Ensuring all your orders are fulfilled promptly and

Ensuring all your orders are fulfilled promptly and fully is an important step in garnering repeat business. You should also provide e-mail confirmation when an order is placed and when it is shipped; as well as a follow-up message a few days after your product or service is delivered to thank the customer for their business.

You can also offer discounts or special deals for returning customers. Once someone orders from your virtual corporation, their e-mail address is on record with you (be sure to include a disclaimer on your site stating that you will contact customers after they place an order, and allow them the option to opt out of future mailings-most will not). Use a database or list software to keep a running file of customers, and occasionally offer specials, discounts and freebies to everyone on the list.

It costs eight times as much in advertising dollars to gain a new customer than it does to keep existing customers. Be sure to keep your returning visitors satisfied with outstanding customer service, and your company will expand exponentially.

Elastic Options: Choosing Services That Grow with Your Company

If you're just beginning your virtual corporation or looking to expand your current business, you may have a limited budget to work with. Fortunately, there are several options for tools and services in the virtual world that allow you to start small and expand as needed.

Several reputable web site hosting companies, such as Tripod, MSN, and Yahoo! Geocities, offer a range of services from free sites to completely integrated web packages designed specifically for business. You can start with a free site, and then upgrade to the paid services as you find yourself needing more storage space, bandwidth, and add-ons like shopping cart systems or catalogue templates. By starting out with a web host that provides service upgrades, you won't have to worry about moving your files, redesigning your web pages, or the possibility of losing your domain name.

Autoresponder programs also offer services that can be upgraded according to your needs. Free autoresponders, like free web sites, usually display automatically generated banner ads in return for your use of the service. You can find an autoresponder program that uses small, unobtrusive ads relating to your product or service; then, when your business volume expands you can upgrade to that company's banner-free paid service and keep all your settings and autoresponder copy intact.

Telephone service is another area that will expand as your company grows. Start out by answering the phone yourself or using a voicemail service or answering machine to catch calls. You can then upgrade to a call center service or contract telephone services to an outside employee or freelancer.

Eventually you may find your business in need of additional physical space. If you work from a home office, you probably won't want to lose the benefits of not having to drive to work. Many business owners who work from home choose to erect a separate building (or purchase a pre-fabricated one) to create more space and still stay home.