How to Open an Internet Store

Purchase a domain name for your store. A domain name is like the street address to a business. For example 'www.BestBuy.com' or 'www.apple.com' are domain names. You can purchase domain names from sites like 'godaddy.com' and pay a yearly amount. Prices for domains can be as low as $1.99 to $14.
Purchase web hosting for your online store. A web hosting company provides a shared or dedicated server for your website. Search for web hosts specifically for e-commerce sites--for example, ehostpros.com. Web hosting fees can start at $4 a month.
Find a web designer for your online store. A web designer will take your concept, images, and ideas for your website, then create your online store for you. You can locate web designers by going to freelance sites, such as 'Guru.com,' 'Elance.com' or 'getafreelancer.com.'
Determine what method of payments you can and will accept. PayPal and Google checkout are third-party processors that will accept checks and credit cards on your behalf for a percentage. Approval can take place in minutes.
Consider opening a merchant account. Instead of a third-party processor, such as PayPal, which costs more, you can actually open your own merchant account to accept credit card payments. You then can deposit funds into your checking account. You can go through your local bank to determine if it offers merchant accounts.
Advertise your online store. You can create banner ads, purchase ads via Google or utilize pay per click advertising. Pay-per-click advertising is a form of marketing where you only pay a certain amount of money if customers click on your ad to see your website. You can also advertise via online forums and online magazines.
VPS Hosting

How to Set Up a Sales Website

Create a web hosting account for the site. This involves getting server space and registering the domain name. It is important to find a web host that supports third party software to use during site development. As of August 2010, reputable hosts are offering this variety of hosting for around $4 per month.
Choose e-commerce software to run the site. There are many available choices. Explore the options before choosing. Packages range from open-source to commercial. If in doubt, ask the web host for their recommendation.
Install the e-commerce software on the server. Most hosts offering third party software hosting, use Fantastico De Luxe to install this software with. From the Fantastico options, choose the software package's name and click 'New Installation.' Follow the installation wizard until complete.
Configure the e-commerce software settings. This includes selecting the theme of the site to give it a customized look and feel. You will also add items for sale to the site's catalog at this point.
Setup a payment processing account. This will allow customers to pay online with credit cards and other forms of payment. Many small businesses choose to use PayPal and Google initially, but there are also several other inexpensive choices for payment processing.
Integrate the payment processing setup into the e-commerce software. This is usually as simple as copying and pasting some code provided by the payment processor into the administration area of the e-commerce software.
Open the site to the public. When the site is prepared, go into the administration settings, set access to public, and save the configuration. The site is now ready to begin selling products.
VPS Hosting

How to Start an Online Goody Bag Business (6 Steps)

Determine the type of goody bag products you are going to sell. Try to specialize within the niche. For instance, you can sell eco-friendly goody bags made from all-natural materials or hand-made gifts and treats. You can specialize in food items, or international gift items. Keep your product line simple and categorize your products according to price.
Analyze domain name options. Think of a domain name that reflects your product. Avoid using your business registered name but instead use a fictitious or DBA (Doing Business As) name that reflects the goody bag product. Remember the domain name is the name that will be remembered by customers, and it is easier to remember a name that is associated with goody bags.
Locate a webhosting service. Most of the websites that sell domain names also sell web hosting packages. As this is an e-commerce site use a webhosting space that is midsized. Pay on a monthly or yearly basis. Most web hosting companies charge between $5 to $10 a month.
Look through different website templates and e-store templates websites like Website Templates, Stylish Template or Steve's Templates to find one that may be appropriate for your new online goody bag business. Be sure the template has shopping card options. Write the descriptions and content for the goody bag website. Hire a freelance web designer to help you load the website you chose to your domain name.
Promote the website. Create a Facebook and Twitter account and add members and fans. Tweet about your goody bag service and explain why these make nice gifts for friends or business associates. Write articles about your product explaining the benefits and the types of gifts that can be chosen to be a part of the goody bag. Post the information on your website or blog. Create listings on auction websites like eBay Etsy. Place a link to your website in your listing. Place advertisements on bulletin boards like Craigslist or the Bulletin Board. Add your website address to business cards, and letterhead. Leave your business card on restaurant or store bulletin boards so people can find your website. Send out newsletters, and promotionals to customers who do buy from you.
Hire a search engine optimization specialist to help you list your website on a first page in the search engines. Think of search terms people might use to find a website like yours. Write these terms or keywords down and give them to the SEO specialist. Have him help you get a first page listing under those terms or other keywords like gifts, gift bags, goody bags, and others that refer to your particular niche. This way people will find your online goody bag business when looking for those terms.
VPS Hosting