Problem
Purpose
To examine how small businesses can learn to use the Internet to distribute their products directly to customers.
Task
Many small-business owners have no idea how to begin selling goods over the Internet. Several free Web sites have been developed to help them get started with tasks from setting up their site to doing online marketing, handling credit purchases, and more. Go to Homestead.com or BlueVoda.com and listen to the presentations they make. Search the Web to find other sources of help in designing your own Web site. Then answer the following questions:
a) How long do the Web sites say that it takes to get started?
b) Does the process seem easier or harder than you imagined?
c) Do you have questions that the Web sites did not answer?
d) What help are you given, if any, in planning how to ship your goods?