Many small business entrepreneurs are starting businesses on the Internet without ever having any experience with the World Wide Web other than surfing through web sites or sending and receiving email.

At first this may seem to be a problem, how do you start a business when you know nothing about it? This can be a huge problem in the traditional sense of starting a small business, but when you are talking about the Internet, you can teach yourself how the Internet works.

The first step is to search the web for web sites that you consider your competition. Do not start with the big money sites, such as those operated by big chain stores or multi-national companies; I am talking about the mom and pop type stores. Find those web sites that have been built and are being worked by home business entrepreneurs. In Google, Yahoo, MSN, or any other search engine type in some keywords for the type of business you are interested in. When you the results show up, click on a few sites and begin your research.

To get started, get a sheet of paper and pen, while on the sites note the following:

• How is the web site laid out?
• Are the menu items on the top of the page, to the side, either right or left?
• Is there an introduction type message, explaining the purpose of the web site?
• What colors are being used?
• What type of font, and font size?
• Do they have banner advertising?
• Do they use textual advertising such as Yahoo, or Ad sense?
• How much information is on the home page?
• How many pages does the web site contain?
• Is the site filled with links? If so, where do the links lead?
• Do they use a blog, or a message board?
• Do they have a link directory?
• Do they have a place to exchange links?
• Do they sell advertising themselves?
• Do they offer a free newsletter?
• Do they collect email addresses?

When you have completed your research, place the results in a spreadsheet, organized by columns. When you are done, you should be able to see some commonalities between the sites. The conclusion is this; you should consider those commonalities for your own site design. It is very possible that they exist because they are considered the best practices for web site design. You will save a huge amount of time incorporating these designs into your site without having to go through a trial and error process.

Peter Engelbrecht is President of Diagonal Street Business Services and operates the web site http://www.BestBusinesses4u.com. The site provides stay at home moms and dads with practical home-based business ideas.

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