Thinking of Starting an On-line Business?
Creating a masterful web site takes time and requires a specific process. The vast majority of people who enter the on-line business world end up failing simply because they did not have a plan and the proper foundation in place. I have seen figures that state that upwards of 90% of all web sites geared toward selling end up selling next to nothing, and mainly because of lack of traffic or persuadable content.
You may ask why would anyone want to start a web based business if so many fail in the attempt? It likely goes back to the idea that everyone is making money on the web, and you want a piece of the action. The truth is there are so many scams and promotions and promises of getting rich quick, it just seems like you are the only person on the planet who isn’t making millions. But the process of being successful in promoting your web site can be mapped out and followed in a persistent manner. Remember that you are building a business and that it takes time and a certain amount of effort. And most importantly, you can create a spectacular web site that generates interest and provides a regular income.
To start off, you want to find something that will work for you. Something that you are passionate about and know extremely well inside out. This is important because it is a desire that comes from deep inside you and it will provide the motivation to carry on. Why try to sell something you do not really care about? That is the reason you will not be able to sell it, at least over the long run. Your passion could be virtually anything, a product, service, specialized knowledge or some other hobby or interest. Make up a list of passions, things you care about, and see what ideas pop into your head. Do this for a few days or so, jotting down whatever comes to mind. If you already know what you want to build upon or if you have failed in the past, be open to the possibility that you can make your dreams a reality.
Assuming you have a passion or idea you are passionate about, you need to believe it can be turned into an income generating on-line business. Most assuredly it can. Keep in mind that this process is what many people do not do, and therefore are doomed to fail. People so often just jump in expecting to rake in the big bucks because they believe all the hype and promises. They are not successful since they are blinded right from the start by $$$. They think about all the money they are going to make and that becomes their focus. What do they really need to do? Focus on building their business first and foremost. When you perform that task well from the start, you will be setting yourself up to flourish financially. Your next main objective should be to concentrate on your site content. For the most part, your content will determine the amount of traffic that comes to view your site. Write great content and great things will happen…like people will find your site and be drawn into it pages to explore its rich content. This includes generating key words for search engine optimization and writing pages that offer informative advice. You have to become the person who might be visiting your site and get into their head. Ask yourself what it is that you might know and that they are searching the answer for. As long as you are providing a quality service and not skimping on content you will be headed in the right direction. Why go through the motions only to produce useless information? Remember, this is a longer term project that deserves lots of attention and devotion.
The one thing that so many sites attempt to do right off the bat is sell up front. That is a sure method to turn off a prospective customer. Overall the goal of your site should be to provide useful and honest information and to create a subtle interest in your product or service. You have to pre-sell your client by using imaginative copy, without all the fluff, that will get them craving for more. Perhaps offer some free item or an email newsletter. In this way you can begin to build trust and credibility with your consumer. Find a way to pre-sell before actually doing any selling of your main product(s). You want to get the customer into the frame of mind that they need your flagship services and are willing to buy them because they provide great value.
Thus far, we have a passion and a keen desire to find a way to convert it into a on-line site that can effect a stable income. And this is basically accomplished by implementing high quality content which in turn will drive web surfers and information seekers to your site; giving you the opportunity to pre-sell them using carefully worded script. And the last step is to monetize your service or product by setting the right price that will make the sale. This entire process is quite the opposite of what most prospective entrepreneurs follow when they first start up a web site. After all you are starting up a real business and that does require planning and improvising a strategy to promote your expertise.
I know this seems like a lot of work and we haven’t begun to cover the actual building of your web site or how to advertise it and maintain it among other things. There is still much to be done and as long as you take it step by step, your business has a solid chance of becoming the business of your dreams. Be determined to find a way to make your dream come true. Concentrate on what you want to accomplish and continue to push forward. There are not many certainties in life other than your own perseverance and desires. Take some time to picture your on-line business in your mind as an accomplished fact. Put any previous mistakes or failures out of your thoughts and trust yourself to know how to proceed.
Plan on spending 3 to 6 months or longer getting your site up and running and generating interest. Of course if you can devote more than 5 or 10 hours a week to the project, you could be up and running in a month or two. Keep in mind that if you just want a web site built in the next 24 or 48 hours, that is all you are likely to end up with…a site lost in web space. Even if you already have a web site and have tried to build up sales, there are still ways to go back and do it right. There are resources everywhere and help at every turn. One of the better sites available for help with starting your on-line business is www.buildit.sitesell.com/never-give-up.html. Once you begin to explore this site, you will discover numerous free resources that will give you an idea of what it takes to build an attention-getting site. This is definitely an endeavor you can do from home without hiring expensive experts and wasting tons of money on advertising or the trial and error method. Like I was, you will be pleasantly surprised at how little it can cost to design your own site and get it up and running as well as noticed.
The purpose of this article was to give you a direction and some guidelines as to what you need to consider when starting an on-line business. You can create an attractive and vibrant web site on your own if you use the right tools. There is no limit to the places it can take you. While there can never be any assurances as to the amount of sales you might enjoy, the experience of composing your own site can be deeply rewarding. The process can increase your awareness of talents and abilities you never thought you possessed as well as open your eyes to new and fascinating worlds. In many ways it is like building a house; you take one step at a time knowing what the finished product will be like. The path is right in front of you, so take that first step, get started and never give up.
