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How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

How to build a cheap ecommerce website - checklist

How do you set up an ecommerce website without breaking the bank? Find out the key steps involved

  • Start by doing your research. Is a website the right sales channel for your business? Do you want your site to sell goods directly, offer post-sales support or act as a marketing tool for your products and services?
  • To keep costs down, set up an eBay shop or sell your items via Amazon or an other online selling platform such as Etsy to test out your market before committing to the expense of a bespoke website. Alternatively, use eBay to steer customers to your own site by selling special offers and clearance items.
  • Employ a freelance web designer to build your website or use one of the many cost-effective website-building sites such as Wordpress, Pixpa or Wix.
  • Make sure you are able to update the site's content yourself so you don't have to pay someone every time you post new items, add special offers or sales information.
  • Keep the site fresh and interesting by updating key pages on a regular basis.
  • Choose a reputable internet service provider (ISP) to host your site to guarantee a speedy and reliable website. Criteria to consider include costs, security and technical support.
  • Assess how user-friendly your site is. Make it easy to navigate each page and include a comprehensive search function. Always aim for the eight-second rule - consumers unable to find the product within this time are likely to go elsewhere.
  • Make sure you clearly display delivery options and charges.
  • Work out your payment function. You can accept payments online using an internet merchant account or a payment processing company, such as PayPal. Check what different solutions offer and how total costs compare.
  • Consider whether your website is secure. A professional-looking site that clearly sets out security precautions will help to reassure customers paying online. For safe ecommerce transactions, your site should use encryption technology, anti-virus software and be firewall-protected.
  • Think about web marketing and how to drive traffic to your site. Use keywords to improve your search engine ranking, rather than paying a search engine optimisation (SEO) specialist to boost your online visibility.
  • Consider order fulfilment. Processing customer orders promptly and guaranteeing an efficient delivery service is vital for any online business.
  • Explore what discounts you can get from couriers, rather than paying the full amount for the delivery of every item.
  • Consider user ratings or a comments facility to encourage customer feedback.
  • Integrate a blog into your site or create a regular e-newsletter with special offers and details of new products to persuade visitors to revisit your site.

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