Many people are saying that the internet is dead. So is there still money to be made on the Internet?
The answer is a definite YES.
Research shows, time and again, that consumers want to spend more online, and that the internet is fast becoming an integral part of their lifestyle and it'll continue to be so. Internet consumers are cautious and they want sites that are credible and worth shopping before they part with their money.
The traditional brick-and-mortar rules of business still apply to internet business. It's prudent to remember that the internet is not your business goal; it's a medium in helping you achieve your business goals.
Adhere to my following Rules and you'll be on your way to building a viable, sustainable and successful internet business.
---------------------------
1. Develop a viable business plan
---------------------------
The biggest reason why so many dotcoms failed is an inadequate business plan of how and when they will achieve profitability. To have a successful and sustainable internet business, developing a viable business plan from the outset is crucial.
Your plan must have a clear and sincere vision that has meaning to you and your business. Your main focus should be to 'plan to profit within a set period of time and this would require you to allow time for thoughtful researching, planning, execution and testing. You'll need to test out your business model first and ensure that it's viable and sustainable.
Don't make the same mistakes that many dotcoms made - trying to build a global brand before their business model even worked as it'll lead you into receivership faster.
Regardless of how fanciful and good your website is, if your aim is not to make profit, you'll go out of business.
---------------------------
2. Model someone successful
---------------------------
It's always wise to learn from the mistakes of other people rather than to learn from your own mistakes as this can sometimes be very costly and painful.
Track and learn from benchmarked success stories, be they your competitors or otherwise. Why would you want to spend time re-inventing the wheel when you can learn from those who have already been there and done it successfully. Learn how they design their website, create products, write salescopy, their sales process, etc.
--------------------------
3. Focus on a niche market
--------------------------
Don't be everything to everybody by trying to dominate a huge and general market because you just simply can't do it effectively.
Focus your internet business on a targetable portion of the market or a narrowly defined group of potential customers. Address the need for a product or service that's not being addressed by mainstream providers. The advantage of this is that it's less competitive in such a market as large businesses won't want to be in it.
For this to be effective, the market niche that you're targeting must be fast moving, its customers accessible and there must'nt already be a dominant player in that particular market niche.
The key here is to find a niche market, assess the needs of the market and then offer them your products and/or services that meet their needs.
------------------------------
4. Differentiate your business
------------------------------
To capture a larger market share and be viable, sustainable and profitable, you need to differentiate or distinguish your business from your competitors; make your business special in the eyes of your customers and/or prospects.
You can do this by creating what's called a Unique Selling Propostion or USP and then effectively convey that USP to your target market via your marketing efforts and business performance.
This's particularly crucial if you're operating in a highly competitive market.
A USP is the one thing or idea that sets your business favourably apart from your competitors. Think about these questions: "What's the one thing that makes your business unique and distinct? Why should people buy from you and not from your competitors? Do you promise great value, benefit or service?"
Your USP is the focal point around which the success and profitability of your business is built and so you must be able to state it and fulfill it honourably and effectively.
---------------------------
5. Spent your funds wisely
---------------------------
Costs is one of the major determinant of your internet business's survivability. You'll need to carefully track and control your costs from the outset and make sure you can start to show a profit soon, as unmindful spending with no thought given to incoming resources will bleed you to death.
Credible websites not only require money to set up but also to maintain; advertisement costs money. Driving traffic to your website where you lose money on sales made is suicidal. Do your sums; consistently refer back to your vision to ascertain whether an expense is warranted or meaningful.
----------------------------
6. Superior customer service
----------------------------
In addition to a viable business plan, a superior customer service will be key to your success.
Superior customer service must be a high priority in your action plan. Build a trusting and long lasting relationship with your customers and prospects, send your staff for customer service training, fulfill your orders promptly, and constantly remind yourself the reason of your very existence.
This is crucial as it costs five times more to win a new customer than it costs to keep an existing customer. Moreover, a dissatisfied customer will tell, on average, five or six people about your bad service. The point I'm driving at here is that looking after your customers saves money and boosts profits.
Learn and apply what I teach you, do it right, and you'll rise above your competition and blow them out of the water in no time.
About the Author
Copyright 2004 by Larry Lim, MarketingSphere.com
Larry Lim is a practising marketing strategist and tactician who dishes out highly effective marketing strategies and tactics that will enable you to successfully start and grow your business on the Internet.
His Internet Marketing Strategy website is jam-packed with internet marketing secrets and softwares that will skyrocket your sales, and shoot your profits through the roof.
Business to business e-commerce is on the rise! Worldwide B2B... Read More
Have you ever gone to the store and thought you... Read More
You have probably heard many times how you should offer... Read More
My Business is Afraid of the InternetBill Gates, CEO of... Read More
With consumers purchasing billions of dollars of merchandise online each... Read More
First off, you need to know what an ecommerce solution... Read More
Are you a website owner or a web designer/developer? If... Read More
Nothing has helped international brokerage business more than the internet:... Read More
In this surreal world of the internet, anyone, even you,... Read More
The concept of linking is that sites with common interests... Read More
For whatever reason, when we get a new boost in... Read More
ClickBank.com can offer you multiple solutions for your e-commerce business.... Read More
Understanding business and product sales can sometimes put me in... Read More
After building and transferring many e-commerce sites it still amazes... Read More
E-commerce is gaining pace! Research firm eMarketer predicts that 2003... Read More
A year ago, I had big plans to re-vamp my... Read More
Making profits with your existing website design or creating a... Read More
Only a few manage to sell everything under the sun... Read More
Did you know that 80% of all sales are made... Read More
Increase Company ProductivityAfter years of hard work, finally your business... Read More
Using the Internet to sell products and services to ever... Read More
There are so many metrics surrounding direct marketing. So many... Read More
Merchant Account BasicsA Merchant Account is a commercial bank account... Read More
Having a successful member only, paid membership site is one... Read More
We all know that accepting credit cards is the key... Read More
How four partners build and manage an exclusive art posters... Read More
Being able to accept credit cards and other online payments... Read More
Merchant Account BasicsA Merchant Account is a commercial bank account... Read More
The problem with most e-commerce marketing strategy today is that... Read More
In Part One we talked a little bit about what... Read More
What is the Internet?In order to provide a discussion on... Read More
According to NOP World, 48% of all Internet users have... Read More
The Millennium ExperienceA successful project is one that delivers on-spec... Read More
The concept of linking is that sites with common interests... Read More
There are so many metrics surrounding direct marketing. So many... Read More
I'm a plain man who uses plain thinking in devising... Read More
Shopping online has become more and more popular in America... Read More
Overview:What is web advertising?Internet Advertising is popularly known as web... Read More
1. Combine a few of your articles into a free... Read More
First off, you need to know what an ecommerce solution... Read More
Participation in B2B Exchanges is increasingly becoming one of the... Read More
In spite of the increasing attention on how the Internet... Read More
E-gold is a digital currency, used extensively on the Internet... Read More
For anyone who has completed research regarding e-commerce, there are... Read More
Last time, we started to take a look at the... Read More
Are you a website owner or a web designer/developer? If... Read More
The principle of "permanent establishment" is very important for avoidance... Read More
If you have little or no capital but you want... Read More
Is there a difference between writing a landing page and... Read More
Maria's new lifestyle: Short story about the benefits shopping on... Read More
E-commerce E-commerce |