Conducting Business on the Internet

Course description

Overview: Students will be introduced to the basics of the Internet Community.

Performance-based objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

·         Discuss the evolution of the Internet.

·         Describe how businesses are currently using the Internet to achieve greater profits.

·         Describe in some detail the demographics of a typical Internet user – her age, income, profession, gender and education.

·         Identify all of the various enterprises that together constitute E-Commerce.

·         Know what E-Commerce’s breadth and girth are now, what effects it has already had on the American economy and what effects it will have in the future.

·         Know what an Internet Service Provider (ISP) are, what qualities you would want one to have, and what services you are likely to need from one.

·         Choose a host based on the services they provide and the prices they charge for them.

·         Write a first-rate business plan, by knowing what qualities the good plans have and what elements are required to be in them.

·         Get a domain – the entity that forms the core of your address on the Internet.

·         Create first rate content for your site.

·         Tailor the HTML of your site so that the search engines will put your site at the top of their rankings.

·         Write a press release and propagate it on the Web.

·         Use E-Mail lists, banner exchanges, and web rings.

·         Get links from other Web sites, start an affiliate program, use a Web Advertising firm, create an E-newsletter, and supplement your web marketing with traditional marketing, and get mentioned in the Ezines.

·         Identify the major security risks associated with conducting business on the Internet and the controls for mitigating those risks.

·         Describe the major payment systems currently used on the Internet.

·         Identify a direct sales site, define its nature, and know what creating a successful one entails.

·         Describe in some detail what the primary sales strategies are, how best to implement them, and how frequently to test them.

·         Know which goods and services sell best on the web and why.

·         Decide on an Internet strategy that best fits your organization.

·         Identify companies that have successfully implemented an Internet strategy.

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Course content

Lesson 1: Internet Basics

Internet History

Internet Culture

Internet Tools

Using World Wide Web Browsers

Using E-Mail to Communicate

Internet Security Risks and Controls

Lesson 2: Introduction to Business on the Net

How is Businesses Using the Internet?

Demographics

The Internet Economy

How Large a Phenomenon E-Commerce has become

Government Information and Regulation

Future of E-Commerce

Future Trends

Lesson 3: Getting Connected

Steps to Getting Connected

Getting Connected

Researching Connection Types-Dial up

Researching Connection Types-Dedicated

Researching ISPs

Choosing and ISP: Measuring Up

Choosing and ISP: Asking Questions

Finding an ISP

To Host or Not to Host

Researching a Host: Measuring Up

Lesson 4: Setting Up Shop

Setting Up Shop

Develop Your Business Plan

Getting a Domain

Good Content

Kinds of Content

Finding Funds

Choosing Software

Specialized Software

All Purpose Software

Checking One Last Time

Lesson 5: Web Marketing

Web Marketing

Marketing Strategies

Getting Listed in Search Engines

General Tips for Getting Listed in Search Engines

Registering with Search Engines One by One

Registering With Yahoo

Registering by Mass Subscription

Press Releases

Domain

E-Mail Lists

Links From Other Sites

Ad Banners

Traditional Marketing

Web Rings

Affiliate Programs

Web Advertising Firms

E-Newsletters

Direct E-Marketing Campaign

Ezines

Yellow Pages

Find Out How Well You Are Doing

Lesson 6: Direct Sales

Setting up a Direct Sales Site

What Drives Sales

Sales Strategies

Tangibles and Intangibles

Internet Payment Systems

Direct Sales Models

Security Risks and Controls

Strategy Assessment