The idea of running a business on the internet has attracted many people in recent years. At a time when the vast majority of people around the globe have, at least, a nodding acquaintanceship with the computer, many can see the possibilities for making a good living online, even without any specialist skills or detailed knowledge of what is involved. The size of the potential marketplace is immense and the process of communicating with others via email and the internet is almost instant. National boundaries count for nothing on the internet. If these new people are prepared to work and learn then there is no reason why they should not make a success of their business.
Doing business online is so different from traditional business in almost every respect. There is, of course, the inevitable exchange of products or services for money, but there the comparison ends. Most internet businesses are run by individuals working from their spare room or garden shed. In my case, I run the business with the help of my wife and son; – it is very much a family business. The traditional employer and employee arrangement is rarely found, except where work is outsourced to specialists in one field or another. The large multinational companies obviously have an online presence but their businesses do not usually fit the accepted concept of internet marketing.
Internet marketers communicate with their customers by means of words and pictures. We rarely meet potential customers face to face which is why so much importance is put on copywriting, especially of sales letters. Much is made of the need to develop a relationship with your customer database (your list) as it is much easier to sell to those who know and trust you than to total strangers all the time. This is especially true online. When communicating with your list, resist the temptation to keep sending out business offers all the time. Send out free newsletters, links to useful videos or informative articles. Keep your list happy and entertained so that they look forward to receiving your emails. When you do send out the occasional offer they are far more likely to be in a receptive frame of mind.
The whole process of marketing online is very simple, but that does not mean that it is easy; – because it isn’t! It takes hard work, commitment and a dogged persistence to establish an internet business. Once you have your business up and running the pressure does ease somewhat as, at least, some of what you have set up should be generating a passive income. It is those early days which can tax your patience as it can take a while to get everything in place. Reaching the point when you can send out your first real offer gives a great sense of achievement. The day you receive your first order will make you feel on top of the world.
With all the above thoughts in mind, I have put together a set of four e-books under the general heading of “The Online Way to Prosperity”. Each of these e-books looks at a different aspect of internet marketing. I researched many articles and selected the writings of experienced marketers who had valuable things to say about the setting up and running of an internet business. I gathered those articles together to create these four informative FREE e-books. If you click on the book icon to the top right of this page you can access a video entitled “The Internet Marketing Start-up Kit” which explains more about the e-books and their content.
For those readers who are toying with the idea of starting an online business or have already taken the plunge, I wish you all the luck in the world with your venture.