How to Determine If An Online Business is Right For You
Your Roadmap to the Start Line
Starting your own online home business offers a thrill that only the true entrepreneur can fathom! Persisting through tough times, looking for new solutions, and adapting to an ever-changing marketplace are only a few of the challenges you can expect.
In today's world of web-based businesses, even a spider could get lost. You will need to determine the validity of the business model and market through applied research and objective evaluation. You can find thousands of template opportunities online, or build your own business around your skills, knowledge and expertise. Whichever you choose, it's how you begin that will most often determine how you experience your business life online.
Begin With the End in Mind
Steven Covey in his best selling book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, suggests the best way to begin is to ask what you want to accomplish, and build a roadmap from that destination to where you are now.
Use some of the following criteria to chart your course to success:
1. What are your reasons for wanting an online home business? Emotionally charged motivations are significantly different from well-organized and conscious made choices. While the "fire the boss!" challenge looks good in the long copy page outlines of many online business templates, remaining the boss takes a lot more than being discouraged at your present work place or weary of the daily commute.
2. <b?>How would your life be different if you owned your own online business? Many people find it easier to write this down or record it on your cell phone or at your computer. Describe your life as it would be, not as you want it to be.
* Where would you do your work?
* How would you feel at the start of your day?
* Who would you work with?
* How much money would you make?
* Would you travel?
* How many hours a week would you work?
* How much time would you spend with your family?
3.What skills do you have to insure you are successful in your proposed venture? Do an audit of you, but be kind in the process. Some of us are our own worst critics. Make a list of what you bring to the table:
* your training
* years of experience
* areas of expertise
* areas of passionate interest
* your history of successful experience
* your history of failed attempts (keep this limited to your work experience and not your life overall)
* your adaptability to change
* your ability to learn
4. Even if you have owned several "brick and mortar" or offline businesses in your professional life, owning an online business is a different environment altogether; a new professional culture.
* How much time do you spend a day online? You may well be in front of a computer screen 8 to 10 hours a day, especially the first 6-12 months.
* Are you familiar with how a website is built, a blog post goes online, a shopping cart is updated, a payment process is completed online?
* Do you have a general understanding of how to make your online business search engine friendly?
* Have you explored your business idea online? How many people are searching for what you want to offer, what other business is doing something similar, what could you do better (differently) than the competition?
* Are you willing to take the time, energy and perhaps money to learn what you need to know? Or do you have the resources to hire the right people to do it for you?
5. What resources can you bring to bear on your business idea? Successful businesses, like successful scientists, are built on the shoulders of those who went before us. (Einstein) Who you know or can get to know, can significantly impact your roadmap to success.
* Who do you know who can help you complete the questions in this article?
* Who do you know who is operating a successful online business?
* Who could mentor you in the technical side of the business?
* Who do you know who might connect you with the capital you need?
* Who do you know who might be a good support for a new business?
Be prepared to take time to build your business. The rare individual takes their already existing database and turns it into a six-figure income in a year. Most of us will spend the first 6-12 months in a harsh learning curve. What works and doesn't work is both formulaic and unique to each business model and owner. Your business will require more time than your family may be willing to invest to see you succeed. Have you discussed the reality of the opportunity with those you care about, and do you have a "buy in" from the people who matter the most to you?
Your own online business has the potential to offer not only handsome profit margins but more time around your family, and freedom from the daily commute grind. Learning how to network online can be additive. Many find it personally fulfilling to connect with people all over the world. Instead of minimizing your experience with others, you may find the "web' a rich and diverse roadmap to adventure, learning and financial reward.
Starting your own online home business offers a thrill that only the true entrepreneur can fathom! Persisting through tough times, looking for new solutions, and adapting to an ever-changing marketplace are only a few of the challenges you can expect.
In today's world of web-based businesses, even a spider could get lost. You will need to determine the validity of the business model and market through applied research and objective evaluation. You can find thousands of template opportunities online, or build your own business around your skills, knowledge and expertise. Whichever you choose, it's how you begin that will most often determine how you experience your business life online.
Begin With the End in Mind
Steven Covey in his best selling book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, suggests the best way to begin is to ask what you want to accomplish, and build a roadmap from that destination to where you are now.
Use some of the following criteria to chart your course to success:
1. What are your reasons for wanting an online home business? Emotionally charged motivations are significantly different from well-organized and conscious made choices. While the "fire the boss!" challenge looks good in the long copy page outlines of many online business templates, remaining the boss takes a lot more than being discouraged at your present work place or weary of the daily commute.
2. <b?>How would your life be different if you owned your own online business? Many people find it easier to write this down or record it on your cell phone or at your computer. Describe your life as it would be, not as you want it to be.
* Where would you do your work?
* How would you feel at the start of your day?
* Who would you work with?
* How much money would you make?
* Would you travel?
* How many hours a week would you work?
* How much time would you spend with your family?
3.What skills do you have to insure you are successful in your proposed venture? Do an audit of you, but be kind in the process. Some of us are our own worst critics. Make a list of what you bring to the table:
* your training
* years of experience
* areas of expertise
* areas of passionate interest
* your history of successful experience
* your history of failed attempts (keep this limited to your work experience and not your life overall)
* your adaptability to change
* your ability to learn
4. Even if you have owned several "brick and mortar" or offline businesses in your professional life, owning an online business is a different environment altogether; a new professional culture.
* How much time do you spend a day online? You may well be in front of a computer screen 8 to 10 hours a day, especially the first 6-12 months.
* Are you familiar with how a website is built, a blog post goes online, a shopping cart is updated, a payment process is completed online?
* Do you have a general understanding of how to make your online business search engine friendly?
* Have you explored your business idea online? How many people are searching for what you want to offer, what other business is doing something similar, what could you do better (differently) than the competition?
* Are you willing to take the time, energy and perhaps money to learn what you need to know? Or do you have the resources to hire the right people to do it for you?
5. What resources can you bring to bear on your business idea? Successful businesses, like successful scientists, are built on the shoulders of those who went before us. (Einstein) Who you know or can get to know, can significantly impact your roadmap to success.
* Who do you know who can help you complete the questions in this article?
* Who do you know who is operating a successful online business?
* Who could mentor you in the technical side of the business?
* Who do you know who might connect you with the capital you need?
* Who do you know who might be a good support for a new business?
Be prepared to take time to build your business. The rare individual takes their already existing database and turns it into a six-figure income in a year. Most of us will spend the first 6-12 months in a harsh learning curve. What works and doesn't work is both formulaic and unique to each business model and owner. Your business will require more time than your family may be willing to invest to see you succeed. Have you discussed the reality of the opportunity with those you care about, and do you have a "buy in" from the people who matter the most to you?
Your own online business has the potential to offer not only handsome profit margins but more time around your family, and freedom from the daily commute grind. Learning how to network online can be additive. Many find it personally fulfilling to connect with people all over the world. Instead of minimizing your experience with others, you may find the "web' a rich and diverse roadmap to adventure, learning and financial reward.
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