http://marketingsource.com/articles/ Articles at marketingsource.com Articles Library en-us http://marketingsource.com/articles/book-promotions/business/how-to-start-an-internet-business.html http://marketingsource.com/articles/book-promotions/business/how-to-start-an-internet-business.html Sat, 02 Oct 2010 21:37:33 -0500
Establish a business plan

Any new business venture starts with a business plan indicating a target market, identifying competitors, generating funding and resources, building consumer loyalty and creating alliances with strategic partners. This requires both preparation and research. Plans tend to be roughly 20 pages long and are aimed at trying to get the readers to meet management to discuss the proposition. Much like an outline to an essay aides writers in focusing it on the thesis and key points, the business plan saves you time and keeps you focused on your goals.

Finding a niche

Another important step in how to start a internet business involves finding a market for a service or product and identifying the current and future size of that market. This involves testing your product and service which can prevent you from wasting time on unsuccessful ventures.

Get financed

Whether you finance through a bank, equity or whatever, the most common mistake is to not request enough funding. Novices tend to feel that asking for less will increase their chances of receiving a loan, but that isn't the case most of the time. What does increase your chances is having a comprehensive analysis of cash flow and how stable the projections of that flow will be based on past results.

Building a website

Creating and maintaining a website will set you back in varying amounts. Make sure the site is made as securely as possible because trust is the most important aspect for online buyers. This includes having a means for customers to reach you. The easier it is for them to contact and find you, the easier it is for them to trust you.

Customer transactions

Making it easy for customers to order your product is vital. The longer the sales process is, the more likely it is to lose customers. In general, sites should be made to be as easy to navigate as possible so that customers don't become frustrated (especially common among older shoppers). A good way to test this is to have a child or elderly person who isn't as tech savvy go through the process to see where potential problems may arise. Slow delivery is another good way to lose customers so it is important to fulfill each order as fast as possible.

Marketing your site

Most internet businesses fail because of marketing. You must be able to answer the basic question of "how are customers going to find me?" Outside of the usual methods like Google AdWords and SEO, most experts recommend notifying your friends and family with details of your site. Networking on chats, link building and placing classified ads are other good areas to start. ]]>