| Back when I first started my online home | | | | 4. You need to build a loyal customer |
| business I didn't have a clue concerning how | | | | following, so you can maintain a profitable |
| to go about it. I had never done any | | | | business over a period of time. |
| Internet marketing, and didn't know anything | | | | |
| about websites or search engines or any of | | | | Many people fall into the trap of believing |
| that other online business stuff...in short, | | | | that because they are doing business on the |
| I was a complete rookie. In retrospect, the | | | | Internet, some of these steps can either be |
| two major things that really helped me was | | | | skipped or they need to overemphasize one |
| that I refused to be intimidated and I kept a | | | | area or another. |
| realistic perspective (both in terms of | | | | |
| initial financial results and the time frame | | | | The bottom line regarding an online business |
| necessary to become successful). | | | | is that you will need to advertise and you |
| | | | will need to take care of your customers. |
| I know from my own years of experience that | | | | |
| relatively few business ventures are started | | | | Run your online home business just like a |
| on the Internet by people with the | | | | real company because it is, in fact, a real |
| experience, motivation, determination, | | | | business and you have a real opportunity to |
| backing, and support that it takes to even | | | | either be successful or to fail. The primary |
| have a reasonable chance of success. | | | | difference between an online business and a |
| | | | traditional business is location (no |
| Real online business people are those who | | | | traditional "storefront"). Nearly |
| work hard, who immerse themselves deeply in | | | | everything else is essentially the same. You |
| marketing and advertising, and who put in | | | | have products and your objective is to sell |
| long hours in the beginning in order to see | | | | those products to people who want/need your |
| their Internet-based businesses succeed. | | | | products. |
| | | | |
| Achieving success in an online business is | | | | Remember, building a business takes time, |
| not difficult to comprehend. There is indeed | | | | determination, and patience. Far too many |
| a learning curve, but it's not brain | | | | people seem to think that the traffic is |
| surgery. The process of learning isn't as | | | | just going to pour in once they have put up |
| much the issue as are the personal traits of | | | | their own website on the Internet. As anyone |
| motivation and determination. | | | | who has had a website for a while |
| | | | knows...this simply is not true, but it is |
| Develop your marketing plan and execute it. | | | | often the reason people get frustrated and |
| There's no magic in this online home based | | | | quit. The fact of the matter is that you |
| business stuff. We're talking real world | | | | need to diligently promote/advertise your |
| here. It's not nearly as romantic as winning | | | | website in order for your online home based |
| the lottery, yet many of the thousands of | | | | business to flourish and prosper. |
| people I have helped to start up their home | | | | |
| businesses on the Internet clearly came in | | | | One of the most important bits of advice that |
| with what I have come to refer to as the | | | | I can pass on to you is that you must be |
| "magic/lottery" mentality. Many of those | | | | patient. Most people start their online home |
| folks went off to chase another rainbow after | | | | business with great enthusiasm and high |
| a few months, but some of them also came to | | | | expectations. Often, after a few months, |
| their senses and buckled down to develop | | | | they become disappointed and frustrated |
| very successful home based businesses. | | | | because they are not already making a large |
| | | | amount of money. |
| Run, don't walk, away from all of those | | | | |
| people that offer you "shortcuts" or | | | | These impatient home business entrepreneurs |
| "success secrets" (probably in exchange for | | | | then often start to jump from one program to |
| some of your money). I mean, if they had it | | | | another every few months (never allowing |
| all figured out, why would they sell this | | | | themselves enough time to succeed at any of |
| "magic answer" to you for a few bucks | | | | them) and, finally, throw up their hands in |
| instead of just keeping it private and then | | | | frustration and declare that they just can't |
| making tons of money for themselves? (I'll | | | | make money online. |
| leave it to you to connect the dots) | | | | |
| | | | Stick with your business and don't give up. |
| A key point to always keep in mind is | | | | Dogged persistence (much like the tenacity |
| that...business is business. Regardless of | | | | of a pit bull) is an absolutely vital key to |
| whether you are on the Internet or operating | | | | your eventual success. Don't give up when |
| a business in a shopping mall. The same | | | | things become frustrating and you are not |
| fundamental principles apply to both | | | | achieving the immediate success you |
| businesses. | | | | expected. Give your online home based |
| | | | business sufficient time to develop and you |
| | | | realize the success you are seeking. |
| | | | |
| 1. You need to have a product, or products, | | | | There is nothing magical about running an |
| to sell. | | | | online home based business. It should be run |
| | | | the same as any traditional "bricks and |
| 2. You need to advertise to get customers to | | | | mortar" business and it will succeed or fail |
| buy your products. | | | | depending on the time and effort you put |
| | | | into it. |
| 3. You need to provide support to your | | | | |
| customers who buy your products as a result | | | | There are many very ordinary people working |
| of your advertising efforts. | | | | at home and making a very good living on the |
| | | | Internet, will you be the next one? |