We started off by setting up a blog. The first step was to choose a domain name for the blog. You may be tempted to choose a name that is related to a subject you want your business to be about.

However, we want to keep the blog separate from any business websites that we may set up. That allows us to be more flexible. We can set up multiple business websites covering a variety of subjects without having to do a new blog each time.

The blog is where we bring lots of useful information to a growing audience, and grow a reputation as source of good information and advice.

Best policy then is to use your own name for the blog!

Ideally the first choice would be   YourfirstnameYourlastname.com

Someone beat me to that, so I had to add a dash and go for Dave-Christie.com

Check what domain names are available based on your name at  GoDaddy.com

If you can’t get YourfirstnameYourlastname.com   or  Yourfirstname-Yourlastname.com  then try   YourfirstnameYourlastnameBlog.com

You almost always want to go for  a .com  domain,    even if you are in a country that has it’s own country code ( .co.uk )

When you have found a domain name that you like, register it before someone else does!

You can use any company that will register domain names, like  GoDaddy.com  or  1and1.com. It doesn’t have to be your web hosting company. You can simply change the settings on your domain name to point at the hosting company’s server.

This has an advantage if you are going to register alot of domain names, and possibly use more than one hosting company.

If you are just starting out, and setting up just one or two sites, it will be easier for you to register your domain with the same company that will host your website.

Dave Christie

Over the next few months I will be working to build a Real Online Business with the help and advice from John Thornhill of http://planetsmsblog.com/

Over several years I have wanted to build my own Business Online. The appeal of “being my own boss” and determining my own direction in Life is enormous. Spending my working time helping others with a subject that I am passionate about is my ultimate goal.

It has not been easy, learning the ropes of Internet Marketing via eBay and Amazon.  Many evenings and weekends spent researching the competition, writing salescopy, and setting up sites, with little or no financial return.

I have, however, built up a good practical knowledge of the Internet Marketing Business, and the tools of the trade.

I have been aware of John Thornhill for several years. First as an eBay Power Seller who specialized in selling Information Products. I remember reading the Auction for one of his products and trying to figure out why the description of the product sounded so compelling. I tried to emulate this in some of my own auctions, with moderate success.

When I heard that John runs a one-on-one Coaching for a small group of students once a year, I had to get my name on the list!

I did, and I will be posting details of my progress here.

Dave Christie

Over the next few months, I will be working with John Thornhill of http://planetsmsblog.com/ to create a Real Online Business.

I’ll be posting details of my progress here.

I hope that you will be able to learn from my mistakes, and take inspiration from my successes!

Dave Christie