Business Empire Magazine provides how to's and articles for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs

The first time the thought of doing business online popped up in my mind was little more then 2 years ago. It actually didn't start with the thought of doing business at all!

It started with me doing my first webpage without a clue of what I was doing. I had some ideas about people finding information on the 'net'. I was enthusiastic when I saw that I could do a website without even knowing any html code what so ever! Then I realized that if it's so easy making a webpage then how easy shouldn't it be making money online. I jumped into different ideas fearless eh, and without knowledge! Despite of the hype about getting rich from the Internet, it seems like starting a online business is pretty much like starting a conventional business in the 'outside' world. Now, to not make the same mistakes I did: here some things for you to think of before jumping into the big pit of Internet business:

1. Make a Personal evaluation.
Make a personal evaluation of what type of skills and interests you have? There are people starting businesses in areas they already work in - for example, someone who works as support technician might start an Internet business offering support to people in his/her expert field.
What kind of business would you love to do? Identify those types of businesses that really apply to you on a personal level. Why start a business that makes you miserable and leave a job you hate? Doesn't make much sense does it?

2. Research The Market.
Why put your heart and soul together with funds into projects that are doomed to fail, cause no one wants the product or services you offer? By making research on the market you'll minimize the risk of failure and dramatically increase your chances to reach success! It's not unusual that people by the thrill of excitement and enthusiasm create a service or product that they like or want. When done they try to find a market for it. That is really to have a bad start I can assure you!

There is no chance in the world that you can force an unwilling market to buy your service or product. What you can do instead is through research find out what the market wants - and after that create a service or product that will satisfy the same.
This cant be emphasized enough but every kind of business has some kind of risk element to it. Research the market and you will reduce that risk, by helping your self make an educated judgment on whether or not people are willing to pay for your product - and at a price that will allow you to make a decent profit.

3. Research The Competition You Have.
It's often hard to be the first one into a market, the risk you take with this approach is that there might not be a market - which could be why you have no competition! Go into a market where there's lots of competition, on the other hand, probably indicates that there's sufficient interest to allow at least some of these businesses to survive. The risk is that there might not be enough 'space' for you. Research about what your competitors are doing, what seems to work well for them and what doesn't. How are they doing it? Now, here's the trick, you need to find out what you can offer and they can't! Get as much knowledge as you can in order to be better equipped so that you can make the right decisions when doing your business.

4. Prepare and Make a Plan.
I think you're familiar with this saying, "No one ever plans to fail... they just fail to plan." Could be good to keep that in mind..........

Costs - startup costs, marketing costs, recurring fees such as advertising and web hosting. It takes money building a business, this is no secret. How do you intend to fund your business?

Business plan - maybe you need a loan in order to to start you business. You will 'shape' your business by making a business plan with clear goals.

Time Dedication - it could be hard when you have a 'ordinary day job' to find the 'extra' time in takes to build you business. It will take time however if you don't set aside time to work on your business, nothing will probably happen. You need to consider to have less 'spare time' but yet more hours to put in and that without any pay check in the beginning.

Space Dedication - do you have a dedicated computer to use for your Internet online business? Is there spaces in your house/apartment where you can concentrate? You don't want to have a scenario where someone sharing your computer accidentally delete something, corrupt, or misplace some of your important files.

5. Marketing.
A great product doesn't sell it self. Every product need some kind of promotion to sell even though it could be from mouth to mouth. How should your potential customers find you before they can buy from you?

The marketing techniques are shifting a lot. Some techniques are better then others. I myself would prefer to use Ezines (electronic newsletters) and PPC (Pay Per Click). Posting to FFA (Free For All) sites is not as it used to be in the 'early' days. They are still around but not anything I would recommend. I will cover this in another article "How To Market Your Online Business Successfully".