Starting an Online Business

[websitecreation1]

Research, Research and more research. It is always best to try to promote something that you are passionate about.

[abigsaunder]

I also agree that research and planning are the two most important factors which has to be considered when starting an online business. Also, make sure that you are aware of the competition of the business, which you are planning to start.

[OkelleyArlene]

I also agree

[Mike Taylor]

"Starting an online business" is a VERY broad topic.
What kind of business do you want to create? On-line business is more than just throwing up a web site and hoping for the best. You need to pick a business model and go for it.
You need to create a solid idea of what you want to pursue, and follow the steps laid out in whatever plan you choose. Ignore all the other shiny objects and follow one path until you succeed. Failure is usually giving up a day too soon...
Regardless of what any one says, success does require some knowledge and technical skill or VAs who can do the tasks for you. You really DO need to know how to do each phase of your model to able to explain it to your assistants, so do the ground work. Get familiar with blogs, polish your copy writing skills, and understand your target audience.
As far as models go, I am having much more success in local marketing than in wide spread attempts, and helping local businesses get more customers is proving to be much more lucrative (and personally more satisfying) than trying to get to page one with a traditional web site.
Of course, getting the customers' info in front of people requires the SEO skills, tools (WTG is a must have, of course) and KW research that any approach takes, plus understanding of marketing principles, some graphics understanding, knowing how to put together a compelling call-to-action, understanding and using auto-responders, list-building (and give-away content creation to induce those sign-ups), etc. and / or deep insight into one or more specialized areas.
Internet marketing can be anything from optimizing FB pages, YouTube channels (I get great mileage out of YT), etc. Some people make a great living doing nothing more the FB pages, or LinkedIn profiles, and others specialize in leasing web sites. One young gun at the conference I went to in Vegas this week has 300 sites that generate an average of $1,000 per month - each... He is adding another 100 sites and will be looking at a 9.5 to 10 million dollar exit/buy out. He is not very old - they carded him at the bar...

[christinadepth]

I went to the online business, but you are right, you just need to get on the Internet and domain name suspension. They have some agreement, through it, you need to update some time after. But the agreement does not require the government is that when you are dealing with. COM or net extension, but if your goals. MIL, you need to seek permission. However, because you are going to sell clothes, so there is no such tension.

[Tim Buchalka]

No idea what the previous poster was talking about, but like anything you plan to get involved with research goes a long way.