How do I know if my idea will work? How do I decide on the business model? How do I find my audience? Your digital business start-up journey begins here. From the bestselling author of The Small Business Start-up Workbook, Cheryl Rickman brings you a thoroughly practical guide to starting up a digital business, covering the full journey from idea to exit, with easy-to-implement strategies to make your online venture an ongoing success. With a combination of tips, exercises, checklists, anecdotes, case studies and lessons learned by business leaders, this workbook will guide you through each step of digital business. Learn how to: Assess whether your business idea will work online/digitally Choose the right business model for your proposition and avoid wasting time Assess demand, viability and uncover untapped needs and gaps in the market Build a usable, engaging website and mobile app Create a buzz using social networking Drive high quality traffic to your site and convert visitors into paying customers Use search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing (SEM) tools effectively Raise finance and protect your business Build and maintain a strong brand Recruit and retain a strong team Sell the business or find a suitable successor. Reviews for the book: If you want advice on starting your own internet business, don t ask me, read this book instead. It is more up-to-date and costs far less than a good lunch. Nick Jenkins, Founder of Moonpig.com This book excels in providing practical guidance on how to create a successful digital business which exceeds customer expectations and keeps customers happy each step of the way. Scott Weavers-Wright, CEO of Kiddicare.com, and MD of Morrison.com (non-food) If you read just one book on digital business, make it this one... It is inspirational, informative and interactive in equal measure. Highly recommended! Rowan Gormley, Founder and CEO of NakedWines.com Interspersed with inspiring and useful stories from successful entrepreneurs, this book can help aspiring business owners through a step-by-step process of refining their start-up ideas and building a solid business. Elizabeth Varley, Founder and CEO of TechHub

How do I know if my idea will work?How do I decide on the business model?How do I find my audience?Your digital business start-up journey begins here.From the bestselling author of The Small Business Start-upWorkbook, Cheryl Rickman brings you a thoroughly practicalguide to starting up a digital business, covering the full journeyfrom idea to exit, with easy-to-implement strategies to make youronline venture an ongoing success. With a combination of tipsexercises, checklists, anecdotes, case studies and lessons learnedby business leaders, this workbook will guide you through each stepof digital business.Learn how to:* Assess whether your business idea will workonline/digitally* Choose the right business model for your proposition andavoid wasting time* Assess demand, viability and uncover untapped needs andgaps in the market* Build a usable, engaging website and mobile app* Create a buzz using social networking* Drive high quality traffic to your site and convertvisitors into paying customers* Use search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing (SEM)tools effectively* Raise finance and protect your business* Build and maintain a strong brand* Recruit and retain a strong team* Sell the business or find a suitable successor.Reviews for the book:"If you want advice on starting your own internetbusiness, don't ask me, read this book instead. It is moreup-to-date and costs far less than a good lunch." NickJenkins, Founder of Moonpig.com"This book excels in providing practical guidance onhow to create a successful digital business which exceeds customerexpectations and keeps customers happy each step of theway." Scott Weavers-Wright, CEO of Kiddicare.com, and MDof Morrison.com (non-food)"If you read just one book on digital business, make it thisone... It is inspirational, informative and interactive in equalmeasure. Highly recommended!" Rowan Gormley, Founder andCEO of NakedWines.com"Interspersed with inspiring and useful stories fromsuccessful entrepreneurs, this book can help aspiring businessowners through a step-by-step process of refining their start-upideas and building a solid business." Elizabeth VarleyFounder and CEO of TechHub

Dedication and Acknowledgements viiForeword ixIntroduction - Generation Entrepreneur: Open for Business 1Part 1 - Starting Up Your Own Digital BusinessStep One:The Big Idea - Create and Evolve Your Concept 9Step Two: Choose Your Business Model 25Step Three: Assess Viability and Create a Customer-Centric Business Plan 51Step Four: Fund Your Venture 81Part 2 - Building Your BusinessStep Five: Build Your Website 111Step Six: Build Your Mobile App and Mobile-Friendly Site 153Step Seven: Build Your Team 167Step Eight: Build Your Brand 193Part 3 - Running and Growing Your BusinessStep Nine: Effective Online Marketing 207Step Ten: Measure and Improve your Marketing and Website Performance 229Step Eleven: Creating a Buzz Using People Power 245Step Twelve: Selling Up 271The Definitive Online Business Success Checklist 287About Cheryl Rickman 291References 293Index 295