How to Create an Online Pawn Shop

Purchase a domain name for your online pawn shop. A domain name identifies your website and is the address people type into their web browser to reach your website. Choose a name that is easy to remember and spell. Online domain registrars typically charge from $2 to $14 per year or more as of 2010.
Purchase web hosting for your website. Because your online pawn shop should have a lot of images, you may have to pay more for your web hosting services. Web hosts are responsible for maintaining the servers that handle your content and the traffic to your website. Web hosts typically charge from $3 to over $100 per month as of 2010. TheSiteWizard website offers hints on how to select the appropriate web hosting service.
Determine the structure of your online pawn shop. One option is a system in which customers mail a product to you so you can sell the product online. You also may set up an escrow account from which funds are released to the customer only after the product is received. Avoid a system in which you may have to mail products back to your customers; that is costly.
Determine the appearance of your website. Sketch a design for your proposed website. Use word-processing software to write the welcome message, frequently asked questions and other content for your website. Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Create your pawn shop website. Your website will be an e-commerce site where people can view items and add them to a virtual shopping cart to make purchase. Free or paid website templates are availabe online. You also may hire a website designer. A directory of designers is a available at the GetAFreelancer or Elance websites.
Produce images of items already in your possession you would like to pawn. Use a digital camera and use the same background for all images, if possible.
Attract customers. Besides using the typical social networking methods, advertise in forums your target market is likely to visit. Consider using advertising conduits such as Google AdWords.
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How to Set Up a BBS Internet Server (5 Steps)

Determine what software you will use to manage your BBS. Bulletin boards use special software that manages user accounts and provides the system operator with a wide range of administrative controls. There are many BBS software programs to choose from. Synchronet (see Resources) is a popular open source software that can be used free of charge. Impulse BBS and Ezycom are other options that will allow you to administer your own BBS server. Review the available options to determine which contain the features you require, and which are priced within your budget.
Acquire a server that can be used to host your BBS software. Refer to the minimum system requirements for the software you are using and make sure the server you select will meet or exceed those requirements. You will typically need to have either a Win 32 or Unix-based system to use as a server. This can be either a computer in your home or office, or a dedicated server at a hosting company. A standard web hosting account will not work for most BBS software programs, but you can select a hosting package for a dedicated Unix server and use that to host your BBS software. The dedicated server is necessary because this is the only way most hosts will allow you to install your own software on the server side.
Install the control panel software on your server. WHM and Virtuozzo are the most common control panel programs to use on a server. These will typically already be installed if you have a dedicated hosting package. Having a control panel installed is important, because it will allow you to have remote access to the server.
Install the BBS server. Use the control panel software to access the server. Go to the installation section of the control panel and follow the onscreen prompts to install your BBS software. The software will also be configured during the installation process, allowing you to set the basic features, such as the maximum number of concurrent users and how long a user can remain inactive before being automatically logged out.
Restart the server to complete the installation process.
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How to Start a Clothing Company Website (6 Steps)

Determine the mission of the clothing company website. A website is a tool to create awareness and drive sales. A clothing company website can exist as an ecommerce store to complement a freestanding retail location or as an online destination to market and sell the clothing to the online consumer.
Select your demographic and keywords. If your clothing company sells t-shirts to plus-size women, select the top search phrases that your customer types into search engines to buy clothing. Use the free Google Adwords Keyword tool to determine the best keywords and number of searches per month for your target demographic.
Reserve the domain name. Choose a domain name that is identical to the name of your clothing brand. Use a free online tool found on whois.net to check the availability of your domain name. Select a familiar domain extension of .com or .net. According to Christopher Heng, of SiteWizard.com, 'when you choose a domain name with a domain extension other than '.com', you should promote your website or business with the entire domain name.'
Select an appropriate hosting plan. Choose a hosting plan that includes multiple email accounts, unlimited bandwidth, remote FTP access, built-in shopping carts, pre-designed web templates and secure server options for credit card transactions. In 2009, hosting plans for ecommerce websites range from $72 to $400 per year.
Plan for web design, content and usability using a website checklist. A clothing company website requires product photos and descriptions of each item of clothing. Use a website checklist to plan for the number of pages, categories, website navigation and types of photos needed.
Build your website using a free website builder or a web designer. You can use tools like Kompozer to design your free website. Include fashionable web graphics and fonts to reinforce the stylish theme of your clothing designs. Select free and reasonably priced website templates at Template Monster and Templates Box. Upload your website using your domain username and password using a free FTP file manager like Filezilla.
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How to Make a VPS Out of a Dedicated Server (6 Steps)

Check to determine if your physical server meets the hardware requirement of the hypervisor that you want to use. A hypervisor is the operating system that manages the virtual servers. Some hypervisors require specific hardware to install at all.
Save the data and/or configuration of the appliance currently running on the physical server.
Put the disc in the reader and install the hypervisor. Hypervisors install like any other operating system.
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How to Create a Logo Contest

Write a list of elements required for the logo design, including company name, size, colors, use, and target audience.
Decide where to host the logo contest. Choose a personal or organizational website if self-hosting. Contact a web designer to create a logo-contest page if one is not available.
Determine the prize and its value for the contest winner. Consider charging a nominal entry fee, especially if offering a winning prize, such as a trip or a car.
Write the official contest rules. Review rules of other logo contests to determine what rules are typical. Write the rules on entry fees, prizes, number of entries per person permitted, maximum file size, file formats accepted, submission deadline, contest judges and when winners will be announced. Include the terms on payment delivery and ownership or publication rights.
Ask a webmaster to post the logo-design contest on the host website. Develop an online contact form to accept submissions. Indicate on the form the maximum file size and formats accepted. Disable the contest submission form at the end of the contest.
Submit your contest page to the top search engines. Promote your contest using the social medias, reciprocal links, blog posts, PPC marketing (pay-per-click), email campaigns, and word-of-mouth. (see Tips).
Review all logo submissions. Publish the winning and runner-up logo designs online if included in the terms of the contest. Send out winning notifications.
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How to Start Your Own Manga Store Online (10 Steps)

Get your manga comics. If you already own a manga book store, you won't need any additional inventory. If you need to choose between distributors, search around your locality or online, make a list of all wholesale distributors and evaluate them based on factors such as delivery, quality, deadlines and reputation.You may be able to ship the books without re-packaging them, since the original packaging may be professional and suitable for distribution. If you choose to make your own comics, make a list of how much time, effort and money you spend on each book. Evaluate the three options and choose a suitable one for you.
Get a computer and a reliable Internet connection. Sign up for an email account. You will need several email accounts to establish an Internet business, sell products and earn money.
Get a credit card or debit card from your local bank. This is necessary to buy products and services for your online business.
Do a study to determine a reasonable price for your products. Base the price on quality, number of pages or author. If you charge more than your competitors, your sales will be affected. In your price study, include a price comparison of other distributors selling similar manga comics with the same amount of pages. Also include manga prices from top-selling authors or popular comics. You may also conduct an informal survey with manga fans by asking them how much they would pay for your type of comic. Try to ask as many people as possible to get a sense of the best possible price.
Register your own domain name through sites such as godaddy.com or namecheap.com.
Register your web hosting package to ensure that it runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The web hosting package provides website bandwidth so people can see it online. Base the size of the hosting package on the number of views you expect. The more views you expect, the larger the hosting package you will need to purchase. You will need to pay a monthly or yearly fee. You can compare the prices of various providers and choose based on your budget. Prices usually run between $40 to $300 a month depending on your bandwidth need (as of September 2010).
Create a website. Make sure the design and layout are appealing and pleasing. Hire a designer if necessary. Use free services such as weebly.com or wix.com to create preliminary website ideas. Create your own sales and thank you pages.
Get a merchant account and register with a credit card processor. A merchant account is a business bank account linked to your website. It allows you to accept payments on the Internet. Credit card processors are free, but merchant accounts charge a fee. PayPal and Google Checkout both act as a combination of merchant accounts and credit card processors.
Secure your website. Take measures to ensure that your payment gateway is secure so that your clients can rely on it. Hire a webmaster to test your site.
Promote your website through submission in search engines, directories, blogs, newsletters, forums and discussion groups. Listing your site in popular directories such as dmegs.com and other blogs that cover the manga industry can increase traffic to your site.
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How to Hold a Baby Contest

Decide what type of baby contest you will be holding. Most baby contests are 'beautiful baby' contests, but other options include best smile, cutest personality and best sleeping picture. The contest can also be segregated into different ages and award prizes to boys and girls.
Reserve the space you will need for the baby contest. Spaces that are common to hold a baby contest include carnivals, local fairs, parks or schools.
Determine the entry fee of the contest, the photo sizes that will be accepted, what prizes will be awarded, how many prizes will be awarded and how many contestants you will accept. You will also need to choose a starting and ending time for the event.
Announce the event to the public through flyers, mailers and social media. If you are coordinating the event to coincide with another event, such as a local fair, then have the fair committee list the baby contest on the website or flyer for the fair. Make sure that the announcement lists the due date for photo entries.
Set up a booth on the day of the contest. Each photo will need to be attached to a bowl or container large enough to accommodate the photo and change to use for voting. Place numbers or names on the container so voters can identify the different babies.
Hang a sign on the front of the booth using tape or string. The sign should announce the baby contest, the times open for voting and the procedure to vote. The procedure to vote could be one cent equals one vote. For example, one penny would count as one vote for the baby, while a quarter would count as 25 votes for the baby.
Count the votes once the contest ends and announce the winner. If there is a stage available, call the winner on stage and award the baby or its mother or father the prize.
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How to Design a Pastoral Banquet

Settle on the number of guests to invite to your event. Besides the pastor, his staff and his family, you may choose to invite the entire church, or key leadership. You will need these numbers first in order to adequately plan and design the pastoral banquet. Create your guest list and have it handy always.
Send out invitations using a guest list. Ask for RSVP's so you can have solid numbers to give to the caterer.
Choose the location of the banquet. Your church may have a fellowship hall, if so you should use that one. If the group is larger than can be adequately seated in your hall, or you do not have a fellowship hall, you should look for one to rent. Ask others who you know have held banquets for some good recommendations. When you find the right one, make the deposit and set the date.
Acquire dining chairs and tables. Determine how many of these you will need by having one chair per guest. Then ask the rental company how many chairs can one table comfortably seat. Ask your rental company how muchthey will be providing according to the initial contract and how much it would cost to add more, if you should need them.
Create a seating chart using the guests from your guest list. With a pencil write the names in of all your guests, placing them where you want them to sit. A traditional way to seat people is to place them is alternating the sex of the guest This will keep the conversation flowing easily during the banquet.
Using your theme selection to help you decide the colors you will be using for the event. Color choices will effect table dressings, streamers, balloons and centerpieces. Stick with one or two colors to keep it simple.
Rent or buy tablecloths to cover the dining hall tables. They should be long enough to reach the floor but not to be a tripping hazard for the elderly. Besides covering tables for diners you will also need to cover the food and serving tables.
Decide on what style of dinnerware, silverware and stemware you will be using. Buy or rent the utensils you need. Practice your dinner arrangements by setting place settings and adjusting them until you are satisfied with the look. Write down your choices and decisions so on the day of the banquet you'll have a guide to use.
Design the centerpieces for the banquet by implementing the theme choice into them. Make the pastor's table centerpiece much larger than the regular table centerpieces.
Meet with the caterers you have selected and choose a menu to serve the night of the banquet. Ask for volunteers to help serve for the banquet. Book the special speaker to come for the event. Take the menu, the agenda and any program you design to the printers to have them made. Purchase awards or gifts you will be presenting to pastor. Arrange for a church group or committee to decorate the banquet hall before the event.
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How to Create an Online Thrift Website (5 Steps)

Compare and contrast web hosting packages. A free hosting package will likely be most practical to keep your profit margins high. Remember to read through the commerce tools provided by the web host. You will need a shopping cart and a simple way to track inventory.
Determine your web domain name. When using a free web host, your URL will usually appear as 'yourbusinessname.webhostname.com.'
Set up a merchant account so that you can accept credit card payments or use a third party merchant company such as PayPal.com to enable you to process credit cards.
Select a design template and upload product images, descriptions and pricing to your web pages. Add buttons underneath each product that allow customers to place items in a shopping cart for later purchase.
Test your website buttons and functions. Once you are satisfied, publish your website to the web.
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