Small Business Essentials: Start Here

Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there are two things you absolutely must commit to before ever opening shop on the web. Any one who refuses to realistically consider these two factors should not be in business. That may sound a bit rough, but the glut of businesses on line that ignore these factors will soon come to an end as customers demand service in return for their dollars.

The first factor in determining whether you should even be doing business on line is your ability to develop a site that addresses the needs of prospective customers. Is your site intuitive? That is, is it sensitive to the needs and abilities of the average person using the site? After all, what makes sense to you might be as clear as mud to the next guy.

One inexpensive way to test is to ask acquaintances of varying abilities to test drive your site. Observe their interactions with your website and ask for feedback throughout the process. You must be open to receiving honest critiques and be willing to use that information to make improvements. The easier your site is to use, the wider audience appeal it will have.

The other essential consideration, and the most important, is your willingness to commit to providing good customer service. If you are a novice to business, take the time to educate yourself. Furthermore, if you want to make money but don't want to deal with people, you should get a factory job or something that doesn't involve the general public, because business ownership is not for you.

One of the first rules of doing business is that word of mouth advertising will make or break your business and bad news travels fast. If you doubt this, just ask one of the millions of people in network marketing. Their primary form of advertising is word of mouth.

If you don't want to answer the phone, either hire someone or outsource the job. Again, if neither one of these are an option you are willing to consider, you should not be in business, especially on line.

There is nothing more frustrating to customers than trying to navigate a difficult website, except encountering nonexistent or worse, unresponsive customer service when trying to repair problems encountered maneuvering through a difficult site. Talk about adding insult to injury!

If you are willing to take the time and effort required to build a good site while providing quality customer service, your chances of succeeding in the world of on line business long term are better than most. Remember, word of mouth advertising is essential to your success, and good word of mouth comes from satisfied customers.

Karen Walker is a wellness consultant and author. She works from her home in western Montana. She and her husband, Lynn McCormick, maintain websites to help those whose lives have been upset by catastrophic health events. http://www.newamericanfamily.com

---

10 Hiring Tips for Small Business Owners

As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours;... Read More

Gold Medal Delegation

When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to... Read More

Window Cleaning Business Case Study

How do window cleaning franchise businesses start? It is a... Read More

Buying a Business

Start thinking about buying an established business if you want... Read More

Marketing a New or Small Business on a Budget

There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing... Read More

Taking Stock

Back when I owned an inventory-based business, one of my... Read More

Excuses Franchisees Make; When They Violate Exclusive Territory Agreements

One of the biggest excuses franchisees of home based and... Read More

Book Yourself Solid Key #5: Go Forward With Gusto & Articulate What You Do

Want your small business to flip instead of flop?! Statistically... Read More

20 Great Ways to Market Your Business Locally

Whether your target audience is in your neighborhood or across... Read More

How to Get Started As A Government Contractor

Becoming a contractor or sub-contractor for the U.S. government can... Read More

Find Some Sample Payroll Check Stubs on the Net for Easy Reference

Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture... Read More

Small Business Ideas - Your Image Can Lose You Business

What image do you and your people portray to your... Read More

Boston Market; Mobile Auto Detailing

Boston itself covers 50 square miles of concrete and traffic,... Read More

Success & The Nature of Things

The story is told of a tiger chasing some goats... Read More

Franchising Companies Relationship Strategies

Franchising Corporations need to maintain an iron fist when it... Read More

What Is YOUR Value Proposition?

Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement... Read More

Yeah, It IS Lonely At the Top

Sometimes when you run a business you feel as lonely... Read More

Do I Have to Do EVERYTHING Myself?!

The air in my client's office nearly crackled with her... Read More

Drivng Home the Point - An Outsourcing Story in China

A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first... Read More

Using Holidays to Put Some Extra Cheer in Your Cash Box

No matter your age or station in life, we all... Read More

Profits are within 6 Degrees of Freedom

How far away is the person you need to meet?We... Read More

How Is the LEGAL SYSTEM Dishing Out JUSTICE in Your Town?

Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is... Read More

SBIR vs STTR

SBIR vs. STTR: If you are participating in the SBIR... Read More

Are You Ready to Own and Operate a Business?

How often has someone thought of starting a business based... Read More

Does Your Small Business Marketing Suffer From The Bulldog Effect?

If you're an entrepreneur responsible for your own small business... Read More

Keeping your Business Alive

As long as you eat and breathe you will stay... Read More

Pressure Washing Market Niche

Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More

Start a Resume Writing Service for Profit

The resume writing service serves an important role in the... Read More

What Your Small Business Can Learn From The Doctor

Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients.... Read More

Operational Aspects on P and L Statements of Mobile Services Businesses

What kinds of things effect mobile service businesses P and... Read More

Deciding Which State To Incorporate Your Small Business In

Once you've decided to incorporate your small business the next... Read More

Business Checks are an Added Cost to Your Small Business - Try Making Them Yourself!

Starting and managing a small business is no fun chore,... Read More

Starting An E-Commerce Business: Baby Steps

Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More