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STRATEGY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Is Your Enthusiasm for Your Business Fading? Consider These Steps.
By Ajay Prasad
You have this superb idea of having a website of your own and you are eager to go to put those ideas into action. But as you get down to work for converting your ideas into reality, the challenges involved in getting it done may overwhelm you and suck away half of the enthusiasm. Believe me, setting up a business is no cakewalk, even with years of experience.
Here's how to go ahead.
PLANNING
Be thorough. Even though you know what you want, write it out. Keep a notepad and a pen by your side to note down important ideas, information. Make a list of the task for each day and cross them out when done. Ask yourself some questions:
* Why am I doing it? (Money, success, to make friends, to share information)* Where do I begin? (Totally online or with a storefront)
* How will I do it? (Myself or with another vendor)
* What is the best way to do it? (Translates to reading and gaining a lot of knowledge)
DO YOU NEED A WEBSITE?
It's a well-established fact that customers, especially in the U.S., check products online before entering a store to make a purchase. Small businesses or relatively unknown businesses can benefit from this.
Web usage in the U.S. is huge. An average surfer spends 38 hours per month online from home and visits an amazing 65 domains every month. So he is not just replying to email. He is searching or browsing. And that's where your business comes in.
125 MILLION WEBSITES OUT THERE. DO YOU STAND A CHANCE?
Of course you do have a chance, and you can get your share of the online business. Just do all thing things correctly. Analyze your business and client behaviors and plan accordingly. But make sure your website stands out either in product, offer or search engines.
Niche websites have a greater chance of doing well. If you have a remarkable business idea, create a demand for your product through the Internet. Let people talk about it.
If you have a general business about which you think nothing is remarkable, concentrate on local search engines, local press and local offers. You will be amazed at the results.
WHAT TYPE OF WEBSITE SHOULD YOU HAVE?
Generally, business websites can be divided into two categories:
* Ecommerce Sites--Ecommerce websites have a list of products along with a shopping cart and online credit card purchasing that allows a visitor to visit the site, browse the products and complete the purchase.* Service Websites--These sites just list their services, along with additional information and a contact email address or phone number.
Do a lot of research on what you want your website to be. Conduct a thorough research of customer behavior for your related product. Talk to experts, ask questions on forums. Do a market analysis that identifies the Internet market size for your product or service. Only then can you come to a conclusion about the type of website you need.
Remember your options:
1. An information site (an article site or e-zine)2. An Ecommerce site.
3. A service site with a call to action.
4. Info/service site.
5. A simple blog.
6. A forum
Consider these issues to determine the orientation and budget of your site.
So get your notepads and pens out....
Ajay Prasad is founder of Global Marketing Resources LLC that hosts a number of Ecommerce websites under its umbrella. Ajay's functional expertise includes website strategy, marketing management, business development, consumer research, market analysis and strategic planning. GMR Web Team is an Orange County Website Design company that aims to develop an overall website strategy for your site.
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