Starting An Online Business In The Philippines

An online business is one of the most convenient and potentially profitable business almost anyone can start. Three developments have made this venture even more exciting. First is the development of technology have made the process much easier. Second, the costs of internet related expenses like hosting have gone down rapidly. And third, much more of our population is currently using the internet.

However, the internet boom has attracted a large number of people to this business. This naturally results in a more competitive environment. To have a better chance of success in your online business you must learn first how to go about it properly. See the basic steps below to gain important knowledge on this type of venture:

Look for a suitable product or service to market in the internet. This is the part where you should do a lot or research. Your product or service must be one that has good demand but not too much competition. You may set up your website for e-commerce where the transaction is completed on line or you may close the sale in the conventional manner like over the phone.

Get a descriptive domain name that is likely to be searched. A domain name is like your address in the internet. It would be an advantage if your domain is a good match to your business. Although there are a number of types of domain names the most popular are those ending with .com and .ph. Using the .ph ending has the advantage of making it known at once that your site is from the Philippines. However, currently the .ph ending is much more expensive than .com and most other domain endings. The company in charge of the .ph ending is based in the Philippines. The other domains are from abroad and you need a major international credit card to pay them.

Look for a fast, reliable and affordable host. The host is the computer server where your website will be located. Research online for the most reputable hosting companies. Fast hosting means your website can quickly be seen by internet browsers. Although there are local hosting companies, most of them use the services of hosting companies in the USA and resell them here.

Get the services of a web developer. There are companies that offer web development but you could save a lot if get a freelancer instead. While web development companies usually cost more, they may have a broader offering and more specialized personnel. Some people let the web developer do everything from the purchase of the domain name and hosting up to the development and maintenance of the website.

Promote your website. Having a great website is just the starting point; you must also entice people to visit your site. There are many ways to improve the visits to your website. One of the most effective is search engine optimization. This is to apply techniques so that your website will show up in search engines like Google.

Starting an online business is easy but making it profitable takes a lot of effort and know how just like any other business. Still this is one of the most promising ventures you can start now.

To know more about starting this business, BusinessCoach, Inc., a leading business seminar provider, conducts a seminar entitled, “Internet Marketing Seminar.” Contact (02) 727-5628, (02) 727-8860, (0915) 205-0133 or visit www.businesscoachphil.com for details.

Click here to view details of the seminar: Internet Marketing Seminar »

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. C-6, Sunday, August 11, 2013. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.