How to Start an Internet Business with Success

Starting an Internet business and being successful is not as easy as it sounds. We often expect the Internet to do the work for us. But that's not going to happen.

Read Irene Brooks' article and find out how you can start and Internet Business the right way. If you'd already started your Internet business, this article can bring you closer to Internet business success.

7 Questions Closer To Clarity 
by Irene Brooks - copyright 2003

Many of us come to the internet with dreams of instant riches. We dream of staying at home with our children and making lots and lots of money.

The cyber-streets are paved in gold...so they say.

So, we come on-line, buy every how-to book offered, join "the next biggest program" and wait for the money to roll in while we sleep.

Then we wonder where we went wrong...

Sound familiar?

Well, if you are one of those people that are trying to make it big on the internet or in your own business, but you just don't know how; perhaps now would be a good time to take a step back and ask yourself some questions to achieve some clarity on what you want to do. Putting your thoughts on paper will help you clarify greatly what you want to achieve and bring you closer to achieving your goal.

Answer these questions honestly. Some of these are "nuts and bolts" marketing questions and some are questions that will require some introspection.

Your answers can be long or short, but and there are no right or wrong answers. These questions are designed to help you achieve clarity around your goals and the last question will put you on the road to manifesting that goal.

1- What is my product or service?

Some supplemental questions would be: Who will buy it? Is this something that I would buy myself?

2- Who is my target audience?
 

Be specific... What makes my target customer tick, what is their problem, how is my product the solution to their problem?

3a- What is unique about my website that will attract visitors and get them to come back? (Am I setting my website and business apart from the rest to get the visitors...and once they're there, what does my website do to keep them coming back for more?)
If you have the same product as several others have, ask yourself:

3b - What is unique about me that would make people buy from me versus my competitors?

This is your opportunity to really explore your strengths and build upon them. You may find identifying your strengths a bit difficult, because we are trained from early childhood not to recognize or acknowledge the wonderful and unique attributes that we have. If you have trouble coming up with 50 wonderful and unique things about yourself, ask the people around you, what they like most about you. 

You'll be surprised at some of the answers! How will you utilize your strengths to reach your target audience?

Make sure your website reflects who you are. When designing your website, make sure you feel comfortable that the designer or you know what part of your personality you want to come through on your site. People buy from people they feel comfortable with. Self-replicating sites rarely create breakthrough sales.

4- What is it about selling this product or service makes me happy/excited?

If it doesn't make you happy, write a list of what makes you happy. Don't just limit it to your business, make a list of everything that makes you happy, excited, expectant. How can you incorporate what makes you happy with your business? If your business doesn't make you happy, is it the right business for you? 

I would suggest that once you've written your marketing material or created your website you ask several people for their opinion. Ask them what emotions/feelings/thoughts they got when reviewing it. Are these the thoughts and feelings that you were trying to get through on your site? A good rule of thumb is to remember that people buy from emotion, and then create the logic to fit the emotion they feel. Is your website and marketing writing doing that?

5- Am I utilizing the internet as a tool or as my only means of communication? What other tools can I explore to promote my product or service?

6- What do I want to happen with my business and/or website?

Really take some time with this question. Imagine if you could do anything that you want and you COULD NOT fail...what would it be? What does this look like? Who is there with you in your ideal picture? Be specific, have fun!

7- What is one single daily action that I can commit to doing to help move me closer to my goal?

Make sure this is one specific daily action that you enjoy doing. Don't turn it into a chore. Chose something that is joyful for you to do so that you look forward to doing it, as well as productive so that you will move forward.

Mentally commit to doing this one specific daily action for 30 days and measure your progress. Journaling works great for doing this.

Spend some time with your answers. Share any issues that come up with your coach, mentor or an objective person.

What light do the answers to these questions shed for you?

Celebrate your successes, no matter how small you think they are. Learn from your mistakes and celebrate the lessons learned. Keep your goal and intention before you at all times.

Through achieving clarity of where you are versus where you want to be, you will be closer to achieving your most precious goal. 
 
Irene Brooks is a Professional Life and Business Coach who specializes in helping small business owners and entrepreneurs the tools to uncover their excellence in their lives and businesses. She resides in Willow Spring, NC with her husband and three daughters and has been a work at home mom for the past 6 years.

You can visit Irene's website at http://www.3-DSuccessCoach.com
or contact her via e-mail at coach@3-DSuccessCoach.com