Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Advantages of Doing Business Online

Here are some of the advantages that I consider most important.

1) Producing Multiple, Self-Sustaining Streams of Income.

The Internet allows you to generate multiple streams of income that are more or less on autopilot; an advantage which most types of businesses and jobs simply don’t offer. While I was on holiday, my internet business continued to generate income on auto-pilot.

2) Internet Businesses are Easily Manageable.

I have thought of the possibility of relocating to the beautiful countryside area that I visited on vacation, It reminds of how most people are geographically tied to their jobs. Unfortunately, where most people live is largely influenced by where they work. And if they don’t live near to their jobs, lots of shuttling and commuting is required, a major cause of stress.

However, if you earn living online, you have the flexibility of living and working most anywhere that you want, as long as you have Internet access. There aren’t many businesses or jobs that give such freedom to choose where you live.

Since you can operate an online business from home, your commute to work may involve nothing more than a leisurely stroll from your bedroom or living room to your desktop computer. No traffic worries,being late to the office, etc.

3) Low Overhead Expenses and Business Start Up Cost

Low startup and overhead expenses mean low risk. If you try opening a shop, manufacturing plant or other offline business, chances are you’ll need several thousand dollars just to open your doors, let alone pay the monthly bills. This is not so with an Internet business, which you can start, build, promote and maintain on a shoestring budget.

My basic business expenses include web hosting, Internet access, and a few odds and ends totalling well under £100 a month, yet my web sites generate six-figures yearly.

4) Huge Marketing Reach

Of course, one of the greatest advantages of the Internet is the ability to reach huge numbers of prospects for my products and services.

And I’m talking about ethically reaching prospects who are interested in what we have to offer; NOT about sending unsolicited email, or spam, i simply hate spam and i hope you do.

The Internet is one of the greatest breakthroughs in communication since slice bread or the television, and at the same time less expensive and more versatile than virtually any other marketing method.

5. Internet Marketing Utilises The Best Software

Getting to upload and apply the best maketing software is an advantage, from article creation software to article submission software to website buiders. The list goes on and on.

Estimates on the number of existing Internet users are staggering,there are over seven hundred million, not to mention new users who sign on a daily basis.

I could go on and on about the various advantages of an online business, but you get the point. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own Internet venture, keep the above advantages in mind. They are just a few of many that make the Internet an marketers’ dream.

Internet Marketing Jobs

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Ask the Market Maker

1. Where Do I Start?

Dear MarketMaker:

I've just started my own business and am trying to let the world know I exist—but I don't have a huge budget for advertising. Where do I start?
—Built Best Mousetrap

Dear Best:

As you've discovered, it's not enough to have a great product—if the world doesn't know you exist, they can hardly beat a path to your door. In fact, a significant percentage of every small business's budget is spent on advertising.

But there's a better way to start than throwing money at the problem. The top three things you can do are to be noticeable, be available, and ask people you know to help. Specifically:
  • Be noticeable: Put a professional sign up outside of your business, choose a memorable name, register for a memorable web address, and buy a memorable phone number, like 1-800-GET-TRAP. The more visible and memorable you are, the less total advertising you'll need to make an impression on your prospective customers.

  • Be available: Be sure your business hours match those of your prospective customers and that you're listed in directories they use. Who cares about the general yellow pages and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. if your prospective customer base of trappers works 6:00 p.m. to midnight and only reads Trappers Service Phone Directory?

  • Ask people you know to help: Word of mouth is the least expensive and most powerful advertising you can do. Spend $20 to print some business cards with your company information on them (including a phrase describing what you offer, such as "best traps for mice!"), design some email based on the same theme (with more information), and then send email and paper mail to every friend and family member you have asking them to forward your information to their friends and family. Keep a record of everyone who contacts you and do the same thing again. If you provide great service, soon your base will start to grow to a point where you can engage in more traditional flyers, billboards, rented mail lists, and "traditional" advertising.
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