About the Book
Are you excited about opening your Web store, but a little intimidated too? Relax! Web Stores Do-It-Yourself For Dummies is here to guide you step by step through the whole process. You’ll find the easiest and best ways to choose a provider, sign up with payment processors, and open for business in no time. This make-it-happen guide for online entrepreneurs walks you through the process of opening an account, designing your store for easy shopping, creating a catalog that shoppers can’t resist, processing orders and payments efficiently, and much more. You’ll find the best ways to choose merchandise, establish store information, create a skype phone number, develop store policies, and reach the customers you want. Discover how to:
Pick products that will really sell
Find and evaluate storefront providers
Establish payment options
Accept credit card payments safely
Lay out your design from the ground up
Set up a catalog of goods
Arrange for shipping
Incorporate the best practices of super-selling sites
Keep your store up to date
Put your Web store at the hub of your sales
Fine-tune before you open
Take advantage of search engines and pay-per-click campaigns
Complete with lists of the top ten things every Web store needs, tips for designing your store, and traps to avoid while building and running your store, Web Stores Do-It-Yourself For Dummies makes opening your Web store fast, fun, and simple!
Table of Contents:
Introduction. Part I: Planning and Gathering.
Chapter 1:Web Stores Overview: Discovering Your Purpose.
Chapter 2: Developing Your Store Policies.
Part II: Constructing Your Web Store.
Chapter 3: Finding Your Storefront Provider.
Chapter 4: Yahoo! Merchant Solutions.
Chapter 5: ProStores.
Chapter 6: 1&1 eShops.
Chapter 7: Establishing Your Payment Options.
Chapter 8: Laying Out Your Design from the Ground Up.
Part III: Filling In the Blanks (and Shelves).
Chapter 9: Setting Up Your Catalog of Goods.
Chapter 10: Adding Pictures and Copy to Your Catalog.
Chapter 11: Building Your Store Features and Functions.
Chapter 12: Setting Up Your Back Office.
Part IV: Finalizing Your Web Store.
Chapter 13: Putting Your Web Store at the Hub of Your Sales.
Chapter 14: Hard Facts About Your Store’s “Soft Launch”.
Chapter 15: Load, Look, and Launch — Final Steps Before You Open.
Part V: Promotion and Outsourcing of Your Web Store.
Chapter 16: Getting the Word Out — Drawing Attention to Your Store.
Chapter 17: Online Marketing Campaigns.
Chapter 18: Outsourcing Store Elements — Going to the Next Level.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 19: Ten Things Every Web Store Needs.
Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Designing Your Web Store.
Chapter 21: Ten Traps to Avoid While Building and Running Your Store.
Index.
About the Author :
Joel Elad is the head of Real Method Consulting, a company dedicated to educating people on how to sell on the Internet, and eBay in particular, through training seminars, DVDs, books, and other media. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business from UC Irvine, and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from UCLA.
Joel has written several books in the field of e-commerce, including Starting an Online Business All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, eBay Your Business, and How to Sell Anything on Amazon . . . and Make a Fortune! He has contributed to Entrepreneur magazine and Smartbiz.com, and has spoken at regional and national conferences on the topic of eBay and/or e-commerce. He is the lead eBay instructor for the Learning Annex in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. He has taught at institutions like the University of California, Irvine. He is an Educational Specialist trained by eBay and a proud member of eBay’s Voices of the Community.
Joel has previously worked for companies like IBM Global Services, where he was a project manager and software developer working for Fortune 500 clients. He operates several e-commerce sites, including NewComix.Com, which has quickly become a low-priced leader of comic books, toys, and action figures to US and international customers. While he was the Marketing and Sales Director at Top Cow Productions, Joel implemented an eBay sales channel and helped revamp their e-commerce operations. He continues to consult for various clients to add or improve their e-commerce operations.
Joel lives in San Diego, California. In his spare time, he hones his skills in creative writing, Texas Hold ’Em poker, and finance. He is an avid traveler who enjoys seeing the sights both near and far, whether it’s the Las Vegas Strip or the ruins of Macchu Picchu. He spends his weekends scouring eBay and local conventions for the best comic book deals, catching the latest movie with friends or family, and enjoying a lazy Sunday.
Joel Elad is the head of Real Method Consulting, a company dedicated to educating people on how to sell on the Internet, and eBay in particular, through training seminars, DVDs, books, and other media. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business from UC Irvine, and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from UCLA.
Joel has written several books in the field of e-commerce, including Starting an Online Business All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, eBay Your Business, and How to Sell Anything on Amazon . . . and Make a Fortune! He has contributed to Entrepreneur magazine and Smartbiz.com, and has spoken at regional and national conferences on the topic of eBay and/or e-commerce. He is the lead eBay instructor for the Learning Annex in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. He has taught at institutions like the University of California, Irvine. He is an Educational Specialist trained by eBay and a proud member of eBay’s Voices of the Community.
Joel has previously worked for companies like IBM Global Services, where he was a project manager and software developer working for Fortune 500 clients. He operates several e-commerce sites, including NewComix.Com, which has quickly become a low-priced leader of comic books, toys, and action figures to US and international customers. While he was the Marketing and Sales Director at Top Cow Productions, Joel implemented an eBay sales channel and helped revamp their e-commerce operations. He continues to consult for various clients to add or improve their e-commerce operations.
Joel lives in San Diego, California. In his spare time, he hones his skills in creative writing, Texas Hold ’Em poker, and finance. He is an avid traveler who enjoys seeing the sights both near and far, whether it’s the Las Vegas Strip or the ruins of Macchu Picchu. He spends his weekends scouring eBay and local conventions for the best comic book deals, catching the latest movie with friends or family, and enjoying a lazy Sunday.
