Three Steps to Launch an E-Business

Starting an type of business requires a study of the basic economics of the opportunity. When thinking about starting an online business, several things need to be considered. Here is a short list of basic items all entrepreneurs should consider:

1. Do I have the skills to manage the online business website, blog, etc. If yes, then jump in with both feet. You can use Blogger or Wordpress or others to start a free blog. You can also buy your own domain name (www.yourname.com) from GoDaddy or others and link it to your free blog so that people can visit www.yourname.com instead of www.yourname.wordpress.com. You simply change one setting in Wordpress setup to make this happen.

If you don't have the skills, then explore two things: (a) How can I develop my own skills through some type of education; and (b) Can I hire a web developer to get some help? But be careful. If you don't know what you want in terms of look and feel for your website, you can spend lots of money (possibly part of your startup capital) just searching for a look instead of developing one. So, browse lots of websites, and note what attracts you to those sites. Is information easy to find? What is the site selling? Make sure these and other aspects are clearly communicated. Then take those same lessons and apply to your own site or blog.

2. Have you completed a business plan for the e-business. No excuses here folks. You HAVE to do this part. You need to know the fixed and variable costs associated with starting an e-business. You also need revenue projections for products sales or services to understand the profitability of the e-business. Business planning is fundamental. If you don't spend the time answering these questions, who will?

3. How will you market your site? You need to budget resources for marketing your site/blog. How do you plan to connect with e-customers? Are you going to start a Facebook Fan Page, use Twitter, LinkedIn, or other social media tools? These all have to be spelled out in your plan along with estimated costs. How will you link to Google Maps? How do I develop an e-newsletter? All of these questions should be answered as part of an e-business plan.

The old saying, "Build it and they will come" just isn't true in the global e-marketplace. You have to build and market it. But here's the upshot: It's not that difficult. Lots of tutorials are available online. Simply "Google" for e-business plan, marketing websites, etc. and you'll find lots of good information to get started.

The hardest part of anything is starting. But with a little research and some planning, you can launch an e-business following these three simple steps.

Web Page Design Class Scheduled

The Louisiana Technical College, Shelby Jackson Campus will offer a Web Page Desgin class January 11-May 5, 2010 at their campus located at 2100 EE Wallace Blvd. in Ferriday. Call (318) 757-6501 for more details.

Vidalia E-Business Class

Seventeen people filled the Concordia Library in Vidalia on November 13, 2009 to learn more about starting an E-Business. Those attending had lots of experience with the Internet, some had their own online businesses, and others participated to learn more about marketing their businesses. It was a great networking experience for all of us who attended!

Vidalia E-Business Participants

E-Business Class in Winnfield

Darlene Ray and Meredith McGraw attended the E-Business introductory class in Winnfield on November 10, 2009. McGrew plans to build a Web site to promote her farm products. Ray plans to use the information to share with her clients.

E-Business: An Introductory Course
Fall 2009 Schedule




E-Business: An Introductory Course
Program Evaluation Report, 2008-2009

Supporting E-Business Development in the Louisiana Delta


Today, Glenn Dixon and I visited the Common Grounds Coffeehouse in Delhi, LA. We worked with owner, Barbara Thomas, to launch their business blog.

Providing rural entrepreneurs information about how to establish a Web presence (e.g. blogs, websites, etc.) is part of the Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative within the Louisiana Delta Initiative.



Part I - Glenn Dixon demonstrates how to access free blogs that business owners can use to establish a Web presence.



Part II - Dr. Barnes demonstrates how to setup a free blog using Blogger.Com and how to administer the blog including design and structure of business content about products and services.

Accessing Global Markets is key for growing rural businesses in Louisiana. The Louisiana Delta Initiative is coordinated by the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center (DRDC) located at Oak Grove, LA. For more information about the DRDC, visit http://www.lsuagcenter.com/drdc.

New e-Business Courses Being Planned for Fall 2009

Coming soon from the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center will be a listing of e-business courses offered at specific dates and locations throughout northeast Louisiana.

A 1/2 day e-business course "E-Business: An Introductory Course" is currently being scheduled. Dates, times and locations will be available soon. Please check back for more details.

Questions should be directed to the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center at (318) 428-3571.

E-Business: How to Sell on ebay Course Offered in Lake Providence, March 24

Hi everyone. Today, Glenn Dixon and I provided training in Lake Providence, Louisiana to a group entrepreneurs on E-Business: How to Sell on ebay. We discussed PayPal, how to find comparable prices for products, marketing tips and more.

This course is part of the Rural Entrepreneurship program established in partnership among Louisiana Economic Development, Southern University Agricultural Center and the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center. This course is being provided in the Louisiana Delta Initiative region primarily in northeast Louisiana and often in southern Louisiana in partnership with the SU AgCenter's Southwest Center for Rural Initiative.

If you were a participant in the Lake Providence class today, please make a "comment" about your experience.

Thanks.

James Barnes

E-Business: An Introductory Course offered in Opelousas, March 18

Today, local entrepreneurs took the E-Business: An Introductory Course offered by faculty from the Southern University Ag Center's Southwest Center for Rural Initiative and the LSU Ag Center's Delta Rural Development Center.

We discussed basics of blogging, setting up PayPal, ebay, and more. We had an in-depth discussion of blogging and learned different ways to gain a Web presence.

Lessons Learned from Rural Businesses Using Internet

There are some case studies posted on this site: http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/curricula/case_studies
that you can access to see how others in rural areas across our nation are using the Internet.

I've read several of the studies and there are some interesting ideas that might help you as you plan your Web site.

LSU Agricultural Center's Delta Rural Development Center and Southern University faculty launch blog for e-business class

Realizing that gaining a Web presence can lower the cost of doing business and increase sales, the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and the Southern University Agricultural Center have partnered with Louisiana Economic Development to offer rural entrepreneurship education in electronic commerce, E-Business: An Introductory Course. This educational program will be offered in rural areas of Louisiana to support innovation and sustainability of rural businesses.

The LSU Agricultural Center's Delta Rural Development Center faculty have created this blog to gather feedback on the entrepreneurship class E-Business: An Introductory Course. This is a 1 day workshop where the basics of buying and selling electronically will be taught. We discuss ebay, PayPal, tips for designing effective web sites, how to analyze competitors and alternative means of gaining a web presence.

From time to time, our faculty will blog about new articles, resources and other tools that can help you start your e-business!