Profitable business in Internet - what does it take?

Internet is an incredible opportunity for building up own successful business. It has demolished most of the traditional limitations in front of the small business.

The e-business is not of the type "get a millionaire now", though it may give the possibility for generation of very high income in short terms. As any other business, it requires good knowledge, investment and hard work at least in the beginning.

The ownership of two or three sites, each covering a niche, is easier when trying to develop a successful Internet business, than competing with the "top players" for the big markets.

Unlike the "real business" in the Web it is completely possible to start a business with smaller capital, the amount of which would depend on the business model you have chosen.

The e-trade has three main engines: convenience, price, contents.

Use caution when choosing a product. You can't sell everything over the Web.

The e-trade is an integration of the on-line and off-line business.

The good customer service is critical for this business.

Define precisely your market niche (this is especially important for the small business).

Choose an appropriate business model (what exactly will generate your income). There are three basic schemes for organization of a site to make profit: site-shop, advertisement site, informational site. What would the basic model of your site be?

The basic instruments of the on-line business are the Web site and the email, which must be working simultaniously, are the web site and the e-mail.

The good on-line business is based on good mailing list (list with the names and the e-mails of the site visitors). But there is something even more important than the list itself - the relationship that you will build with these people is of utmost importance.

Do NOT use spam, place in a visible place your company's policy on the personal data of your visitors/customers (this is something that creates trust). Use the information provided by your consumers and visitors only for the purposes for which it was given to you.

When you ask for contact information, limit yourself to name and e-mail address. Do not go in detail. This will make the visitors suspicious and they may refuse to cooperate.

The word "free" has the effect of the magical "abra-kadabra".

Any serious business is out of the question unless you have money (capital). The hope of making money by joining some reference programs when there is free URL, without any investment of time and money, is complete illusion.

Read your e-mail daily. Answer immediately to the emails sent to you - the people don't like to wait.

Use email addresses with your domain name.

Sending personalized letter (containing the name of the receiver) is a very effective technique.

Learn to make great offers, which nobody can refuse.

(Almost) no one will make a purchase during their first visit to your site. You should accompany your visitors, providing them information that is useful for them - it will bring them back to the site, where they could offer.

If you sell product/service on your site, it is important that you have a good "selling page", prompting (motivating) action.

Offer a lot of bonuses (promotions, free stuff or points, free delivery, additional discounts) for bigger purchases, for regular shopping or to your best customers. These initiatives must be well planned, so that they do not look pathetic or be too expensive for you.

The WEB host may create wonders for you, or ruin you completely. Chose carefully!

Use paid host, whose services work for you. Some services are obligatory: database support, email with autoresponder, cyclical autoresponder, programming language availability (ASP, PHP, PERL…), WEB-statistics, control panel, appropriate limitations for the traffic, space, speed…

Chose a good name of your own domain. Using subdomain under someone else's domain is a big mistake!

The visitors are impatient and ready to leave your site at the first hint for inconvenience or confusion.

The professional look of your site is a must for its survival in the Web. Hire a professional WEB-master/designer to develop it.

The interactivity of the site is also obligatory. It carries out the two-way communication with the visitors and they are expecting it. Do not disappoint them!