Business, From Idea to Online


by Chuck Lunsford - Date: 2009-01-07 - Word Count: 727 Share This!

Everywhere you look today it seems every company, large or small, is adding a website to their marketing and advertising arsenal. Fortunately the steps needed to conduct business online are well within the reach of individuals who have little or no prior business experience.

New programs are continually being released and services that make web page creation as simple as point and click have sprung up all over the Web. To get your piece of the Internet pie all you need is a good idea, a small amount of cash to get started, some computer equipment as well as the knowledge to use it. What follows is a series of articles with a suggested step-by-step process to start your online business.

Identify A Need And Fill It

Billions of people worldwide are making purchases online. Still, with all the money being spent it does not mean starting an online business is a sure thing. You can build the most eye-grabbing website out there, but if you can't identify the services or items people need you are spinning your wheels.

Most prudent people would dip a toe in the water before jumping in. Starting an online business is no different. Many people have started an E-business with little more than a casual knowledge. Their virtual carcasses litter the Internet landscape. Do not become cyberspace roadkill due to lack of due diligence.

One of your first steps should be to find out what it means to conduct business online and then determine the best ways for you to fit into the ever-growing field of E-commerce. The more information you gather on the competition, your customers, and the Internet culture the higher the likelihood of your succeeding.

As you take a look around cyberspace, pay close attention to what goods and services are selling. Some of these include things sold at a discount, niche or unique items, things that are easier to buy online than in a "brick and mortar" real store, and things that require a subscription like ezines.

After you have taken a look at what is out there, your next step is to find a way to make your business stand out from the multitudes. Focus on making your site unique as well as providing things that other online businesses do not offer. Are your competitors charging full price? See if you can offer a discount for the same product or service. Run a contest. Give something away as an incentive for someone to visit your website. The possibilities are truly endless. Use your imagination and give things a try.

You might have to break even or lose a little money on some items in order to get people to start using your website. Are you doubtful this works? It was Amazon.com's basic business plan for their first several years. They went into it knowing they were not likely to make any profit for the first few years, but instead were relying on building customer trust and loyalty. These days Amazon is an E-commerce dynamo selling not only books, but everything from computers to auto parts. They rely largely on repeat customers who they attracted in the early days of their existence by giving them the best shopping experience imaginable. I am not saying you need to go into the red right from the start. I am merely suggesting that you might want to offer people a reason to shop with you and best of all come back to shop some more.

What if you cannot find other businesses doing what you want to do? Count your lucky stars! On the Internet especially being first often means getting a head start and becoming more successful than those who come along later.

There are still great ideas that have not made it to the Internet yet. In fact I believe some of the best things are yet to come. Find your niche and go for it. Do not be afraid to try something new and outlandish. Who knows, it just might work. Chuck Lunsford is a long-time, successful, Internet Marketing practitioner with years of DIY website builder experience. Chuck specializes in niche marketing and really enjoys the rewards of a well-constructed campaign. Visit us for more information on Chuck and how he can help you build your own online business website using Do It Yourself website software.


Related Tags: do it yourself, website software, diy website builder, website design programs

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