Thaiclan wrote:I'm about to launch my business. It is web-based and the main target market is London for the 1st quarter. However it will be gradually panned across Europe, Australia & US.
I am currently living in Singapore (my husband has 3 year contract), and will be working from home. Would there be ANY benefit to registering my business in Singapore rather than or in addition to UK (I am a UK citizen, but a PR here). Everything is in cyberspace anyway, so maybe for tax purposes Singapore is better, although start-up accounting is very attractive in UK??
Any advice gratefully received.
Inetrnet business is based on residential laws, not where the website is registered, so if you spend more than the 183 days in Singapore, you are liable to pay taxes in this country, and not UK, it is totally irrelevant, where the internetwebsite server is located, or where your business registration took place, or domain registration is located, I believe.
Although the thing to consider is the internet infrastructure and the amount of heavy data to be transferred, all data especially pictures need to be optimised for web display, even consider setting up mirror websites, in these countries, to provide better services.(consider purchasing more domains to extend your reach in Europe, and ensure your idea with trade names, and dates and plans are jotted down in a sealed envelope and posted to yourself, becuase competitors may try to purchase up, websites in different countries, or shrewed rogues, trying to make a quick $.
If it goes to court over who had the idea first, you will have the sealed envelope to prove when you decided on the trade name, ensure the envelope is stamped on the back with post marks over the glued area and post it to yourself.
To be quite honest it is not feasible to think you can penetrate a market within the first quarter (London) through internet marketing, unless you are actually paying a great deal of money to have this done, for you.
Also your website domain is probably a .com which is also a global address and not specific to country, if it is a country domain like .co.uk, then localised marketing is required. it is all quite complexed.
For the beginner, I would consider your domain name very carefully, relate the domain name to the business you are doing, rather than some fancy name. because people search products & services, and your aim is to be in the top 10 of the list.
Take my website, because vinegar is the product, and for those interested in vinegar to drink for health, what would be the obvious name for the domain name? Think about it and try a search!
I'm no expert in internet marketing, although I do have a strong interest in it, I learnt the hard way, by trial and error, and I can almost guarantee that it will take you over one year, to build up any significant traffic, although it also depends on thetype of business you have.
But B2C takes time, even by word of mouth, think of viral marketing techniques, to get noticed and other websites, that may compliment yours, to do free exchange marketing and advertising. But don't over do it, one or two is enough, ensure you have the ability to collect emails from interested parties on your site. and maybe post cards clients can send to friends, introducing your website. Good Luck
