In addition to build your brand and build your list, I believe the first piece of advice I would give a person looking to start an online business is:
Do your due diligence
- Don't just jump in to the first online business that pops across your screen when you are surfing.
- Don't just sign-up for the business that you best friend or neighbor is promoting
- Don't just fall for all the hype about making money on the web
-- Actually perform some research about the type of online business you want to be in.
-- Know how much time you want to dedicate to your new online business.
-- Think about what you want to accomplish with your new online business.
Once you have decided, have focus and commit time. Success in an online business does not happen overnight.
It takes time and if you know what you want to achieve, you are halfway there. The other half is the hard work and time it will take once you dedicate to your online business. Otherwise you will just be jumping around to the next best thing you hear about or see on the web.
Research is definitely required for any type of investment (including a business). You have to find out how to plan accordingly otherwise you will have troubles down the road.
research is important but no one should let it lead to inaction. Finding a business and committing to it is better than never starting one at all because the research has yet to be completed.
Great advice man.
I think the biggest thing is when you said...Once you have it, focus and commit to it.
Be as active in a year from now, as we are today.
As you mentioned in one of your presentations earlier this month, give the program/business you select time to work.
This is great advice. Along these line it is good to know if you can contact the owners of a site.
I hate it when I can't contact an owner to resolve problems.
yes, I would say finding out if the owners can be contacted should be part of your due diligence.
Very well written the only thing I would like to add is when choosing your lucrative online activity it should be something that you love doing. Even when 100% self-employed it is incredible how quickly your new business becomes a horrible grind, so never do it just for the money, do it for the love of doing it. Sorry about the clumsy language. Sometimes we lose sight of why we want our own business :-)