🔐 Building Your Business Online — Member Resources

Your Website, Domain, Email & Digital Presence

Building your business online doesn't mean you have to do everything at once—or become a website designer, photographer, marketing expert or SEO professional.

The goal is to understand the basic pieces of your online business, decide what your business actually needs and build from there.

🖨️ DOWNLOAD & PRINT ONLINE BUSINESS CHECKLIST

Inside these resources, we'll cover:

🌐 Choosing and managing your business domain
📧 Creating a professional business email
🖥️ Deciding whether you need a website
📝 Planning your website before you build
🛍️ Getting started with Shopify
🔗 Connecting your domain
🎨 Creating consistent business branding
📸 Taking better business photos and creating content
🤖 Using AI to help with your business
🔍 Understanding Google and basic SEO
📱 Using social media along with your own website
✅ Reviewing your complete online business setup

🧭 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO START FROM THE BEGINNING

If you've already completed some of these steps, don't start over.

Use the “Not Sure Where to Start?” section below to find the situation that sounds most like where you are right now.

Or use the 12 Online Business Topic cards to jump directly to the information you need.

You can always return to this page and continue where you left off.

💡 DON'T TURN THIS INTO A SHOPPING LIST

As you work through these resources, you'll see different tools, services and options that businesses can use.

That does not mean you need all of them.

Before paying for something, ask:

“What problem is this solving for my business?”

If you don't have a clear answer yet, you may not need it yet.

🔐 KEEP CONTROL OF YOUR BUSINESS ACCOUNTS

As you build your online presence, keep track of who controls your:

✔️ Domain
✔️ Website
✔️ Business email
✔️ Social media accounts
✔️ Payment accounts
✔️ Apps and subscriptions
✔️ Recovery email and phone number

Even if someone helps you set something up, you should know where it is, how it's being paid for and how to access it.

🎯 THE GOAL

You do not have to become an expert in every part of running a business online.

The goal is to understand enough to:

✔️ Make better decisions
✔️ Know what you're paying for
✔️ Recognize when you can DIY something
✔️ Recognize when you may need help
✔️ Protect access to your business accounts
✔️ Build an online presence that can grow with your business

Start where you are. Use what you need. And keep building from there.

🖨️ DOWNLOAD & PRINT ONLINE BUSINESS CHECKLIST

 

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

These resources are provided for general educational and organizational purposes. Technology, platform features, pricing, policies and online-business requirements can change. Always verify current information directly with the applicable provider or platform before making business or purchasing decisions.

FIND YOUR STARTING POINT

🧭 Not Sure Where to Start?

🌱 ROW 1 — I'm Just Getting Started

START WITH: Pages 1, 2, 3 & 4

If you're starting from the beginning, begin with the foundation. Learn about choosing a domain, setting up professional business email, deciding whether you actually need a website and planning your website before you build it.

Then continue to the other topics as your business needs them.

🌐 ROW 2 — I Need a Domain

START WITH: Pages 1 & 6

Start with Page 1 to learn how to choose and buy a business domain. If you already own your domain and need to connect it to your website, go to Page 6.

You do not have to transfer your domain just because you're building your website somewhere else.

📧 ROW 3 — I Need a Professional Business Email

START WITH: Page 2

Learn the difference between free email and domain-based business email, separate mailboxes and aliases, and what to consider before paying for an email plan.

If you already have business email that works well for you, you may not need to change it.

🖥️ ROW 4 — I Need a Website

START WITH: Pages 3 & 4

Page 3 will help you decide what type of website your business actually needs—or whether you need one yet. Page 4 will help you plan the pages, features, content, budget and customer journey before you start building.

If you plan to sell products online, continue to Page 5 for Shopify.

🛍️ I Want to Sell Online

START WITH: Pages 3, 4, 5 & 6

Start by deciding what your website needs to do and planning how customers will shop, pay and receive their purchases. Page 5 introduces Shopify and the basic pieces of setting up an online store. Page 6 explains how to connect a domain you already own.

You don't need every app, upgrade or paid feature when you're first getting started. Build what you need and add more as your business grows.

🎨 I Need Help With My Branding

START WITH: Pages 7 & 8

Page 7 covers the basics of creating a recognizable business brand, including your business name, logo, colors, fonts, brand voice and consistency. Page 8 helps you carry that branding into your photos, graphics and business content.

Your brand does not have to be complicated or expensive. Consistency is more important than constantly changing your look.

📸 I Need Better Business Photos & Content

START WITH: Page 8

Learn how to improve business photos, graphics and content using tools you may already have—including your phone, simple lighting and clean backgrounds.

You'll also learn about organizing your images, creating different types of content and using photos responsibly.

You don't need a professional photo shoot every time you need something to post.

🤖 I Want to Use AI in My Business

START WITH: Page 9

Learn ways AI can assist with brainstorming, writing, organizing ideas, creating content and other everyday business tasks.

You'll also learn why AI-generated information should be reviewed before you publish it or use it to make important business decisions.

Use AI as a tool to help you—not as a replacement for your judgment, research or qualified professional advice when it's needed.

🔍 I Want Customers to Find Me Online

START WITH: Pages 10 & 11

Page 10 introduces Google, SEO and some of the basic things that can help search engines understand your business and website. Page 11 explains how your website and social media can work together instead of relying completely on one platform.

Getting found online usually takes time. Be cautious of anyone guaranteeing instant results or promising a specific #1 Google ranking.

📱 I'm Mostly Using Social Media Right Now

START WITH: Pages 3, 4 & 11

If Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or another social platform is currently your main online presence, you don't necessarily need to stop using what is already working.

These pages will help you decide whether it's time to add your own website and understand how social media can work alongside an online presence that you control.

The goal isn't to abandon social media. It's to avoid building your entire business on a platform you don't own or control.

🌐 Choose the Online Business Topic You Need

  • 🌐 PAGE 1: Choosing & Buying a Domain Name

    Learn how to choose and register a business domain, understand renewals and protect control of one of your business's most important online assets.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You are starting a business, creating a website, choosing a business name, buying your first domain or already own a domain but aren't sure how it works.

    READ PAGE 1 

  • 📧 PAGE 2: Creating a Professional Business Email

    Learn the difference between free email and domain-based business email, plus how mailboxes, aliases, security and email administration work.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You are using a personal email for business, want an address such as info@yourbusiness.com, have employees who need email or aren't sure whether you actually need to pay for professional business email.

    READ PAGE 2 

  • 🖥️ PAGE 3: Do You Really Need a Website?

    Learn when a business website may be useful, what different types of websites can do and whether your business is ready for one.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You mainly use social media or marketplaces, aren't sure whether you need a website, are considering paying someone to build one or want to understand what you're actually paying for before spending the money.

    READ PAGE 3 

  • 📝 PAGE 4: Planning Your Website Before You Build It

    Learn how to plan your website before you start building, including the pages, features, content, customer journey and budget your business may need.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You know you want a website but aren't sure what should be on it, what pages you need, what features to include or what information to give a web designer.

    READ PAGE 4  

  • 🛍️ PAGE 5: Shopify — Getting Started

    Learn the basics of Shopify, including products, collections, themes, apps, payments, shipping and the important parts of setting up an online store.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You want to sell products online, are considering Shopify, already have a Shopify store but don't fully understand how it works or want to organize your store before adding unnecessary apps and expenses.

    READ PAGE 5 

  • 🔗 PAGE 6: Connecting Your Domain

    Learn how your domain connects to your website, the difference between connecting and transferring a domain and why DNS settings and domain ownership matter.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You already own a domain, are moving to a new website platform, need to connect your domain to Shopify or another website, or someone else currently manages your domain for you.

    READ PAGE 6 

  • 🎨 PAGE 7: Business Branding Basics

    Learn the basics of creating a consistent business brand, including your business name, logo, colors, fonts, brand voice and overall look.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You are starting a new business, creating or updating your logo, choosing brand colors, rebranding, or your website and social media don't have a consistent look yet.

    READ PAGE 7 

  • 📸 PAGE 8: Business Photos, Graphics & Content

    Learn how to create better photos, graphics and business content using tools you may already have—including your phone—without thinking you need professional equipment for everything.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You sell products or services, create social media content, need website photos or graphics, or want your business content to look more professional and consistent.

    READ PAGE 8 

  • 🤖 PAGE 9: Using AI to Help Build Your Business

    Learn practical ways AI can help with business ideas, writing, planning, research, content and everyday tasks—along with what you should always review and verify yourself.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You want to use AI in your business, already use tools such as ChatGPT, need help creating content or organizing ideas, or want to understand what AI can and cannot safely do for you.

    READ PAGE 9 

  • 🔍 PAGE 10: Google, SEO & Getting Found Online

    Learn the basics of how customers may find your business through search engines, including keywords, website content, SEO and your overall online presence.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You have a website but aren't sure how people will find it, want your business to appear in online searches, or want to better understand SEO without paying for services you don't understand.

    READ PAGE 10 

  • 📱 PAGE 11: Social Media vs. Your Own Website

    Learn the difference between building your business on social media and having an online presence you control through your own website, domain and customer connections.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You mainly sell or promote through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or other social platforms, don't have a website yet, or depend heavily on one platform to reach your customers.

    READ PAGE 11 

  • ✅ PAGE 12: Online Business Setup Checklist

    Use this final checklist to review the major areas covered throughout this section and identify anything you may still need to create, organize, update or protect.

    GOOD TO REVIEW IF:

    You have completed any of the Building Your Business Online resources—or simply want one place to check your domain, email, website, branding, content, AI, SEO and social media setup.

    REVIEW PAGE 12