11/05: Starting A New Online Business For Beginners

A lot of people believe that making money online is difficult, if not virtually impossible. Then again, many would have you believe that it's as easy as taking candy from a baby!

The truth of the matter probably lies somewhere in between. If you are looking to make your first foray into earning money from the internet, remember that you will probably face a lot of disappointment before you see any results. If there are any "miracle" money makers they are few and far between, so you will have to resign yourself to some long hours and a steep learning curve.

If you are just setting out on your online adventure here are just a couple of the basics, things you will need to start your journey - all are essential if you are to achieve anything at all.

1) Your Own Domain Name This is your identity, your address on the massive global street that is the internet. Without an address no-one will ever find you, just as in 'real life'. Think hard about your domain, this is your stamp on the web, so choose a domain name that is relevant to your business and one that is easy to remember. You can buy as many names as you wish of course, dependent on the depth of your pockets.

2) A Hosting Company This is the place where your "virtual business" will reside and from where the world at large can access it. Poor hosting will cripple your online business, so choose wisely. It is easy to be seduced by the attention grabbing, low priced and highly hyped deals plastered across the web but you will find that you get what you pay for in the end.

3) A Business (A Product or Service) You may already have a clear idea of what you are going to sell online or you may be wondering just what you can possibly do. This is an important decision, but, even if you have no product/service of your own there are plenty of avenues open to you, selling for other people/companies for a start. We will be discussing all these things as the blog progresses.

Today, let's just deal with the first two issues. Firstly, your domain name. This can be pretty much whatever you choose, providing the name hasn't already been taken by somebody else. Once you've decided what you want, you can go shopping and there are plenty of places to go. Shop around because when it comes to registering a name, prices will vary enormously. Some offers will be conditional upon hosting the domain with a particular company, but don't be bullied into buying a hosting account you don't think suits your needs, just to get a cheap domain registration deal.

Secondly, your hosting provider. If you don't know much, or anything, about hosting, do some research online. If you're unsure about committing yourself, try and find other customers and get their feedback on service, features and reliability. A search for web hosting guides for beginners would be a good starting point.

Our recommendation when it comes to hosting is always Kiosk.ws for a number of reasons. Their service, support and reliability are second to none and it's always good to know that help is at hand should you need it. There is a very active users forum too, which can certainly benefit a new user. Unlike some hosts, they will not shut you down as soon as someone makes a spam complaint against your domain, unfounded or otherwise. Some of the internet's top marketers use their services, so,rest assured you are choosing a solid company. Customer care is excellent and their support really is live and 24/7 - most help desk tickets answered within an hour and a live hot conference support room that all members can access, manned by some great staff.

If you like what you see there, you can register your domain and have it set up on their servers in minutes and this applies equally if you already have a name and are looking for a new host. If you decide to use their services you will soon see why so many webmasters, both old hands and complete beginners, are prepared to give such glowing testimonials. You will have so many features available to you, including a huge library of scripts, all installable at the click of a button through Fantastico and your C-Panel. If that means nothing to you, believe me when I say, you will really appreciate the ease of use it provides.

What's more, you will have the option of making money with the company's excellent reseller and affiliate programs - so you could soon be recouping all your initial outlay, your monthly hosting fees and more! Why settle for less........?

If you like, you can go and try it all out with their excellent online demo which will show you exactly what will be at your disposal as a customer - just click here for the demo section

I think you'll agree that not many companies can top that and at the time of writing you can get your first month's hosting for a single dollar, no contract, no risk. Getting your domain and website set up couldn't be simpler.

Whatever your eventual choice, you will soon be ready to build your first site and opening your business to a whole new world of opportunity. Enjoy your adventure, but come back soon!

TCH