Small Business Internet Guide-SBOguide

Here’s a list of items you will need to consider before making the leap to the Internet. Attention to detail and careful planning are important to your success.

• You may already have an existing business that you want to put on the Internet, if not, you will need to decide what business is right for you. In either case, you will need to determine how you will use the Internet to help your business.
• Do you intend to sell directly, or use the Internet strictly to market an existing business or service? Perhaps you want to do both?
• This is a good time to revisit your business plan – incorporating how the Internet will impact your business operations. If you haven't already written a business plan, see "Creating a Business Plan" to help you get started.
• At the risk of repeating myself - if you have an existing business, but have never created a formal business plan, this is an excellent time to create one.
• Will your market be confined to a locality, or does the nature of your product or service permit you to sell to the world?
• Do you have the business and technical skill to launch your Internet venture? If not, do you intend to learn how to do it yourself, or do you intend to hire someone to do it for you?
• What will your involvement in the Internet aspect of your business be? Will you be involved directly, do you intend to delegate this to someone else, or a mix of both?
• What are your expectations from the Internet regarding your business – are your goals ambitious, but realistic?
• You may already have a business on the Internet, but you’re not happy with your current results and you want to learn how to get more from your efforts

These are just a few of the topics that SBOguide.com will address in the coming months. Please contact us with suggestions for future topics.