General tips on how to start an online business. Tips that have helped me and others.

“If you code it, they will come”. It’s an adapted philosophy, but a realistic one none the less. Starting a business, online or not, is a serious undertaking. The question: “Should I start a business?” is a respectable question, but unfortunately, an incorrect one. “Should” = uncertainty, uncertainty in the business world is the first step towards failure. There is no pussyfooting around the issue of quitting your job and being your own boss. And the remediable tasks that may have been bestowed upon you at you’re regular work can not cloud you’re judgment when you are deciding to open your own business. You will be doing all the work!

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Have I scared you enough? Let’s talk about the first steps:

First off, if you are 100% serious about starting a business, specifically an online one, I congratulate you. You have already laid down the foundation. The things you must remember about running ANY business, just starting out, or being a seasoned pro are these:

  1. Never lose your determination
  2. Set goals
  3. Be realistic
  4. NEVER QUIT

It’s simple in the sense of saying, but almost impossible to stick by in the beginning.

It’s a proven fact that most businesses close their doors within the first year. A lot of it has to do with poor financing, unrealistic goals, or a lack of interest. Keep this in mind when you are struggling through the first year.

Since you are utilizing an online business, there are a number of positives and negatives in terms of the first steps in making you’re business a successful one.

Positive

  1. Know you’re business. Is it retail based, service, etc?
  2. Know you’re product. What are you selling or offering?
  3. Know you’re customer. Who are you selling to? What age group, Gender, nationality?

Negatives

  1. Don’t be biased. Never market to one particular group of people
  2. Don’t pay outrageous hosting fees for you’re website
  3. Make site readable and easy to follow

The last one sounds easy, however, it’s not. This one takes a while to tweak, and since you are just starting out, you may want to add an e-mail ability that allows users to write comments about the site itself. What do they want changed, added? Remember, the site is for the customer, you may think it looks horrible, but the overall site construction should be a representation of what you’re customers want. Start out with a site template, work from there.

I hope these steps can help you understand the process you are going to be getting into. I have complete respect for people who are wishing to break the chains of traditional workmanship and forge their own path. I did it.