This post contains questions for beginners who want to start an online business, but if you're already an established entrepreneur, perhaps these questions will help you reevaluate your business to see if there are things you could work on or expand on...
1. Who is going to build your website? Will you invest the time and resources to learn how to build a website or will you hire someone to do it for you?
2. Which company will host your website?
3. How will you market your business online? Pay-Per-Click ads? Article writing? Start a blog?
4. Should you hire a virtual assistant to answer customer service emails or will you deal with customers yourself?
5. Are you passionate about your business? If you're in it for the long haul...Can you picture yourself doing this five years from now?
6. Where would you like your business to be ten years from now? Having a vision for your business is important to keep you inspired and motivated.
7. Who is going to manage your networks? Do you have the technical know-how if something goes wrong with any of your IT connections?
8. Will you get a business loan to fund your business or will you be bootstrapping your way to success?
9. Who will be your mentor? I think it's important to find someone to learn from. You don't necessarily have to meet this person. Just find someone who inspires you to keep going. I recommend subscribing to at least 2-3 online business blogs to help you with ideas. Get involved in the online business community.
10. Is your business designed to serve others? Do you have a customer service philosophy that you will commit to?
Bonus Question: Are you saying this affirmation to yourself every day?
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10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start an Online Business
Posted by Maria Palma | 2/11/2008 | internet business tips | 3 comments »
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Yes, I agree on the mentor program. I currently have a mentor, James Brausch, and it will be a huge help.
I see the last comment mentioned James Brausch. That's interesting but I'll come back to that in a minute.
I think there are some other questions that might be approptiate. The first one would be "When am I going to start?" Since that seems to be the hardest accomplishment to achieve for many aspiring online marketers.
There is an element of fear involved, fear of failure, fear of not doing something right. That fear holds many people back. I know it did me and still does on occaisiion.
That would be another question then that should be thought about,"What will I do if my first online venture fails?"
I think the that understanding that there will be failures but it's no big deal is as important as anything else. I think that the resolve to learn from a mistake and change what you did and try again has to be there from the beginning so having an answer to that question is very important when starting out.
As far as James Brausch goes, I visit his blog on a regular basis. He is very straight forward and lays out very clearly what kind of mindset you need to be successful online. I have gotten a lot from his posts and I think others would also.
Great article! I wish I had read an article like this when I first started my business. I would like to also ad - no matter what business you’re in, you have to offer your clients an incentive to buy your products and services. For example, we offer gas and food coupons to new customers who purchase our products from http://upyourprofits.net. In today’s economy, you have to go the extra mile with your customers by offering them MORE than what you’re selling.