Saturday, July 2, 2011

5 Things To Consider Before Starting An Online Business

You have a great product or service That you would like to sell online. You are thinking That this would be a wonderful way to have a more flexible lifestyle, be your own boss, and have the potential to the make lots of money all while doing something you feel passionate about. All of this sounds promising, but the make sure you keep the following in mind Things:

Will having your own business give you flexibility, do not expect freedom, though.
When you work for yourself you can the make your own schedule. This is great but be prepared for the 24 hour 7 day a week commitment. You may not be sitting in a desk from 9 to 5 but you are always "on". Will you have to be very disciplined about turning off and taking time for yourself, away from the business, in order to keep your Sanity!

Believe in your product or service.
It is so Important That you believe in the product or service you are selling online That Because There Will Be Pls times you are feeling like nothing is going your way. Will there be many ups and downs, including many unforeseen challenges. Your belief and passion for your product is what Will get you through.

Do not expect overnight Things to Happen. Be patient.
The Web Gives you access to Millions of people but They will not come running Just Because you have a web site address. You have found your target market, now help you find Them. This takes time ESPECIALLY if you have a limited marketing budget. Before you launch it is Important to build a plan for getting noticed and Understand the marketing costs associated with it. Think about Both traditional and viral marketing methods for raising awareness about your site and do not forget about search engine optimization.



It's just you but That may not be what your customers think Will.
Will you be working like a dog to build a high quality, professional online business all on your own or with limited support but do not expect your customers to know that. Chances are your customers will from think your "company" is much bigger than it is. When something goes wrong (eg a mistake with an order) you can not expect customers to realize how hard you are working And that any mistake is an honest mistake, not an example of your company being Careless about its customers or Trying to "scam "Them. Do not be discouraged! Keep a high level of customer service no matter what as it is exceedingly Important in building and maintaining a good reputation for your business.

Be open to change.
What else Could you be doing to build the business? The business model you start with may not be the one That ultimately leads you to success. Think about possible partnerships. Does your pricing model make sense? Pay attention to customer feedback and be open to making changes based on That feedback.

Although it's not without its challenges, having your own business can be incredibly rewarding Both Emotionally and financially.

Good luck!