If you have good IT and design skills, you may find it easier to start – and run – an internet business to those that are less skilled. However, the real issue is whether your business is suitable for the online world or would you be better off with a medium that allows you to be face-to-face with the customer?

It may be that you already have an off-line presence and that you now wish to expand your business to the internet. Either way, this page will give you useful information to get you started setting up your internet business and how to avoid becoming a cyber-failure.

In 2002, over 40% of adults in the UK purchased goods online, collectively spending over £10 billion. This figure was double the previous year consequently showing that e-business is alive and is crying out for new-comers to take advantage of the medium’s growing popularity.

Arguably the main driving force behind a successful corporate website is ‘marketing’ – an ever increasing expense to build the branding of the business. Most e-entrepreneurs will tell you that marketing is the most important element of a corporate website – especially for new businesses.

Another important aspect of a corporate website is the ‘design’: overlooking a professional design and layout is a one-way ticket to failure.

Many internet businesses can benefit from outsourcing which will allow you to use professional companies to manage the more ‘important’ and ‘delicate’ operations where employee skills may lack or resources are scarce: web hosting and web design are the most common in this case.

The following articles will give you more information about starting, running and marketing an Internet business.

• Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Own Website

• Should I Put My Business Online?

• Choosing a Name for Your Internet Business

• Domain Names & the Law

• Designing an Internet Business Web Site

• Marketing an Internet Business

• Internet Business: Using Online Payments

• Legal Issues in an Internet Business