4 Steps to Taking Your Business Online
SBX 7317
Course Hours:  6

Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
 
    -  Understand the concept of E-commerce
 
    -  Know the difference between E-commerce and other
       forms of internet-based businesses
 
    -  Identify necessary factors for a successful E-commerce
       site 
 
    -  Know how to research the market in preparing an E-
       commerce store
 
    -  Map out a flow chart for an E-commerce store 
 
    -  Market an E-commerce store

Content:
   

1. Where to Begin With E-commerce
    -  List and discuss various E-commerce products
    -  List goals for their products and store
    -  Budget considerations
    -  Time needed for E-commerce
    -  Perception of E-commerce – how will this E-
       commerce store be treated in your mind and work?
    -  Dynamics – explain the term E-commerce and how
       it affects everything
    

2. Building an E-commerce Store – Part 1

              -  How to plan your store
                   a.  Deciding on products
                   b.  Mapping out store and website in a flow chart
                   c.  Shipping, payment, taxes and other necessary
                        logistics
                   d.  How to physically handle orders, back orders,
                        out of stock and other after order processes
                   e.  How to promote your business through your
                        storefront
                   f.   Think about each aspect of the store plan and
                        how customers may react or respond.  Polling
                        good customers would be very helpful.

              -  How to prepare your store
                   a.  Content preparation – writing out descriptions,
                        pricing, weights, and details about the products
                   b.  Graphic preparations – sizing pictures for
                        thumbnails and large graphics
                         -  What sizes are best
                         -  How to compress
                         -  Programs to help in prepping graphics
                   c.  Know the tax rate for state residing

3. Building an E-commerce Store – Part 2
    -  What storefront to use and what to look for
    -  Security and reliability in the store
    -  Neat functionality to give to the store such as
       affiliations, attributes, related products, up-sales
       and more. 

       4.  Marketing an E-commerce Store
             -  Search engines optimization
             -  Natural search results
             -  Bid search engines
             -  Newsletters
             -  Email blasts vs. bulk emailing
             -  Froogle and other storefront marketers