Whether you intend to focus your promotional efforts on email marketing, directory submission, social networking or article marketing, every one of these methods is, in some way, subject to the rules of online engagement – chiefly, where your site comes up on the Search Engine Results Page. You can only achieve top ranking by offering value in an intelligent, relevant way. You can only achieve long term success by serving others. eCommerce can be a very humbling endeavor, and you must keep the spirit of service alive in your business at every moment. Provide useful, relevant content on an optimized page; Offer products that solve problems; and develop lasting connections with people; and you’ll find success in eCommerce.

Having a website means you have a unique opportunity to make an income online that, once set up and properly promoted, requires very little maintenance. An eCommerce site that is virtually hands free is often referred to as a money machine. This kind of solution is one that a lot of online marketers dream about, and it’s often the reason they become involved in eCommerce in the first place.

But all too often, the stumbling blocks along the way can lead to a whole lot of discouragement, or even abandonment of their online real estate. The learning curve to create a quality website can be pretty steep, and shortcuts in technology get pricey in a hurry if you’re not careful. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Gone are the days when developing a website involved coding HTML by hand. You don’t need a degree in computer science or graphic design to use the latest web development tools. In fact, the tools that are available today level the playing field. There are plenty of solutions for creating a website that looks good, is easy for your visitors to use, and is optimized for traffic. These days, websites have become a necessity for almost everyone. Companies, organizations, individuals, even very young folks have created websites that fill a need online. Whether your motive is profit or entertainment, in the next half hour you’ll find some great insider tips for building that perfect online money machine.

In this chapter we’ll be taking a look at steps to Creating an Online Business. We’ll take a comprehensive look at the parts of the eCommerce marketing machine that work together most effectively. You may be tempted to use others, and it’s a good idea to stay informed about new methods and trends. But be careful not to scrap your initial marketing strategy. Give it a chance to work. Stay focused on your goals, and make refinements to your existing plan. In most cases, small changes can mean big results. Whether you already have an established professional service or storefront, you’re looking to make a little extra money with an online business, or you’d like to set yourself free financially, the steps to building an eCommerce business are the same. Let’s take a look at them now.