I get quite a number of requests for advice on how to start an Internet business so here’s my very quick guide to starting an Internet business.

In reality building an Internet business is no different to building any other business, the basic steps are:

1. Pick an idea;
2. Pick a business model;
3. Set up the business;
4. Market your business;
5. Refine, develop and grow the business.

The Idea

Don’t get hung up on trying to come up with a radically new or different idea, instead focus on doing something that you’ll enjoy - something that you’ll be passionate about. You’ve got a far better chance of succeeding at something you care about than something you’re doing just for the money.

Internet Business Models

There are three basic online businesses models. The first step is to decide which business model suits you best:

• ecommerce - i.e.: you are selling a product or service.
• advertising - you have a blog or other content focused site and sell advertising on it.
• subscription - people pay you a monthly fee for access to your service.

They each have their advantages and disadvantages, so you’ll need to chose the model that best suits you.

Building Your Internet Business

Once you’ve decided on your idea and chosen a business model you’ll need to develop the business. For most businesses this means building a website, but not always. Some businesses will flourish selling via Ebay or the Amazon Marketplace.

If you need to build a website then focus on how to build the simplest version of the website that you can as quickly as possible. Then launch it. Once it’s launched you’ll be able to use feedback (and revenue) from customer to refine and develop the site. I’d suggest using an open source content management system to build the site yourself. Many web hosting firms include these in their default hosting packages, I personally use Heart Internet for a lot of my sites and they include Wordpress and a number of other good packages in their service.

Marketing An Internet Business

There are many ways to market an Internet business, usually most are marketed using some combination of:

• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO);
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM);
• Email marketing;
• Affiliate marketing;
• Brand building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a list of the most common questions I get asked.

How much does it cost to start internet business?

It depends, it’s perfectly feasible to start an Internet with no money, equally you can spend millions launching one. Generally the more money have the easier it is, although the more you face loosing.

How to make money with an internet business?

Like any business, Internet businesses make money by selling a product and you make a profit by selling the product for more than it costs to produce and sell. Generally it’s easier to sell products that can be brought sight unseen on the Internet, however there are plenty of businesses that do well out of such products.

The secret to making money in any business is to produce something that has value to others.

Can anyone start an Internet business?

Yes, there’s no special requirements.

Can you help me start my Internet business?

Perhaps, if you’ve got any questions post them in my business forums and I’ll do my best to answer.

Can you recommend an Internet business opportunity?

No, I suggest you start your own business doing something you enjoy.

Subscribe:
If you enjoyed this post and would like to be kept updated on future posts, then please Subscribe by Email or subscribe to my RSS Feed.