your leads and overall revenue. All these costs will need to be considered in your planning before you begin your venture.

Conclusion:

Finding a used car sales business is a great opportunity for those who want to turn their hobby into a full-time business. You can actually start a used car sales business from home, from the comfort of your own living room. The process of starting a used car sales business is simple. It doesn’t require a lot of money and you don’t always need a lot of room, so there is potential to make a huge amount of money. You don’t even need a business degree to start a used car sales business. All you need is a good sense of business and a great deal of patience.

What Goes Into an Effective SEO Strategy?

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If you’ve ever hired a marketing firm to optimize your website, then you know what goes into an effective SEO strategy. The truth is that many moving parts go into an effective SEO strategy. The problem is, it’s not always clear what each part does or if the parts you have are doing their jobs.

Most people think that SEO is a day-to-day activity that anyone can do, but in fact, this is not the case. It’s an art that requires extensive knowledge of the industry and cannot learn from books or Google. It takes a lot of time and effort to study the industry and learn about the best practices and approaches for an effective SEO strategy. This is why many firms use Utah SEO experts (or others at their business locations) to keep track of how their business is doing.

The basic rule of thumb that everyone wants to follow is “Content is king, so build it.” Building content is a crucial part of SEO, but what exactly are you building, and how can you tell if it’s effective?

As marketers of all skill-sets, we often grasp SEO basics and their heretical nature in today’s web-driven world. However, there are many grey areas in this ever-changing field, and being able to formulate an SEO strategy that will work is still a tricky proposition. For instance, we need to know if a particular strategy is working, but if we’re paying for a service, we need to know if we are making progress, and if not, why not.

SEO has been a mysterious concept that many SEO services have spent countless hours studying and learning for a long time. They concluded that we need to understand our niche and target audience so we can understand what keywords we should be using in order to optimize our websites. Since the launch of Google Search Console, marketers have an easier time of tracking the progress of their SEO efforts.

There are a lot of variables that go into an effective SEO strategy. To make matters worse, it’s hard to know for sure if you are making the right decisions about these variables since it’s so complex. This post will review the main variables and then provide some insight on how to make better decisions.

If you’re planning to launch your website, you’ve probably already considered how best to monetize it. But you may not have given much thought to how your website performs in terms of search engine optimization-or how that could affect you financially.

The search engine optimization (SEO) game has become more cutthroat than a game show, as companies have invested heavily in increasing visibility. That said, successful SEO requires more than just throwing money at the problem. You need to understand the topic you are working on and the audience you are trying to achieve. Building a long-term, sustainable SEO strategy requires a lot of ongoing research, planning, and analysis. If you don’t have the energy or time to devote to such a large project, it could be a good idea to contact firms such as Anthonys Agency, who can handle it for you.

Here’s what goes into an effective SEO strategy:

  • An effective online marketing strategy begins with a solid foundation in search engine optimization (SEO), which is the process of optimizing content to increase the visibility of an online brand. It also involves ensuring that the content that drives traffic is relevant to search engines so that it is ranked high in searches.
  • Positioning your website correctly is one of the most important elements in crafting a prosperous SEO strategy. There are several elements to a position, including the keywords, the title, the description, the URL, and of course, the common elements, such as product and service. Knowing the right amount of information to include in each of these elements will provide you with maximum impact on the search engines while still providing the user with the information they need.
  • In addition to core technical SEO fundamentals like metadata optimization and site architecture, there are several other impactful ways to enhance a website’s search visibility and rankings.
  • One approach is to regularly create and publish new, useful content that incorporates relevant keyword phrases. Search engines favor websites that are frequently updated with fresh material. Partnering with a content marketing agency can help develop an editorial calendar and content creation workflow.
  • Local SEO is another integral strategy, especially for businesses with a physical location or service area. Optimizing Google My Business listings with complete information builds online visibility in local search results. Partnering with a firm like this local SEO agency to manage listings, citations, reviews, and other local ranking factors can significantly boost your local online presence and help potential customers find your business more easily.
  • Earning high-quality backlinks from other reputable websites also signals authority to search engines. An effective link-building campaign entails content promotion across niche-relevant sites, guest posting opportunities, and local directory listings.

How effective is your SEO strategy? Perhaps you’ve been told that you need to know your keywords and that the more you know about them, the better your SEO will be. After all, if you know your keywords, you’ll know what to optimize and how to optimize it. We hear this sometimes, and while it may be true that knowing a few keywords is better than not knowing them, we don’t believe it’s the only way to go.

Inventory Management Software and 3 other Tips for Running a Warehouse Efficiently

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It is not possible to run a warehouse of any size these days unless you have some kind of computerized system. This means not only having a barcode scanner but the kind of software that can keep you in touch with your stock levels.

If you are looking for inventory software, then go to: https://www.scoutsft.com/barcode-inventory-scanner/. They will be able to help with managing your warehouse more effectively and keeping up with those orders.

Inventory Management Software

Barcode scanners are handheld devices that can be used in all areas of a warehouse. The figures that the software manages can be seen by everyone from warehouse staff to management, who can make buying decisions. To make an informed decision regarding stock levels, there needs to be an efficient method of recording and managing those figures. For example, in a car dealership, a staff member would need to have the relevant information in hand regarding different models that are available, in order to give accurate information to customers. Moreover, customers also would need to know what options they have before they choose a car. With the help of inventory management software (you can head to https://www.vinsolutions.com/ to see one), dealers can have the relevant data at hand to promote specific models to their customers based on their needs. Such software can allow for a business to immediately know at any time and from anywhere just what its stock levels are in a particular warehouse. A system of inventory software will allow for the stock levels from several warehouses to be recorded and be taken into account when forming the bigger picture. The efficient running of a business that handles stock relies on all operations working as efficiently as one another.

Barcode scanners are an accurate and fast way of recording stock levels. The inventory software that is purchased will mean that information can be kept track of and displayed in a meaningful way. The information will be there whenever it is needed to be looked at and reviewed. It needs to be accurate so that the right kinds of stock are in the warehouse at any point in time. If an order cannot be fulfilled because stock levels get too low it has the potential to lose a customer. Conversely, if too much stock is kept, it will mean money tied up that could have been used better elsewhere in the business.

Order Stock Stored In

A stock control system should bear in mind the life of a product. With perishables, for instance, the oldest stock should be the first to be dispatched from a warehouse. In these instances, a Just In Time system, rather than a First-In, First-Out system might prove the most effective. This will mean that stock will arrive and hardly spend any time in the warehouse at all. This will rely on good inventory software to record the stock quickly and keep track of it for the short period it is in a business’s possession. It is an ideal system for supplying food outlets.

Best Use of Space

The layout of a warehouse is all-important. Ideally, a business should have equal access to all areas of a warehouse, with an indoor safety gate to protect the stock and employees when maneuvering the area. This type of access is not because the stock will be forgotten, this is the purpose of a barcode scanner and inventory software, but because this saves moving stock around that is not selling to gain access to that which is. It is all about the best use of time. If space is a premium, then be sure to put the stock at the back that sells less frequently but is sometimes asked for by suppliers. You need to stock these items to keep your supplier happy but do not need frequent access to them. To make this even more efficient, the use of forklifts can help keep the stock organized and moved carefully so that no one is putting themselves at risk in maneuvering areas. It is important to keep all equipment and machines looked after by utilizing resources like https://txmotive.com/repair-refurbish/refurbished-batteries/ so that the machinery is consistently working for optimum workflow.

Effective Planning

To run a warehouse effectively is not just about knowing what stock you have but making the best use of the information. Where possible, co-ordinate delivery times so that staff can always be kept occupied. This control is best achieved where a company owns or leases a fleet of delivery vehicles. There are also a lot of tools to use with fleet operations like that found at this site https://www.lytx.com/en-us/resources/articles/telematics. Research on these tools will make it apparent that managing a fleet can be made easy and organized. Otherwise, a business is always reliant upon someone else’s timings.

In summary, the use of dedicated software is the best way to manage a stock inventory because the figures are always up-to-date, accurate, and can be viewed from several locations. To add to this, we should think about the order we have the stock coming and going out of the warehouse in, and how accessible the stock most in demand is. Then, plan so that we co-ordinate deliveries to our warehouse so that work is spread out evenly for staff. This is better achieved through having delivery vehicles that the business controls.

How to Earn an Income as a Freelancer

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More individuals are actually working from home than ever before due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). If you’re interested in becoming a freelancer, following these steps will help you establish a successful freelance career.

Getting Started

Working from your home is not as simple as you might think, especially as a freelancer. You may be working from your computer a lot, meaning that your eyes are going to be strained, to help reduce eye pain that could cause you to take frequent breaks or finish early, you may want to look into companies such as Felix Gray to see about blue light blocking glasses so you are prepared. To get started as a freelancer, you need to think about your skills and how they can benefit individuals and companies. Popular freelancing skills include graphic design, writing content, accounting, and more. Once you find your niche, you can start preparing to enter the freelance world.

Research Different Platforms

The next step in establishing yourself as a freelancer is finding the right platform to offer your services. As a freelancer, I use Google to help point me in the right direction. It’s best to find a platform that best suits your service niche. Say you’re a content writer looking for freelancing opportunities, you might want to check platforms like Contena. This online platform connects freelance writers with businesses looking to hire them, which can be useful to kickstart your freelancing career. Now, if questions like “is Contena legit?” are running through your mind, you should do your own research to be sure. Researching different platforms and making a note of the reviews they’ve received and their overall layout is very important. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check out their terms of service, prices, and features that will help you sell your services.

Choose Your Services

Now you need to figure out what services you’re going to offer. I would start with the things you’re best at, whether that be consulting, home repairs, interior design, and other services. You need to put your best foot forward. Advertise the services that you know you are excellent at doing.

Consider Your Prices

You need to consider how much you will charge for each of your services. If you’re comfortable with offering only one service to get you started, that’s fine. Ideally, I would offer three services to begin with or two versions of the same service, each one offering more than the first. You can use a unique pricing system or use a base cost. A unique pricing system features prices that you set based on what you think each job is worth. A base cost is a system you use to price your services based on a particular platform’s prices.

The Legal Aspect of Things

As a freelancer, you need to consider the legal aspect of operating your business. Most beginner freelancers believe you can provide a service, get paid, and move on to the next customer. While this is true in a sense, you need to have some legal perimeters. If you choose to offer your services on a freelance platform, you take the hassle out of the legal work. Freelance platforms cover all the legalities, some of which you can find in the company’s terms of service.

If you’d rather go it alone, you can, but you need to provide some legal documents for the work you provide. These legal documents don’t have to be extravagant. Still, they do need to state your terms of providing freelance work and your customers’ role in the work you provide.

In addition, do not forget to factor in the taxable aspect of your income, generated through freelancing. Each nation may have its own set of rules and regulations. To make yourself knowledgeable about the same, you can look at some verified online freelance and personal finance resources or you can talk to a finance expert as well. This remains immensely important because at the end of the day you want to be paid fairly.

Share on Social Media

One of the things I recommend is sharing your work on social media. Millions of people use social media every day, and it is one way you can advertise your services. Use multiple social media platforms for promoting your services. The more social platforms you use, the more growth potential you have, so use them wisely.

Find Customers

Finding customers is easier said than done, but not impossible. Most freelance platforms bring the clients to you, so that takes a lot, not all of the work out of your day. If you find clients elsewhere, you can bring them to your platform of choice and earn money. Most freelancers make use of a reliable VPN to work with international clients. If you are a freelancer, you should also consider using a virtual private network that has the choice for a diverse server network. Research and compare between different providers that suit you the best. For example, nordvpn vs expressvpn is a popular choice among remote workers.

Tell Customers About You

Your customers want to know as much about you as possible. I would disclose your education and special skills that help you perform your services better. You can also include certifications you’ve obtained and the goals you’ve achieved. I would also tell customers what you like to do in your free time, such as your hobbies.

Further Your Knowledge

There’s always room for improvement. Further your knowledge as much as possible. Improving your experience in the services you offer allows you to earn more money. Clients are willing to pay more for your services if you can prove you’ve had training or education that certifies you know what you’re doing and can help them in some way.

Becoming a freelancer during a pandemic is a smart idea. Still, you need to make sure you execute your plan correctly. Use these tips to help you get started on your freelance journey.

The Professions That Require the Most Training to Enter

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There is no doubt that some professions require more training than others. Not just to enter but to stay up to speed. Learning continues to a degree in every occupation or business to keep up with technology and new laws, but more so in others. For instance, a medical practitioner will continue to learn new techniques and treatments that will help their patients. An accountant will be required to know how the latest budget announced by their government has changed the tax rules for their client, or the company that they work for.

So, let us consider the occupations that will undoubtedly require the most training to enter and to then to excel in. We shall focus mainly on the UK, and then make a few comparisons with the US. We shall also consider how lucrative a business or industry each one is to enter.

Accountants

In the UK, it is 9 to 18 months to obtain an AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) professional diploma, enabling you to work as an accounting technician and assist an accountant. To become a fully-fledged chartered accountant, in financial accounting, it will require between 3 and 10 years of study alongside working in a job and gaining practical experience to practice or work for a large company in that role. The qualification for chartered accounts is the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Alternatively, there are qualifications that can be taken in cost accounting, such as CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).

In the US, it takes a minimum of 7 years to become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) before they can even go to work for a firm like Eide Bailly. The requirements for the license will vary between states. However, in general, 150 hours of college credits (which is 30 more than most other undergraduate degrees), together with 2 years of full-time working experience, is required before the exam can be taken.

CPD (Continued Professional Development) is required by members of accountancy governing bodies in the UK so that they may continue to practice as a member.

Accountants who know about tax-efficient schemes and how best to manage money can be in great demand in a corporate setting. It can mean the difference between a company surviving or not, as the accountant will be the first person to identify a cashflow problem.

Physicians and Surgeons

The longest training required for an occupation is in the field of human medicine. Those training in the UK to become a doctor can train for up to 16 years before they qualify. This will consist of a 5 to 6-year degree, depending on specialization, followed by a 2-year post-graduation foundation, followed by between 3 to 8 years of specialist training. Specialist training is the key to how long it takes. For example, someone training to be a surgeon will be required to train further in the practical skills of surgery in addition to having acquired an extensive knowledge of human anatomy and how medicines work.

Although seen as a vocation by many, the career also pays well. The career, in the UK, offers the option of branching into private medicine for greater earnings. Those who specialize in plastic surgery, in the US particularly, can earn huge sums of money as they gain a reputation for becoming the best in their field. They tend to also bring in softwares such as a Plastic Surgery EMR to help their expand and streamline their business. Medicine is big business everywhere, with pharmaceutical companies looking for those trained in medicine to develop or promote their products. Anyone who does not quite take to hands-on patient treatment always has the option of diversifying into scientific and laboratory-based research.

Veterinarians

The term surgeon is often attached to the title of the occupation because vets are surgeons. As well as treating animals with antibiotics, they also perform operations on them. They need to have a thorough understanding of the anatomy of an animal. Owners value their pets and will spend vast sums of money in seeing that they are comfortable, happy, and live as prolonged a life as possible.

Those wishing to enter the profession will have first obtained good science results in their examinations (A-Levels in the UK) to be accepted for veterinary college. Following this, it is a long training during which vets learn about all kinds of animals, from small domestic pets to farm and wild animals. Some vets will go on to specialise in zoology and more exotic animals.

In the US, veterinary school is a 4-year commitment after an undergraduate degree has been taken, and then the search for veterinary jobs can begin.

In the UK, you will need to complete a veterinary degree that has been approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. These degrees will typically take 5 years to complete, as opposed to 3 years for most other degrees. Possessing a degree in a related subject already can reduce this period to 4 years, as you will be entering at the graduate level. Interestingly, like some other occupations, you can serve as a vet for the British Army, if you choose adventure over earning potential.

In terms of salaries, vets work long hours but can make good money by owning or becoming a partner in their own practice. If you have adequate experience working with animals and want to advance your career, you could look for looking for animal research jobs in the UK. A dual certification could help you make more money. The business of selling pet products is a lucrative one, too.

So, three occupations where a lot of training is required to succeed in them but three which make perfect business sense for those looking for a career that will fund a comfortable lifestyle while helping others

What Inspires Me to Start and Run a Business?

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If you asked me about what I wanted to become a few years ago, being a businessman was the last thing that ever came to my mind, but after discovering the benefits derived from business, I fell in love with business, and nothing can come between me and business. In fact, the idea never crossed my mind, and I never considered it to be such a massive source of income. The irony is that I did not become a medical doctor or a university professor, which I desired to be, out of ignorance, that is. So, how did I find myself in the business world never to regret? Well, it was because of pull factors (for instance, a Self Serve Beer counter). I mean, you can give a lot of other options a try, and craft beer is definitely one of the main factors I myself would be pulled towards a business especially if they serve chill beer and have a Chilled Freight to deliver it to their business fresh! I say so because I only have good things to say about starting and running a business. Nothing pushed me at all.

Furthermore, due to recent advancements in software, it has become a little easier for businesses to run smoothly without any major setbacks. For example, starting a retail business could be the best option, but it requires a significant amount of effort and labor on the owner’s part. As a result, to overcome these minor setbacks, businesses have begun to rely on smart retail iot platforms like Vantiq to stay competitive (let alone get ahead) and steadily expand their reach, rather than the traditional database-centric approach. Enterprises are gradually shifting toward real-time applications, which operate in real-time, sensing, analyzing, and acting on streaming data as it occurs. In contrast, a database-centric application consumes data and stores it in a database (cloud or on-premise) for future analysis.

Financial Security

Everyone, including myself, dreams of making moolah. But not everyone understands that there is no better way to make money than starting and running a business. While there are people who believe in pursuing career paths and employment, I can tell you for sure that money is in business. Tell me one of the richest people in the world that does not run a business. From Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffet to Mark Zuckerberg, Bernard Arnault, and Larry Ellison, all these people run businesses, and they are employers rather than employees. So, what better way to make money than operating a business? I know of my 10 friends who decided to pursue careers in different fields, including law, medicine, engineering, and teaching, but none of them has even half the bankroll I have. I’m not boasting, so don’t get me wrong. All I want is to help you understand that a profitable business will bring in money.

Job Security and Flexibility

Forget about being employed by a big firm or the government; running a business simply means being self-employed. With my restaurant, I have job security that I could not find elsewhere. I work on my own terms, and there is no single day I have ever been worried that anyone can dismiss me since I’m my own boss. Instead, I hire and fire. I appear at my hotel when I want, and no one questions me. My schedule is as flexible as you could ever imagine, and I do what I want as long as it is in the best interest of my business. I can implement my business concepts without worrying about what others might think. From adopting new bar menu ideas to establishing a new branch, I can take any decision that could take my business to another level.

The Need to Address a Need in My Community

One of the reasons I started a restaurant business is because there was a shortage of restaurants in my local town, while the demand for the same was so high. By addressing the needs of people in the community, I feel that I’m adding a lot of value to the lives of people in my community, as well as visitors. And while I don’t run a first-class restaurant, I’m hoping that I will get there someday, since the writing is already on the wall.

Another need in the community which I feel I’m helping address is unemployment. My local town is a populous urban area with lots of educated, jobless youths. Thankfully, I have employed at least 30 of them and I plan to increase the number once the business grows to accommodate more workforce. Having been born and raised in a poor family, I understand what unemployment means. My parents did not have a stable job themselves, but thank God they managed to raise me with the meager wages they earned working on other people’s farms. It is a story I never want to delve into. So, the least I can do is to create jobs for the jobless.

It Keeps Me Busy

If there is one thing I hate (sorry if ‘hate’ is a harsh word) is being idle. It is not healthy at all. With my business, the fact is that I’m always busy, doing this or that. Thus, I’m rarely just sitting and relaxing the whole day unless it is completely unavoidable. As a matter of fact, sedentary life is not healthy at all and can result in lifestyle health problems, such as being overweight and stressed.

Mistakes I Made With My Start Up Business

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A wise person almost always learns from their mistakes. I like to think that I now fit into this category after making many mistakes with my online business start-up. I wish I had gone online to find sites like Salesforce to help me out in getting started. Perhaps sharing these may help you avoid them if you happen to be embarking on a new online business venture.

The Wrong Business

My first mistake was made even before I got started on the internet. What I did do right was the research to determine what type of business would meet a need. I came across several ideas. None of which were anything that I knew much about, but I figured I could learn.

While I had some business ideas something was lacking. It took several weeks of trying to make myself buckle down to learn about this business before I realized what was missing. It was passion. I didn’t have a personal interest in the business category I had chosen. For example, I had discovered that selling car electronic items could be a lucrative online business. However, I don’t have any knowledge about electronics and I have very little interest in them. As a female, I tend to leave all our electronic needs up to my husband. I now realize that I had just lost several weeks trying to learn about something that I had no interest in. I realized with this lack of interest in would be a real challenge for me to be enthusiastic about selling these.

  • Lesson Learned? If you are going to start an online business pick a niche that you are passionate about.

-Setting Up The Website

I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about computers and assumed that I would have no difficulty starting a site. After all, I did know the basics. I knew I needed a domain name, a hosting company, and a platform for operating my website. How hard can it be to launch a business website? This was my second mistake and I realize now a should have had a look online for assistance in developing my website.

  • The wrong domain name

I was so excited about choosing a domain name that I barged right into this without giving it any real thought. Then I realized something. If I were going to pick a name for a brick and mortar business, I would put a great deal of thought into the name and the signage. The domain name is equal to this. It is just as important. This is the name that people were going to recognize my business by.

I choose the first domain name and it was charming and memorable but had absolutely nothing to do with my business. Fortunately, I only paid a few dollars for this, and I soon set out to purchase a new domain name that was much more appropriate.

  • What is hosting really about?

Moving onto my third challenge was assuming that I knew everything I needed to know about hosting. It is just a matter of choosing one of the more well-known companies that offer the lowest prices. Wrong. There is a lot more to it than that. Learn from my mistake and take the time to understand what the different packages are and exactly what they will do for you. I am the type of person who tends to go with the biggest and the best. In this case, I wanted the biggest package the hosting company had to offer, which of course, was the most expensive. Later on, when I became savvier about an online business, I realized this was not necessary. I could have started with a much smaller hosting package and upgraded when needed. I would have saved myself some money had I done this.
Thinking back on it, I could have made some smart choices with my internet plans as well. I do get a feeling that there might have been better packages and bundles like the ones from AT&T, Verizon, suddenlink internet plans (among others, of course) who have partnered with third-party service providers like HighSpeedOptions.

  • Global payments

Honestly I didn’t really put a lot of thought into this one and mostly assumed that the hosting platform would do a lot of the conversions and processing for me. However a friend later told me about the software found here https://fastspring.com/global-payments/ that helps you to process global payments that will allow you take your business to an international level. Isn’t hindsight a beautiful thing…

  • Lesson Learned: Walk before you run.

Launching The Website

In this segment of starting my online business, I felt quite proud that I didn’t make too many costly mistakes. I made several that were time-consuming and delayed my business launch for about six weeks.

The Biggest Mistake Of Them All

By the time I launched my online business, I had realized that I had made a lot of mistakes. With the most important ones being the ones I have just discussed. However, at the time of launching, I didn’t realize that I was about to make the biggest one of all.

Thinking that now that my site was live, traffic would flock to it. I hadn’t even considered any form of marketing. I soon discovered that this wasn’t going to happen. I set out on the next segment of my business journey to get my brand known.

Hopefully, now that you know about these common mistakes you will be able to avoid them.