Internet Basics
This week is primarily about laying the groundwork for your business. We need to get through most of this quickly so that we can get you selling!
As you set out to name your business, you need to be aware of the difficulty in getting an Internet domain name. Generally speaking, you want a .com (“dot com”) domain name. The .com domain is one of the older (and harder to get) domains available. Make sure that as you pick the name for your business, you can get an appropriate .com domain name. A .com domain should cost about $20. Don’t bother with the ones that are ‘parked’ (meaning someone has registered them and want to sell them for you for a lot of money). If you go to GoDaddy.com, there is a search box to let you search for available domain names, which will help in the naming process.
Although some people object to GoDaddy.com’s marketing, we generally use them for domain and web hosting. Part of the reason we like them (and recommend them to you) is that they make it very easy to host your email with Gmail.
When you sign up for ‘Google Apps for Business,’ there will be an option to host your email through Google. In the drop down box, select “GoDaddy”, and Google will redirect you to a GoDaddy login page. Login, select your domain, and GoDaddy sets up the email for you. If you choose to use another web host, you will need to redirect your mx records to the address that Google provides. It is not a huge deal to do, but GoDaddy makes the process very simple. We do recommend Gmail because Gmail provides email hosting for free, whereas others, like GoDaddy, often charge for email. When you sign up for your Google Apps for Business account, you will need to contact Google support and ask to be downgraded to a free account within 30 days of signing up. This is a painless process, but must be done!
MailChimp.com is a free bulk emailing service. The CANSPAM act puts restrictions on who you, as a business, can email, and most mail hosts (including Google) will shut down your account temporarily if they think that you are spamming from their host. MailChimp handles compliance with CANSPAM, and requires double-opt-in, which protects you against legal action.
In the near future, you are going to start selling! Now is the time to read Book Yourself Solid and start getting into the mindset of selling, selling, selling! Sales is the heart of any business. Unfortunately, “sales” has become a dirty word, but without sales, you don’t have a business! Always remember to ask for the money — a sale is not a sale until you have a credit card number, check or cash in hand.
If any licensing is required for your business, now is the time to get it. Sometimes entrepreneurs wait to acquire some of the licensing (like a business license) until they have made a few sales to friends and family. We don’t advocate this, but if the cost is an issue, it is something to be aware of (some cities charge as much as $800 for a business license, but in most cities, it costs much less). Also, if your business is online, there may be some gray area — if the business is all online, are you doing business in the city or not?
Now is also the time to start a Facebook page for your business. Facebook requires that businesses have pages (rather than an individual account). Pages are free, and you should attempt to make the page represent your business as much as possible. Try to get all of your friends to like your page, as this will increase your exposure!
Action Steps:
– Decide on a name for your business and create an email account for your business (ideally, you should register the name of your business as a .com domain, which will cost about $20 a year, then set up a free Gmail Apps for Business account to host the email).
– Sign up for Mailchimp (FREE!)
– Read chapters 1-4 of Book Yourself Solid
— Read Sowell, Chapter 2: The Role of Prices
– Start building an email list – call anyone you know who might be interested in your product and get permission to email them when your product becomes available. Set up a list in Mailchimp and add the email addresses and names.
– Create a Facebook page for your business and ask all of your friends to like your page
– Acquire any required licensing (also consider a different business if the licensing is excessive)
Discussion Questions:
What steps will you take to integrate the lessons in Book Yourself Solid into your business?
Why is it important to buy a domain name even if you don’t have a website yet?
Why do you need a website and email @yourdomain.com instead of yourbusinessname@gmail.com (or similar?)