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