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 ofThe 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, dont 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

Cheryl Rickman is author of the bestselling start-up bookThe Small Business Start-Up Workbook and is ghostwriter to one of the BBC Dragon's.
Cheryl started her career working for an online information publisher before going on to run he own internet business aged 25. WebCritique was a web usability and content consultancy which she sold in 2005. Clients included Microsoft, Business Link and Motorola. Additionally, together with her partner, Cheryl co-founded ilikemusic.com (I Like Music) in 2000. During her time as Editor of ilikemusic.com, Cheryl spent seven years interviewing popstars and developing the business. The business now generates revenues in excess of £1m.
Cheryl has interviewed more than 100 entrepreneurs running businesses of all sizes, from one-man bands to large corporations; equally dedicated, passionate and insightful.

Dedication and Acknowledgements vii

Foreword ix

Introduction Generation Entrepreneur: Open For Business 1

Part 1 Starting Up Your Own Digital Business

Step One: Big Idea Create And Evolve Your Concept 9

Step Two: Choose Your Business Model 25

Step Three: Assess Viability And Create A Customer-Centric Business Plan 51

Step Four: Fund Your Venture 81

Part 2 Building Your Business

Step Five: Build Your Website 111

Step Six: Build Your Mobile App And Mobile-Friendly Site 153

Step Seven: Build Your Team 167

Step Eight: Build Your Brand 193

Part 3 Running And Growing Your Business

Step Nine: Effective Online Marketing 207

Step Ten: Measure and Improve your Marketing and Website Performance 229

Step Eleven: Creating A Buzz Using People Power 245

Step Twelve: Selling Up 271

The Definitive Online Business Success Checklist 287

About Cheryl Rickman 291

References 293

Index 295