| The first step to creating a successful, Internet | | | | these days to find these types of domain names. |
| marketing business is building a credible and | | | | 2. Choose a domain name that is easy to remember |
| professional looking website. Your website is the | | | | and generic. And still a third option is to choose your |
| jump-off point of all your marketing efforts - it's your | | | | own name or the name of your business - this |
| virtual place of business. | | | | probably the easiest and probably the best of the |
| Remember that old saying in the Real Estate business | | | | three choices. You can register a dot-com domain |
| that the number one thing that creates a successful | | | | name for around $10 per year (and it's tax |
| business is "Location, Location, Location?" Well, the | | | | deductible). There are several good companies that |
| same thing applies to your online business. | | | | will register your domain name - is the company that |
| So just like any brick and mortar business, it's | | | | I use and recommend. |
| important that your virtual office is easy-to-find, | | | | Finding the Best Hosting Company |
| attractive to your customers and welcoming. Location | | | | Next you'll need to choose a hosting company - this |
| is just as important for virtual real estate as it is with | | | | is where your virtual real estate will be located. Try a |
| a brick and mortar business. | | | | good basic company like HostGator - they guarantee |
| Since we're talking about your "virtual real estate" - | | | | your site will be up at least 99% of the time, and |
| you want to make sure that your affiliate website is | | | | their fees are about $7 a month. |
| user-friendly, attracts your prospects and motivates | | | | Whatever you do, DO NOT choose one of the |
| them to click on the links to the products and | | | | "free" hosting sites. Not only will it look |
| services you are promoting - and of course, make a | | | | nonprofessional (most of the time they put |
| purchase. Your Website should be as classy and | | | | advertisements all over your Website) but they're |
| professional-looking as possible...without being too | | | | also not the most reliable - and entrepreneurs have |
| flashy or high-tech for visitors. | | | | often found out too late that their Website is often |
| But before you can build a website, you need to | | | | "down" or unavailable - and you're losing money |
| have three things - a domain name (the URL or | | | | every time someone can't get to your site. |
| "address" that someone types into their browser | | | | Building Your Website |
| when searching for your Website), a place to house | | | | These days with simple WYSIWYG |
| or host your Website, and an HTML editor to create | | | | (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) Website builders, |
| your web pages. Let's start with the domain name. | | | | ready-made templates and even the availability of |
| Choosing the Right Domain Name | | | | freelance designers, there is no excuse for even the |
| When choosing a domain name, there are basically | | | | "technologically challenged" not to have a professional |
| two options: | | | | Website. In fact, you can pick up an excellent free |
| 1. You could choose a name that relates to the | | | | HTML editor at Kompozer.net. |
| specific industry that you'll be selling to. For example | | | | These three tools are all you need to build a |
| if you're going to be selling affiliate products to horse | | | | successful, moneymaking website. Why not get |
| lovers, then you'll want to try and find a name that | | | | started right now? |
| relates to that. However, it's gotten more difficult | | | | |