Success Is Simple

The Internet can be a confusing place to do business. It
often seems like there are a million 'gurus' on the Net, all
speaking at the same time, and telling you how they have
"the" road map to success.

The truth is ... there is no one map. There are many roads
to the destination we call success. How long the trip will
take depends a great deal on the choices you make.

They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a
single step. And that's certainly true. To help you along
the way I offer my five steps to success.

1. Sell What People Want To Buy.

For a thousand years (or more) small business has thrived on
one motto. Find a need and fill it. The Internet is no
different that Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart didn't sell what people
want they would go out of business in short order.

The best way to find what people want is to ask them.
Contact the people you know and ask them what their #1
problem is today. Then tally the results and look for a
pattern. Once you find the pattern, find a product or
service to meet that need and contact them again.

When you do, very good things will begin to happen.

2. Follow Up With Everyone You Can

The people who come to your website will fall into two broad
groups. Those that buy and those that don't buy yet. Create
a follow up system for the people who don't buy and you will
make time your ally, not your enemy.

You don't have to be a great writer to do this. Just jot
down the five top reasons people should buy your product and
create a short message for each reason. Then put those in an
autoresponder and offer people more information. Over time,
many will buy your product.

It's equally important to follow up with those who do buy.
Be sure to offer them products and services that compliment
your own.

For example, it's only logical that someone who buys a car
will eventually need their oil changed. In a like manner,
people who buy your offer may want products or services that
enhance your product's benefits.

3. Use A Simple Sales Site

There is a lot of discussion about how many words should be
on your web site. While this debate will continue to rage
on, the sites that sell the best seem to be one-page, very
simple sales sites. After all, why use more words than
necessary.

People are in a hurry today so give them what they want.
Tell them clearly why they should buy your product, ask for
the order and offer them more information if they choose not
to buy now. Simple.

4. Use Automation To Your Advantage

'Automation' is simply a fancy term for letting a computer
do the work you would normally do. Perhaps the best example
is an autoresponder.

An autoresponder is a program that sends emails out over a
period of time. Rather than having to remember who should
get which message when, the computer remembers and sends
them for you.

There are ways to process orders, send email follow ups, ask
for referrals, place ads and more all using the power of
automation.

While it is important to maintain a personal touch,
automating everyday tasks means you will be able to respond
faster to inquires and have the time you need to follow up
with clients and expand your business.

5. Give Yourself Time

Just as in any business, it takes time to succeed in an
online business. Since time is going to march on anyway, why
not make time your ally?

Using tools to automate your business will help you save
time every day. Having clearly defined goals and objectives
will help you have 'staying power' for the long haul.

Using time wisely and being committed to long term success
are both vital to your online business.


Success is simple if you keep it simple. One key is to find
people who are successful and learn from what they are
doing.

When you are offering a popular product using a simple sales
page website, are following up using automation to your
advantage and are patient enough to let your business grow,
you will find that the path to success is short indeed.