Downsizing Got You Scared? Find Out If An Online Business Is For You!

Downsizing Got You Scared? Find Out If An Online Business Is For You!
© 2002 Doug Parr
http://www.smallbiz2000.com

With the economic downturn, you may be a bit weary about your current job situation. Thoughts of starting your own online business are filling your daydreams. You’ve heard the enticing call of self-employment as it screams, “More freedom, more money, more family time, live your dream!” But can you really make a go of your own Web-based company?

In all honesty… probably. I’ll be the first to tell you that not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. It takes dedication, passion and discipline to succeed. Not-to-mention, a lot of hard work, especially in the beginning. Then there are the “functional” things you’ll need. Before you make that decision to jump on the Internet bandwagon, let me make a few points you’ll want to consider.

Getting Started

I know the Web is just full of sites that taunt you by saying you can start your own online business within 24 hours and have millions of hits pouring into your site. The fact is, most of the sites created using these “template businesses” don’t survive.

Here is a real world “short list” of what it takes to launch a successful and profitable Web site.

1. Professional Web Design – Your site is your only connection with potential customers. I simply cannot tell you how extremely vital professional Web site design is to the success of your company. It helps to create trust, build confidence and instill a sense of safety… all important factors for someone who is about to give their credit card number to a company they’ve never heard of before!

2. Professionally Written Site Copy – You will be amazed to know what goes into writing emotion-stirring, sales triggering copy. You have to get inside the minds of your customers. You have to have an extremely good idea of what their needs are, what makes them tick and what makes them BUY! In addition, if you have any desire at all to be indexed and ranked highly with the search engines, you’ll need to have the exact balance of keywords saturating your copy.

3. A Reliable Web Host – Yes, there are many out there that will provide hosting for just a few dollars per month. But what do you get for your money? How much downtime (time when your site is not available to customers) does the host have? What type of service do they offer? When you have questions or problems, will they be there? Do they offer the statistics you need to track your traffic? Choose your Web host very carefully.

4. Online Payment Service – There are several choices. You can apply for your own merchant account (sometimes difficult to get and costly in the beginning). You can opt to use a “third party payment provider” such as ClickBank or PayPal (immediate acceptance but higher fees over the long term). Yes, you can ask customers to mail you a check, but the risk to you is high (bounced checks, etc.) Also, paper checks are more trouble for the customer and will likely cause them not to order.

5. Products and/or Services – Oh yeah! You’ll need something to sell. Perhaps you have a professional skill you’ll be selling as a service. Maybe you’ve written a book or invented a new gadget to sell. You can also get involved with affiliate programs, where you resell other’s products and/or services and earn a commission. You’ll need to decide before launching your site.

6. Time To Grow – It is possible that you will launch your business and immediately make an exceptional income. However, I wouldn’t count on it. The ‘Net may move at the speed of light, but building a business still takes time. If possible, start working on your online business part-time and work your way into a full-scale company. This will allow you to maintain a steady income while taking the necessary steps toward self-employment.

It is possible to launch a profitable online business. I’ve done it myself! But it takes planning, dedication and knowledge to get the job done right. By investigating what you’ll need before you need it, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition!

Doug Parr is an Internet marketer who specializes in helping average people make exceptional incomes online. At SmallBiz2000 you’ll find the most reliable and “growth oriented” products & services on the Web. While you’re there, subscribe to Doug’s monthly newsletter SmallBiz for the latest marketing tips. http://www.smallbiz2000.com