Whether you are just doing marketing research or ready to start your business, here are some essential steps:
Choose a product name. Check the trademark database for conflicts.
Visit EtherVPS and register an available domain name. It could be the same as the product name or it could be related to an aspect of the product or the customer or the benefit of using the product.
If you registered your domain somewhere else, you can still host your website at EtherVPS. Set the nameservers to this list: dns1.supremedns.com, dns2.supremedns.com, dns3.supremedns.com, dns4.supremedns.com.
Add a WordPress site to your domain. Install it at the “root” of your domain (also called “/”, just a forward-slash). This will be your blog and store. Choose a theme. An easy no-frills theme to use is called Astra (that’s what we use at RevenueZone).
Create a logo and upload it to the WordPress site settings. If you need some help, try an online logo generator like Looka.
Edit the front page of your site to test the first delivery of your sales pitch. You can then create more landing pages later to test different deliveries of your sales pitch, and copy what works to your front page.
Create mailboxes at EtherVPS (for example hello at your domain, or support at your domain, and also an address for yourself at your domain).
Install a sign-up form plugin on your WordPress site. WPForms costs $49/year for 1 site and can do a lot.
Create a contact form (to be used in the contact us page) and a sign-up form (the call-to-action buttons will link to the sign-up form or display it on top of the current page).
Create a mailing list from the sign-up form submissions.
Create a Google Analytics account. Create a “property” for your business. Then add your website to it.
Install an analytics plugin on your WordPress website. MonsterInsights costs $99/year and integrates with Google Analytics to show the info you need in the WordPress dashboard. This helps you understand who is visiting and what they’re looking at. Check interest in your offer by comparing number of ad impressions to number of visits to the landing page to number of submitted sign-up forms.
If your sales, service, or support process involves setting appointments with customers, install an appointment booking plugin. WP Booking Calendar has a free version and affordable premium versions that are a one-time cost (not a subscription) with a lot of useful features. Amelia is another appointment booking plugin that is more focused on service appointments like coaching. Then configure your availability.
Create ads (for example at Google Ads) and advertise your current landing page.
Create a survey for interested people to ask what part of the offer is most compelling for them. Send the survey link to the mailing list.
Compass
Complete the startup checklist – product and startup checklist – sales if you haven’t already.