Getting your business online for the first time can be intimidating. You know you need a website. You know you need a domain name. But where do you actually start? With so many different paths to go down, it’s often tough to nail down a specific, implementable action plan. The good news: it can be done. By taking a few moments to assess where you already are – and where you want to go – you can get online sooner than later.

Here’s how:

Why Are You Going Online?

(DeclanTM)

Not all businesses have the same reasons for being online. If you are a local pizza shop or auto garage, your website will probably be a web-based brochure or business card. Such websites typically stick to offering basic information like:

• The name of the business
• Product or service information
• Hours of operation
• Driving directions

Websites like these are extremely simple and inexpensive to set up. A few hundred dollars might be all it takes. If, on the other hand, you want to actually sell products online, your website needs are a bit more complex. For one thing, you will need a payment processor (also known as a payment gateway) to accept credit card orders. Use HowMuchDoesAWebsiteCost.com to get a better understanding of how much to pay for the website you need.

Buy a URL

(Tark Siala)

In order for anyone to see your website, you need to buy a URL. Otherwise known as a domain name, a URL is your website’s address. (Google.com is an example of a URL.) You buy one by visiting GoDaddy.com (or any other domain name registrar), checking to see if the URL you want is available, and if so, buying it for about $10. Ideally, you want a URL that is both easy to remember and synonymous with what your company does.

Do not buy a URL that:

• Has dashes or numbers (most people wont remember to type these in)
• Is extremely long
• Ends in an unusual suffix like .biz or .ws (stick to .com or .net instead)

Pick a Web Hosting Company

(mjmonty)

Next, it’s time to get your website hosted. “Hosting” is simply a technical term for putting your site online for others to see. It involves buying a hosting package from a web hosting company and instructing them to put your site onto their servers (pictured above.) Only once this happens can someone type in your URL and see the website you made. How much you spend on web hosting depends on how big your website is and how many people you expect will visit.

In most cases, a basic, $20-$30 per month package from a company like GoDaddy will suffice. If not, virtually all web hosts are happy to sell you advanced packages with extra capabilities for more money.

Consider Pay-Per-Click Advertising

(Search Engine People Blog)

Once your website is designed, up and running, it’s time to get people going there. Again – if you are a local business who only built a website for general reference purposes, a sticker of your URL on your front window or product packaging might be all that’s necessary. But if you are trying to generate online sales, consider pay per click advertising. PPC allows you to display advertisements (like those shown above) to people while they are actively searching for what you sell.

You choose the ad’s headline, body text, and what website to send the visitor to. Google AdWords is the most popular PPC program, but Bing AdCenter is also worthy of attention. PPCHero.com offers a helpful post about PPC basics that every advertiser (rookie or veteran) should know.

WordPress & Blogging

(juanpol)

Today’s web visitors are not keen on websites that do nothing but pitch products to them. Instead, they prefer “getting to know” a business – primarily through their blog posts, if there are any. By publishing valuable, interesting information about things other than their products (general industry trends, world news, and the like) business owners can build stronger, more sustainable connections with their prospects and customers.

Sound confusing? It doesn’t have to be. WordPress.com lets anyone who is interested get up and running with a blog in mere minutes – for free. Simply instruct the web designer you hire to build a WordPress blog into your site. Then, just start publishing information you feel your customers and prospects will want to read.