11.2 Questions: Research and Planning

Getting Started

1. Describe the recommended seven steps in setting up an online business.
2. Why will this approach generally fail today?
3. What can be done to increase the odds of success? Research for the Small Company 1. Describe the research needed by a small company venturing into ecommerce. 2. What are the two key areas that ecommerce research should cover? 3. How would you get reliable figures for traffic and percentage conversion? 4. How could business models and strategies help?

Research for the Small Company

1. Describe the research needed by a small company venturing into ecommerce.
2. What are the two key areas that ecommerce research should cover?
3. How would you get reliable figures for traffic and percentage conversion?
4. How could business models and strategies help?

eBusiness Overview

1. Suppose you are selling leisure goods over the Internet.
a. what competitor research will you undertake, and how?
b. describe your marketing plan, detailing what Internet services you would use.
c. what would your business plan cover?

2. Suppose you're going to sell financial advice over the Internet:
a. what Internet services would you consider using, and why?
b. how would you market your service?
c. outline a three-year timetable.

Planning for Internet SMEs

1. How does moving an existing business online differ from starting one from scratch?
2. Outline four groups of ecommerce start-ups.
3. What should a business plan cover, and why?
4. Describe possible sources of capital, their advantages and disadvantages.
5. How can you get accurate figures for web-build and other costs?