While many large businesses have already moved online, small businesses have often lagged behind. But even small businesses can make their names known if they find a niche for their services.

Here is an article from MyBusiness Magazine about how small businesses are attracting customers by moving toward an ever increasing need for online ' brand recognition'.

Consumers as a whole are moving online in droves - your customers included. During the 2003 holiday shopping season, online orders grew 29 percent over previous years, according to research firm comScore Networks. And consumers weren't buying just at mega sites. Small online retailers also enjoyed big boosts in their sales. Since it appears this " Internet thing&lrquo; is here to stay, it's survival of the smartest now. Despite all the favorable statistics, do you still worry e-commerce would kill the respected brand that took you years to build? We found four small businesses that say, Fear not. With at least 50 years of experience at each business, these owners understand why established companies resist change. But they also know how quickly a business can die in this new economy. On the following pages, discover why the fastest-growing small businesses are putting a lot of energy into e-commerce.Here is an interesting article from Searcher with interviews of early online business pioneers that should be required reading for anyone considering a field in Internet business.

And while the Dot Com boom in Silicon Valley may have busted in recent years, that doesn't mean it isn't flourishing elsewhere. India is a prime example. And now in Germany start-ups are beginning to start a mini-boom. Here is a piece from Business Week on the signs of life in Europe's start-ups.

If business creation can gather momentum, that is good news indeed for the European economy. The Continent, led by Germany, has long lagged Britain and the U.S. in entrepreneurial drive. The rap has been that Europeans are pretty good at inventing things but bad at spinning their discoveries into gold. "New product concepts have often come from Europe, but they have often been commercialized in Silicon Valley," says Apax partner Christian Reitberger, noting that a German research institute invented the technology behind MP3 music players, while foreign companies such as Sony Corp. made all the money. The result: Europe hasn't created enough new companies to replace the jobs eliminated by traditional manufacturers.Here are a few online universities which have programs in e-business and e-commerce online.

Westwood College Online has a program focusing on E-Business Management, where you can learn the basics of marketing, business management, finance and retail to the power of advanced technology.

The University of Phoenix Online Certificate Programs in E-Business in order to equip managers with the necessary skills to conduct business in an e-business environment. Topics include: managerial communication; electronic transactions; strategic management; legal, ethical and regulatory issues; operations; e-marketing; risk management; and global solutions as they relate to e-business.

University of Phoenix Online Bachelors of Science in E-Business which blends business and information technology to address the emerging field of e-Commerce and e-Business. The program courses provide fundamental knowledge and application in both business and information technology. The curriculum is designed to produce graduates ready to function in e-Business positions with the competencies, skills, and attitudes necessary for success in the workplace. It forms the basis for continued career growth, life-long learning as a professional or for the student who desires to continue his or her education in a graduate program.

University of Phoenix Online Master's Programs MBA in E-Business. This MBA/e-Business program is designed to meet the needs of a broad but unique population--the working adult manager or supervisor who could benefit from a graduate business education. The program requires a practical background in business, and the successful candidate will have at least three years of relevant experience. The various components of the program--curriculum, learning resources, and faculty--have been selected to produce specific outcomes. These outcomes, while reflecting contemporary academic practice, also focus on the functional competencies required of working managers. Thus, the MBA program emphasizes the identification, analysis, and solution of complex management problems that require technical understanding and balanced decision making. Although a functional knowledge of economics, accounting, finance, quantitative analysis, and management underlies the program, equal attention is given to the development of report writing, oral reporting, Internet research, and group process skills.

Follow these links to find more online business programs and MBA's.

Online Business ProgramsOnline MBA Programs