The Winners: Smaller Merchants who Made it Big

Some of our most successful merchants are big companies. But not all of them. A lot of the most successful stores are smaller companies. Some, in fact, are one-man operations.

That's what they mean when they say that the Web levels the playing field. A small company doesn't have to look small. Or stay small.

In the physical world, a big company has a big advantage. They can spend millions of dollars to set up a marble and glass store on Park Avenue.

On the Web, things are different. Everyone's Web pages are made out of the same stuff: text and images. So there is no reason that you can't look just as good as General Motors. Or better.

It's not just a matter of pride. Looking real is what makes customers buy. So if you can make your Web site look like the site of a big successful company, that may be just what you grow into.

These stores did. Most of them started small. All have become leaders in their categories. How did they do it? Focus on a specific niche market, a professional looking Web site, great customer service, and time.

Gun Dog Supply
PalmGear
Fridgedoor.Com
Aviation Shopping Network
Vitanet
Beyond Muscle.com
Direct Sales
Restaurant-Store.com
Internet Hobbies
Flight Sim Central
Stained Glass Warehouse
Upgrade Source
Mr. Gadgets

Choosing a Domain Name

From our friends at Yahoo

What makes a good domain name? A good domain name should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and preferably short. The name of your company is always a good choice. If your desired domain name is already taken, you can search if the .net or .org variation is available. You may also use hyphens to create unique domain names.

What characters are allowed?
.Com, .net, and .org domain names must meet these requirements: They cannot exceed 67 characters, including the characters in the suffix (63 characters plus the 4 character .xyz). Only letters, numbers, or hyphens are permitted. A domain name may not begin or end with a hyphen. They are part of the regulatory standards that .com, .net and .org domain names must follow.

What's the difference between http://yahoo.com and http://www.yahoo.com?
Not a lot. You can advertise whichever one you like the best.

Do I need to put the http:// on?
Probably not. Most web sites just advertise www.widgetdesigns.com. The www. is a good enough clue to people that it's a web address, so you don't need to say it. All popular browsers let you simply type www.widgetdesigns.com into the URL window.

Should I get a lot of domain names?
You may register and own an unlimited number of domain names. In addition to .com, many people register the .net and .org variations of their primary domain name. Each domain name costs $35.00 per year. If you already own a domain name, you can transfer it for $10.00 per year.

Who owns the domain name I register?
If you register a domain name through Yahoo! Store, you may designate the Registrant (owner) and Administrator. Yahoo! is only listed as the technical contact and nameservers. As the Registrant, you have final authority and responsibility regarding the use of your domain name.

What is the public domain name database?
A public domain name database (also known as Whois) contains contact information for all domain names. There are many registrars that register .com, .net and, .org domain names. Each of these registrars maintain their own public domain. The personal contact information you provide as the Registrant and Administrative contact is used to register your domain name. As required by the Internet's governing organization (ICANN), this information will be made publicly available. Records of all domain names registered by the registrar, Internet Names Worldwide, are maintained in their public domain domain database. The information includes Registrant, Administrator, technical contact, and nameserver information as well as record creation, update, and expiration dates. This information is available through many publicly accessible interfaces. You'll find a list of whois resources in Yahoo!'s directory.

How do I update my contact information in the public domain database?
The personal information you provided in your order was used to register your domain name. As required by ICANN, the Internet governance organization, this information was made publicly available.

What is the difference between .com, .net, and .org domain names?
Originally, the three letter suffix after the dot in domain names indicates whether the domain name was used for commercial (.COM), network (.NET), or non-profit (.ORG) purposes.Although there are guidelines, anyone may register these regardless of the intended use..Net and .org suffixes are good alternatives if the domain names you want in .com is already taken.

Tips for Online Auction Sellers - Advertising Your Product

There are millions of products for sale at online auctions and many less that actually sell. Filling in all the necessary blanks when presenting your item for auction will help insure you sell it quickly and at the price you want.

Carefully Prepare the Item Description: A full and accurate description of your item or service is important and will help prevent problems after the sale. Include whether the item is new, used or reconditioned, and note any flaws the item may contain.

Think Like a Buyer: When writing your description, think like a buyer by anticipating possible buyer questions and including the answers in your advertisement. This will help cut down on your time in answering emails about your item and also help prevent anxious buyers from clicking elsewhere because you lack the information they want immediately.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Seeing is believing especially with Internet auctions. When possible, include a photograph of the item and include pictures of anything which helps identify the authenticity of the product.

List the Minimum Bid You Are Willing to Accept.: When setting the minimum bid for your item, choose the lowest price which is fair and which you are willing to accept. Compare prices other sellers are listing for minimum bids on items similar to yours. You want to be competitive and fair. Also, post the types of payment you accept.

Set Your Shipping Terms: Include shipping information, such as - who pays for shipping, shipping costs, insurance policy and costs and where you are willing to ship, i.e. international shipping. Also include if the item is available only for pick up.

Post Your Return Policy: Decide on your return policy and include the information in your description. This should include details on who pays for shipping costs if the item is returned, if there is a restocking fee, and the length of time the buyer has to request a return. A "no return" policy should be clearly posted.

Service After the Sale: Include service information to the bidders. If you do not provide service for the item, say where the bidder can go to get it.

Keep It Simple: Keeping your description short and to the point will enable the buyers to know, at a glance, if they are interested in what you are selling. Most people want to be able to scan a page for the information and lose interest if something is too wordy.

Good Seller Etiquette:

• Respond quickly to a bidders questions.
• Keeps printed copies of all email exchanges with the bidders.
• When the auction closes, print all the information about the transaction, making a note of the buyer's identification, the description of the item and the time, date and price of the bid.
• After the auction closes, contact the winning bidder immediately and confirm the final terms of the sale. This includes the final cost, shipping chargers and where to send the payment.