Randall Craig - The Everything Guide to Starting an Online Business: The Latest Strategies and Advice on How To Start a Profitable Internet Business - Research online opportunities, Create a marketable Internet

Appendix A:
A Winners ChecklistTips and Tricks

Appendix B:
Case Templates

Appendix C:
Additional Resources

1. How to avoid the usual pitfalls of a start-up business.
2. How to determine when your business idea will become profitable.
3. How to assess risk and, even better, how to manage it.
4. How to put together a business plan.
5. Ideas on how to finance your start-up.
6. Enough technical lingo to know what you needand what you dont.
7. How to use social media effectively.
8. Which online business activities you should avoid.
9. Advanced concepts for converting browsers to buyers.
10. Tips for keeping your business in the winners circle after its up and going.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW CAREER. Each day that you go into your new office, there will be something new: e-mails from prospects asking a product question or suppliers pitching new services; calls from your developer asking about a software upgrade; partners looking to do joint marketing; and your family asking when you will be joining them for dinner.

With the possible exception of this last point, every day is usually completely different. That is why running your own online business is so much fun. With everyone asking you questions, it is sometimes challenging when you dont have the answers. Too many businesses fail precisely because the owner didnt invest in himself first. Simple investments, like the time you are spending reading this book, can give you the know-how from hundreds of online start-up experiences.

Reading a book, though, wont make you successfulonly your hard work will. There are many models of success, from making a few dollars in the evenings, to building a completely online business, to using the web as another channel for a traditional business. There are even businesses that serve other online businesses: web designers, developers, and writers, to name a few.

What type of business should you start? Generally, people are more successful if they focus on the intersection of their skills, their passion, and the market. What unique skills do you have? What do you really enjoy doing? And is there a market for your service or product? What you think your business is about might not be where your business ends up. Unlike manufacturers or large retailers, online business carries the benefit of much lower capital investment; as you learn, it is easier to pivot the business in the direction of higher sales. Whatever your scale of operation, the job of finding an idea, then growing it to reach your goals is like none other. It truly is a journey of discoverybut with a big financial reward.

Starting and running a business requires a great deal of knowledge. Setting realistic goals for yourself and your businessweekly, monthly, quarterly, and annuallyis critical to success. Build step by step, and focus on getting the business off the ground rather than getting lost in dreams of a lavish lifestyle sometime in the future.

Become familiar with who your customers aretheir likes and dislikes. Reading trade publications (every industry has them), networking with other online entrepreneurs, joining organizations, reading and writing blogs in your field, and connecting in social media are all different ways to stay in touch with the people who will make or break your businessyour customers. Good customer relations are critical to any successful business!

As you read this book for the first time, note the areas that are beyond your direct experience. These spheres require more detailed study, but they also may point out where you need help from a college course, mentor, consultant, or a business partner. This book takes a general approach that you can apply to your unique situation. You will find specifics on tasks such as writing a business plan, calculating the break-even point where your business becomes profitable, and converting browsers to buyers. Youll also find, as you are going through the book, that you may actually know more than you originally thought. Welcome to your new career!