E-commerce paper. 3 pages. I need it back by 11pm tonight. Attached is the topic I chose. Just got to add on to it.

THIS IS BASICALLY THE RUBRIC: Creating An E-commerce Business Plan and Analysis A semester project is where you demonstrate that you can actually apply the knowledge you have gained over the course of the semester. While there are still more reading assignments this semester, they too are expected to be included as resources for this final assignment. This project is that quintessential moment that brings everything together so you can see how it all really works and how it can serve you in the practicality of life. After all, what good is all this work if you can’t put it to use in advancing your career? In this project you start an e-commerce business. You would be amazed at how my online businesses that are common household words today, started as assignments in school (see: 12 Entrepreneurs Who Got Started In College). This project is great because you need to draw from the learning provided in every module to effectively complete it. While the business plan does not necessarily line up with each module, you should be able to find what you need using the index and table of contents for guides. Your course book, however, is not your only resource—not by a long shot. As many of you have discovered in your discussions and practical assignment, there are many online resources for research, direction, and ideas. I will not list any here because that is one of the many, critical thinking, deep-analysis, problem-solving activities in which you will need to engage to write an A-level plan. Here is the outline: I. What is your and e-commerce business idea? Choose a Product or Service If you do not already have an idea you would wish to flesh-out in this project, you will need to develop one. Seems like a tall order especially if you are one of those people who throw up their hands and say “I’m just not creative” you’ll not get very far or enjoy the process. You will need to put some thought into it. As you have learned over there course of the semester e-commerce can be in the form of websites, mobile applications, voice control devices, Internet of things (IoT) and/or a combination of the above. First up, reflect on what it is that you think would make a good product or service to offer online. As you have learned, there are many eCommerce models and not all are for profit. Churches, half-way houses, food pantries, etc. all are potential concepts for an e-commerce model if you wish to get that route. Or, get out ahead of the game, think of ideas that are coming down the pike, such as driverless vehicle services, finding satellite-based internet signals, monitoring your carbon footprint in real-time, Covid-19 positive case density near me, tracking your kids—you get the idea. The following bullet points are here to spur you thinking. • Run a google search for ideas • Ask friends and family if they have ideas • Think about a service or product that you think should be out there (i.e. finding parking in a busy city). Look at the world around you. Is there ever a moment when you say I wish there was a “whatever” because doing it this way is a pain. Maybe you have overheard someone else say that. This is a great starting point for a business. • What new tech is ripe for e-commerce opportunities? It does not have to be earth shattering, in fact the simpler the idea the easier the plan. Once you have an idea in you head, write it out free style (or “cocktail napkin it”, as they say in design). Refer to chapter(s): 4 & 10 • Finding a product or service to sell • Will they be dropped shipped or will users be sent to another site (eg. Kayak.com) • Evaluating your idea • Obtaining your product or distributing your service • In app purchases or outside • What formats or platforms with you use (just mobile or PC as well). Will the exchange experience be different for those using mobile vs PC? II. Market Analysis and Summary: Research and Prepare (This is where I would expect to see citations from outside research sources) Once you have put you design on paper in broad terms it is time to begin to refine it. This is where you delve into specifics about how the product will appear to, and attract customers. Show your description to others and see if, after reading your work up, they too can see exactly what you intend to do and how you will accomplish it. Listen to them if they have questions as these will help guide your development and discernment process. Use the following bullet points to help get your thinking started. Refer to chapter(s): 2, 4, 6, & 9 • Research your competition • What is the real benefit your product or service provides? It must be something that your customers truly need. it must also offer real value. You must know your product's features, its advantages, and how they benefit your customers. (Amadeo, 2019) • What is your target market (be very specific and list the demographics)? Who are your customers? What are their needs? You've got to know exactly who buys from you and how you can make their life better. That’s how you create demand, the driver of all economic growth. • Conduct a Competitive Analysis: Have you identified your real competitors? They aren't just similar companies or products. They also include anything else your customer could do to meet the need you can fulfill. • Make income projections • How do you intend to build trust in your brand (Why should someone or some business (B2B) buy from you?) • Social networking • Design inhouse or outside; third party shopping cart one designed by your staff? Take a moment and familiarize yourself with Porter’s 5 Forces that describe how to differentiate you business from others. Porter and other thinkers are just the kind of outside resource I am going to be looking for as I look through your papers. III. Execution: Setting Up Your Business (Have fun with this area-be creative) No business, especially a startup, can be successful unless you can differentiate your product or service from others and make it clear what you do and how you help the customer. You have a unique idea but how to you let others know how unique it is? This is where your hidden creative side comes out. I know that some of you shut down at this point while others excel. If you have a creative friend, use them to help spur ideas. Refer to chapters 6 – 11 for guidance. • Naming your business • Create a logo (optional) • Understanding search engine optimization (SEO) • Building your store • Choosing your sales channels IV. Company management summary This section is an overview of who you are. It should describe the organization of your business, and the key members of the management team, but it should also ground the reader with the nuts and bolts: when your company was founded, who is/are the owner(s), what state your company is registered in and where you do business, and when/if your company was incorporated. Be sure to include summaries of your managers’ backgrounds and experience—these should act like brief resumes—and describe their functions with the company. Full-length resumes should be appended to the plan. V. Financial Plan: (Just make up the numbers if you are not planning a real business) • Create a budget for start-up costs (list what you think they will be). • Expenses • Projected cash flows (list all flows in an out) • Projected profit and loss (first year only for this plan) VI. Post Launch • Acquiring your first customer • Marketing your store • Email marketing essentials • Driving traffic from social • Optimizing for higher conversions • Using analytics to uncover insights All the items listed above need to be part of your E-commerce business plan in some fashion. Business plans come in many shapes and sizes so I will let you determine what headings and sub-headings you will use. Remember, the plan is not for you—it is to be read by potential investors or other interested parties. It needs to clear, readable, in business style. No opinions. Some other considerations are: • Keep it short: Let’s face it: No one has time to read a 40-page business plan. Instead of trying to cram everything in using small fonts and tiny margins, focus on trimming down your writing. Use direct, simple language that gets right to the point. Try not to repeat things and omit needless words. Short paragraphs and bullet points are always a good option as well. Remember, your goal is to communicate your business ideas, not to write the next “War and Peace.” • Use visuals: As the old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This is especially true when you’re formatting your business plan sections. Because readers will most likely skim your various business plan elements and not read every word, visuals will help communicate that extra information. Use charts and graphs to explain your forecasts. Add pictures of your product or of what your site might look like. Readers will always be able to understand your company and opportunity better if you “show” instead of just “tell.” • Consider the audience: You are writing to people who may not understand the product or service you are offering. You need to present your business ideas in a way that is clear to everyone. • Keep your formatting simple: For general formatting, use single spacing with an extra space between paragraphs. If you’re printing your plan, use a nice serif font like Garamond or Baskerville. If your plan will mostly be read on a computer screen, go with a sans serif font like Verdana or Arial. Research shows that readers have much higher comprehension when t