Getting Started: The Business Plan ? the business blueprint.
8720
Business > Small Business
Mar 1, 2007
Peter Mitham
Getting Started: The Business Plan ? the business blueprint.
You're consumed with enthusiasm. You want to get started. You have a great idea for a profitable online business. Maybe it is an original idea that has not been marketed online before. Maybe you have come up with a new spin on the ordinary. Whatever it is that has influenced you to start your online business, be sure that you have a plan before you begin. Every new venture requires a plan. This is not the time to ?pick it up as you go?. The business plan provides a framework of important points you should consider before you start, so that you know where you are going and how you are going to get there.
These are some basic things that should be included in your business plan.
The business summary should give a brief description of the entire business and is an integral part of the overall business plan. After you have completed the business summary you should begin to list the objectives or the goals that you want to accomplish through the business. Next and perhaps most importantly, you should develop your marketing plan. The marketing plan will address all the specifics of
the business. When developing the marketing strategy you should consider the following:
The target market. The target market is the customers that you expect to see visiting your site. For example will your product be more appealing to college students or those who are in retirement? Consider the competition for your product when determining the marketing strategy. Choose a product that will be seen as unique and useful. Visit sites that are offering the same or similar products. Find out the cost, and how they are marketing their product. Finds out the pros and cons of their business and try to improve your product based on their flaws.
Advertising. Research the various methods for advertising online. You should become educated about search engines and how they work since each one is different. Also be sure that you know how to submit your site to search engines. You should be prepared to spend a small amount of money on advertising, but the profits that you will gain from the advertisements will prove to be money well spent.
Pricing. Think about pricing. Again, look at the competition and see what similar products are selling for. Pricing can play a big role in the success of your product since selling a product well below the average price may lead customer to think that there is a problem with the product or that it is not of the best quality. However, pricing items too high could also deter customers.
Shipping. Determine the shipping method. Be sure that you know how products will be shipped so that you can have shipping details clearly posted on your site. If you are shipping things of great value, you should consider providing shipping insurance. Also think about shipping outside the country that you live in.
Receiving Payments. Think about the different methods of payment that you will accept. If your business does not accept credit cards, you should be ready to give up half if not more of your sales. If you decide to accept credit cards will you use a merchant account or will you use a third party credit card processing center? Both will help you get started and the third party processing center will handle all of the business so you don?t have to. You should decide which you will use and also if you will accept checks or money orders. It is essential to have a secure server when taking credit cards.
Prior consideration of these few things will help your online business to become a great success and also provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have thoroughly thought about and planned for the opening of your online business.
These are some basic things that should be included in your business plan.
The business summary should give a brief description of the entire business and is an integral part of the overall business plan. After you have completed the business summary you should begin to list the objectives or the goals that you want to accomplish through the business. Next and perhaps most importantly, you should develop your marketing plan. The marketing plan will address all the specifics of
the business. When developing the marketing strategy you should consider the following:
The target market. The target market is the customers that you expect to see visiting your site. For example will your product be more appealing to college students or those who are in retirement? Consider the competition for your product when determining the marketing strategy. Choose a product that will be seen as unique and useful. Visit sites that are offering the same or similar products. Find out the cost, and how they are marketing their product. Finds out the pros and cons of their business and try to improve your product based on their flaws.
Advertising. Research the various methods for advertising online. You should become educated about search engines and how they work since each one is different. Also be sure that you know how to submit your site to search engines. You should be prepared to spend a small amount of money on advertising, but the profits that you will gain from the advertisements will prove to be money well spent.
Pricing. Think about pricing. Again, look at the competition and see what similar products are selling for. Pricing can play a big role in the success of your product since selling a product well below the average price may lead customer to think that there is a problem with the product or that it is not of the best quality. However, pricing items too high could also deter customers.
Shipping. Determine the shipping method. Be sure that you know how products will be shipped so that you can have shipping details clearly posted on your site. If you are shipping things of great value, you should consider providing shipping insurance. Also think about shipping outside the country that you live in.
Receiving Payments. Think about the different methods of payment that you will accept. If your business does not accept credit cards, you should be ready to give up half if not more of your sales. If you decide to accept credit cards will you use a merchant account or will you use a third party credit card processing center? Both will help you get started and the third party processing center will handle all of the business so you don?t have to. You should decide which you will use and also if you will accept checks or money orders. It is essential to have a secure server when taking credit cards.
Prior consideration of these few things will help your online business to become a great success and also provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have thoroughly thought about and planned for the opening of your online business.
Content Provider: http://www.traffichelp4u.com
About the author:- To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: www.MoneyFromMarketing.org
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
You're consumed with enthusiasm. You want to get started. You have a great idea for a profitable online business. Maybe it is an original idea that has not been marketed online before. Maybe you have come up with a new spin on the ordinary. Whatever it
Category:
A few years ago it seemed that every time one oened a web age one would be bombarded with offers for this or that. Po Windows had arrived with a vengeance. As time elased the oint was reached where surfing the Internet was almost like
Category:
Other links at Business > Small Business
This is a subject many have asked me to write on, I will not attempt to write an exhaustive paper for there are volumes dictated to this subject. I will however just hit some of the high points of the pre-startup phase, of this vast concept? Owning a
Category:
Part of your home based business plan for success, must include an experienced online business mentor. Working a home based business on the internet does not differ greatly from any other marketing opportunity. Every business has its' own specific solutio
Category:
Flowers nd plnts cn brighten up ny occsion nd mke n event more memorble. Flowers cn help you to express lmost ny emotion without the need for words nd cn perfectly convey your intended messge. Some exmples of the significnce of flowers
Category:
Undoubtedly, the internet can make the difference between a successful small ess and one ignored by customers. Due to the global nature of the Internet surpassing physical frontiers between nations, and even making it unnecessary to use printed
Category:
Copyright 2006 Chris Stirling Success in business is never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck - although a little never hurts. It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68252
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
