How to Start an Online Business If you’re ready to work for yourself but don’t have the capital to open up a storefront, consider starting an online business. You can reach millions of customers instead of whoever happens to wander in. However, like with any business, you’ll need an excellent product and a solid marketing plan. See the following steps and learn to start your business online. Define your product or service. No matter what you’re trying to sell, you can bet that hundreds more online retailers have a similar idea. What makes your products different? It’s truly original. Besides, offer expertise in an area. Even if the product itself isn’t very unique, your expertise might be a strong selling point. If you’re selling a line of skincare products, for example, it helps if you have a degree in a field related to skin health. Register your business. Your business needs to be registered according to your country’s laws. Choose an official business name and fill out right paperwork to make your business official. Know the business regulations in your country, and be sure to comply with. In some countries, businesses may start on some popular social media without being registered at the early stage. Get a web hosting service. There are free hosting services to be found, but if you’re serious about running an online business long term, consider paying for one that offers all the services you need. You’ll be less likely to run into problems when your business starts to take off. Create a stylish and functional website. Elegant or funky, classical or hipster, your online store should reflect what you’re selling. No matter what your style is, it’s important to give off a professional air. Since you won’t be able to earn people’s trust in person, your website will have to do the selling for you. Your site should be engaging, and most importantly, easy for customers to use when they’re ready to make a purchase. You don’t have to design the website yourself—there are professional designers who are more than up to the task. Get e-commerce software. You’ll need this so your customers can view your products, enter their information and make a secure purchase. Set up a merchant account. Using a service such as Alipay makes it possible to accept actually any form of credit card for your services. Be social. Whatever your business, keeping your name in the air is key to internet success. Have a business account on Sina, Baidu and other large social media. Make sure those sites link back to your main website, and that your website has links to all of them. Choose the correct answer. （1）If you're ready to work for yourself but don’t have the capital to open up a storefront, consider starting an online business. What does the word capital mean? （2）According to the passage, what makes your products different? （3）It is advised to use ____ web hosting service in this passage instead of free ones. （4）What is true about the website according to the passage? （5）What kind of service can Alipay offer according to the passage?
How to Start an Online Business If you’re ready to work for yourself but don’t have the capital to open up a storefront, consider starting an online business. You can reach millions of customers instead of whoever happens to wander in. However, like with any business, you’ll need an excellent product and a solid marketing plan. See the following steps and learn to start your business online. Define your product or service. No matter what you’re trying to sell, you can bet that hundreds more online retailers have a similar idea. What makes your products different? It’s truly original. Besides, offer expertise in an area. Even if the product itself isn’t very unique, your expertise might be a strong selling point. If you’re selling a line of skincare products, for example, it helps if you have a degree in a field related to skin health. Register your business. Your business needs to be registered according to your country’s laws. Choose an official business name and fill out right paperwork to make your business official. Know the business regulations in your country, and be sure to comply with. In some countries, businesses may start on some popular social media without being registered at the early stage. Get a web hosting service. There are free hosting services to be found, but if you’re serious about running an online business long term, consider paying for one that offers all the services you need. You’ll be less likely to run into problems when your business starts to take off. Create a stylish and functional website. Elegant or funky, classical or hipster, your online store should reflect what you’re selling. No matter what your style is, it’s important to give off a professional air. Since you won’t be able to earn people’s trust in person, your website will have to do the selling for you. Your site should be engaging, and most importantly, easy for customers to use when they’re ready to make a purchase. You don’t have to design the website yourself—there are professional designers who are more than up to the task. Get e-commerce software. You’ll need this so your customers can view your products, enter their information and make a secure purchase. Set up a merchant account. Using a service such as Alipay makes it possible to accept actually any form of credit card for your services. Be social. Whatever your business, keeping your name in the air is key to internet success. Have a business account on Sina, Baidu and other large social media. Make sure those sites link back to your main website, and that your website has links to all of them. Choose the correct answer. （1）If you're ready to work for yourself but don’t have the capital to open up a storefront, consider starting an online business. What does the word capital mean? （2）According to the passage, what makes your products different? （3）It is advised to use ____ web hosting service in this passage instead of free ones. （4）What is true about the website according to the passage? （5）What kind of service can Alipay offer according to the passage?
