When I talk to aspiring entrepreneurs, three of their biggest challenges to getting started are lack of money, time, and the technical side of launching. Which I can so relate to.
Back when I was researching how to set up a website, I was overwhelmed and confused. I had no clue which platform to use, who to use for hosting, let alone how to set everything up. I hired a web designer who made these decisions for me, but at the end of the day, she left me high and dry without a working website. In the end, I had to hire and pay another web programmer to fix the mess that she had left on my hands. Not only was the whole process long and drawn out, but it was also expensive.
If lack of time, money, and technical expertise are holding you back from starting your business, I invite you to check out Yahoo Small Business solutions.
With Yahoo Small Business you can get your business up and running quickly, affordably, and simply — no tech background needed.
Here Are Six Ways to Get Your Business Off the Ground with Yahoo Small Business Solutions:
1. Domain Names
When you're building your website, choosing your domain name (URL) will be the first part of the equation. Back when I was starting out, I bought my domain name months in advance because I didn't want someone else to grab my domain name.With Yahoo Small Business you can search domain names so you can see what's available. And once you've settled on a name, you can purchase it through them as well. Prices start at $3.99 per year and are dependent on how many extensions (.net, .org, .biz, etc.) you purchase, the type, and the length of time. When you purchase your domain through Yahoo Small Business you also receive a free Business Email and One-Page Website.
But, you can get your domain for FREE when you purchase a website, web hosting, e-commerce, or business mail plan through Yahoo Small Business!
Here are some basic tips for picking your domain name:
- Easy to spell and remember
- Avoid words with multiple spellings: two, too, 2, and to
- Use keywords (good for SEO)
- Be sure the domain you want to purchase isn't trademarked or copyrighted
- If possible, use a dot.com extension – dot.com is what most people remember when typing in a web address
2. Web Hosting
If your domain name is the address where your website is located, your hosting is the house where all of your website files live. And just like in the story of the three little pigs — you'll want to ensure that your home is built with a solid platform.Yahoo Small Business offers three different shared hosting packages to choose from. Annual plans range in price from $4.49 a month for the Basic Plan, $5.89 a month for the Advanced Plan, and $6.79 a month for the Premier Plan. All hosting packages come with a FREE domain name, business email and SSL certificate, 24/7 email support, weekday phone support, 99.99% uptime, and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
And don't worry about the technical side, Yahoo Small Business services have been designed with the beginner in mind, so you can efficiently manage your web hosting in one place.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a web hosting provider:
- Know the type of website you're building (blog, e-commerce, or business website)
- Server reliability and uptime guarantees
- Hosting plan options
- Pricing structure
- Tech support
- Reputation
3. Websites
Back when I started, combining my domain name and my hosting into a website was a complete mystery to me. Luckily for you, Yahoo Small Business makes the process of building your site a snap! All you have to do is choose your plan, pick a theme, and customize your website with their drag and drop features — no HTML knowledge needed.Monthly pricing starts at $5.00 for the Lite Plan, $7.00 for the Basic Plan, and $10.00 for the Professional Plan. Each plan comes with a FREE domain name, SSL certificate, and website hosting; however, the Lite Plan comes with a Yahoo-branded domain name (yourdomainname.yahoosites.com).
Websites are mobile-ready, and they come with a wide variety of professional looking themes to choose from. They also include storage, unlimited pages and bandwidth, built-in SEO, analytics, a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and 24/7 email and chat support and weekday phone support.
And if you want to test the waters, Yahoo Small Business offers a FREE 30-day trial of their Lite Plan!
A few things to consider when choosing a website builder:
- How long has the company been around
- What type of tech support do they offer
- Pricing
- Ease of the platform
- Is it mobile-ready?
4. Localworks Business Listings Management
Once you get your website up and running, you'll want to spread the word about your business, right?!With Localworks, you're able to manage your business listings across a network of 60+ directories including digital maps, apps, social networks, GPS systems, and search engines. It also allows you to manage third-party reviews on sites like Yelp efficiently, so you can easily review ratings, and respond to customers.
Localworks has three annual plans to choose from; the Starter Plan is $8.25 per month, the Standard Plan is $23.25 per month, and the Premium Plan is $41.58 per month.
5. Online Stores
If you're an online seller, Yahoo Small Business has you covered with their web application, Stores. With Stores, you can launch your e-commerce website quickly and easily.Stores are mobile-ready, and they come with a wide variety of industry-specific themes to choose from. They also include storage, unlimited pages and bandwidth, built-in SEO, analytics, inventory management, credit card and PayPal processing, UPS shipping integration, and 24/7 email and chat support and weekday phone support. You'll also get a FREE domain, hosting, and business email.
Online Stores has three annual plans to choose from; the Starter Plan is $10.95 per month and has a 1.5% transaction fee. The Standard Plan is $25.95 per month and has a 1% transaction fee, and for high volume merchants, the Professional Plan is $254.95 a month and has a .75% transaction fee.
This e-commerce solution is designed for sales. In fact, retailers using Yahoo Small Business Stores have sold a combined total of over $70 billion worth of products!
6. Business Mail
One of the easiest ways to boost your credibility as a business owner is by using a professional email address. Yet, so many business owners continue to use their personal email for business uses.Why you should you use a business-branded email account:
- Gives a good first impression
- Helps with branding and marketing
- Builds credibility and trust
- Reduces the risk of your email being marked as SPAM
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