The road map to any successful business venture is a good plan. A website is no different. Do your homework, know what you want, know your competition and understand your customer. Here is a basic list of things you should consider doing before actually doing your website:

Identify the Goals and Focus of Your Website (click here to read our section on this). Identify the Needs of Your Customer (read our section on Customer Oriented Websites) Look at What Your Competition is Doing and Identify Your Own Competitive Edge Read Case Studies on What Works and Doesn't Work on the Web for Your Type of Business or Organization (see our recommended reading list for more information) Develop a Realistic Marketing Strategy

Choose an Internet Service Provider Register a Domain Name Choose a Website Design Firm if You Do Not Wish to Design the Site Yourself. If You Want to Sell Goods Over the Internet, You will Need a Merchant Account. Implement a Fulfillment Strategy

Choosing an Internet Service Provider:
There are several factors you should consider when choosing Internet Service Provider to Host your Website:

• Do They Provide a Complete Service?
• How Long Have They Been In Business?
• Are There Prices Reasonable (i.e. do they offer Value)?
• Do They Offer the Services You Need?

Registering a Domain Name:
You will first need to find out whether or not the name you wish to register is already taken. Click Here to Search for a Domain Name. Note that when you register a domain name through us, we will provide you with a temporary home page free of charge!

Choose a Web Design Firm:
If you have the time and interest, designing your own website can be very rewarding. Click Here for a list of books and other resources on designing your own website.

Alternatively, there are many good website design agencies out there. Our recommendation is look around the web and choose a firm that creates sites that appeal to you and at the same time fit your budget. For example, if you like this site, then consider choosing our affiliate, Celestial Graphics, which designed this site. Note, that there is wide range of prices and services so beware of bargain basement website designers. A quality, professional design firm will work with you to develop content, a marketing strategy and do much of the strategic planning for you.

A Merchant Account:
If you want to successfully sell goods on the Internet, then you need to take credit cards. Almost all Internet Commerce is done by credit card. Credit Cards are Processed by Credit Card Processors that act as a bridge between you and your bank. These card processors issue merchant accounts through financial institutions to you. Generally they charge some minimum monthly fee plus a percentage of each transaction (typically 2 to 3%). Why not get a merchant account directly from your bank? Unfortunately, most banks are very conservative when it comes to the Internet and still consider an Internet merchant account high risk. Even banks that issue merchant accounts often use card processors to actually issue the account for them.

So How Do You Choose a Merchant Account? We recommend you choose a merchant account recommended by your Internet Service Provider or Your Website Design Company. Why? Because setting up a Merchant Account Can be tricky (there are exceptions, of course). Some Internet Service Providers have Card Processors they already work with so setup time and costs are minimized.

Implementing a Fulfillment Strategy
So your about to launch your website, so what do you do with the customer orders, customer feedback and inquiries? Developing a sound fulfillment strategy is just as important as developing a good website.

If you already have an established business or institution, then you may need to integrate the website orders into your current order entry system. In addition, you should plan on sending out auto-reply e-mail's acknowledging the customer's order or request as well as auto-reply e-mail's acknowledging that the order or request has been filled.

If you have a new business, then you will either need to plan and budget this infrastructure or hire a fulfillment service. A fulfillment service will process orders, and answer phones for either a fixed fee or percentage of sales.

The most important thing for either a new or established business to develop a fulfillment work flow. You can develop a simple work flow with pencil and paper by charting out all of the possible types of requests a customer can make and how you would respond.

Of Course, we hope you will consider Acquired Knowledge Systems to fill all of your Internet Needs. We Offer a Wide Range of Services from web hosting, merchant accounts, to Internet design and strategic planning. We have been serving the Internet community since 1992.

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