Avoid These When Launching an Online Business!
Avoid these pitfalls when you are launching an online business!
Many come to Wealthy Affiliate for many reasons, but the main one is to create another income stream, and perhaps a huge source of income, so much so that it gives the WA member options that would have otherwise been impossible!
We are not confined to any location to do what we do. We are our own bosses. We control our time. But, like any business, it will not be easy. And, as an online business owner you will have to be very dedicated and expend a lot of energy to get your online venture off the ground.
Here are some things that you should avoid in your new online business!
Spending too much time getting the online business off the ground! Procrastination is the worst disease to have when starting an online business. Action creates reaction! You don't have to be perfect to get your website going! Just get going. And here in WA, the best way is to get through the online certification courses as soon as possible!!
Failing to have a plan! You need to create a plan that will help you understand your online business that you are creating. The training here will get you going but taking time to create a business plan will help you out in the long term. Without that plan you may waste time. You need to solidify your marketing plan, your strategic plan, refine your niche or niches, what will be your company name, design, and your online persona. You can use sba.gov to help you with some of these issues.
Not defining who your market is! Who are you trying to reach? If you clearly identify your niche using Kyle's training in the online certification course in levels one and two, you will know who your target audience is and who to create content for. This is a big section in a formal business plan. You have to know if your niche has a market and if so, who they are and how will you reach them: what keywords will target them and are they really worth writing about?
Overuse of Keywords! We have the best training in the world here at WA for keyword usage, yet some people still believe more is better. Be sure to focus on Kyle's keyword training as well as Jay's teachings, and follow those closely to avoid overuse of keywords and failed indexing due to this issue.
Avoiding using social Media to promote your online business! Social media can have an amazing impact on your online business! The best part is you can reach a lot of people without having to spend a lot of money, if any, depending on the reach you want. Some would say that Facebook and Pinterest are the best source for selling products and LinkedIn is a great way to get your brand out there.
Giving away too much at the beginning! Giving things away at the start can cost a lot of money at the beginning. It's a great way to build a customer base if you can create resales. A better way to go is to offer a more intangible product or service: e-books, PDF documents, guides, webinars, etc.
Not paying attention to negative feedback! If you get negative feedback from one source take that into consideration and see if change is warranted. But, if you see repetitive criticism then immediate action should be taken. Don't dismiss any comments that may be a signal of a problem with your business.
Ignoring the legal stuff! This aspect is discussed in the training here at WA for our websites, but what about the other stuff that comes with running a business? Do you need a business entity for your online venture? Could you benefit from the tax advantages of developing one? Could you be sewed for claims you make online when offering products or advice? A discussion with an attorney is always a good idea.
It's always good to consider and avoid these issues when launching an online business!
Best wishes with your online ventures! Press on . . .
Recent Comments
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Thanks for the info. I especially like giving away too much at the start, as I was toying with this idea on the about me section wondering how much to give away in case it made visitors just stop reading and try to go on the base info through other ways.
I would also like to say, keep it simple!
Following along with the training I was flying through but then became a premium member and thought I’d get a bit more technical with all the themes etc. Basically, I ended up deleting my first website and having to start again! :D this time I think it’s an idea to just follow the steps and get familiar with the set up before trying to make it too technical as it can get a bit overwhelming and confusing otherwise as a newbie. Thanks again for the info and hope this little bit helps others to go along with it!:) :)
This is a very eye-opening post Howard! I have been here at WA since last march and am still not to the "Making Money" section of the training. I am plodding along and can admit to procrastination but also to other factors, such as a busy lifestyle. What I don't want to do Howard, is to devote too much time to WA and neglect my "Real-Life Situation" In other words, those things which need to be done on a daily basis such as working, shopping, and all of the other day-to day necessities of life. I may actually become more successful in the long run, by taking time to understand the trainings, due to the fact that I am new to the world of self-made business. As I continue on, using the time that I can put in, I always try to keep this in mind. "Rome was not built in a day" Again thank you for this and every post that you have written, along with what you will write in the future :)) You are an inspiration to us all! Jim
Thanks for stopping by and sharing Jim! All you can do is the best you can. If you are happy with where you are, that's all that matters. Just keep moving forward. Best wishes!
Thank you Howard I will, but in my own time and at my own pace. Isn't that the beauty of having your own business? :))
Thank you, Howard, that is a great recap of the things we should all be doing and/or avoiding.
Colette and Philip
Thank you Howard for all the information and reminders. These things are good to know. I trust you're doing well. Take care
David
Great advice Howard, and this is complementary to my latest article for all new business owners: Always Make Sure You Have a Contract
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A most interesting and informative post, with so much truth in it.
Stuart
Thank you, Sir!