How to Survive and Thrive With Your Web Business

Contrary to what some say, there’s still PLENTY of room for new web businesses on the Internet. And it is an opportunity that should not be overlooked for it remains a great way to earn your living. But only if you do it right.

For those of you who are considering starting, or have already started a web business, it is important to know that there are certain factors that will govern your success or failure with your web business. There are a number of key components that you MUST integrate into your business if you are to achieve long-term success and financial security.

And so, if you expect to survive and thrive with your web business, it would be well for you to incorporate the following components into your business plan:

• A professional and unique website with your own domain name.

 The cornerstone of your success online will be your website. It must look different than the others in your niche. And it should have a unique domain name. The best way to formulate your website design plan is to simply surf the web. You can learn volumes in the process for it can help you identify the type of websites that you would be willing to buy from. These can serve as examples for you to follow in your own business.

• A product line you can control.

Ideally, you should sell at least one product or service that you own. If you prefer to resell or market affiliate programs, be sure to align yourself with only the strongest companies and affiliate programs you can rely on to provide long-term benefits.

• A way to accept secure payments via credit card at your website.

The ideal solution is to secure a merchant account of your own. But if budget issues make that impossible for you at the outset, solutions such as PayPal or Clickbank are worthwhile alternatives. (International businesses can use Worldpay.com as a solution.) But make no mistake, offering a FAST and SECURE way for your customers to make purchases from your website with credit cards is a must on the web.

• An email capability and list building strategy is a must.

You MUST continually grow a list of prospects. Only in this way can you ‘capture’ some of the folks who visit your site and do not buy the first time. (This is nearly all of them!)  And the best email strategy is to give something of value away in exchange for a visitor’s first name and email address. This gives you the way to stay in touch with these people on a regular basis, while providing them with valuable content. By helping others, you will also benefit, for many of these people will purchase a product or service of yours in the process.

• Using sales copy that has proven to get results.

Poor sales copy is the single most important factor that KILLS website sales. It’s an accepted fact that if you follow proven, successful ‘online sales formulas’ you’ll be able to sell just about anything on the Internet! So find a powerful sales letter and model yours after it. Ask the author questions. Pick it apart and see why it works so well. Spend as much time on your sales copy as you do on your products and services.

• Develop an affiliate program for your website.

Many might say this is not an absolute necessity. But a little research would show that nearly ALL successful web businesses offer some form of affiliate program. Again, results have proven this to be a fast, cost effective method to grow an online business. Then you can approach the top affiliate marketers who can promote your products & services If they find your product & commission better, your affiliate program will grow like anything.

• Use ‘Recommended Resources’ to build profits.

On the subject of affiliate programs, it is also worth noting that you need to join a few affiliate programs yourself! It’s best to find affiliate programs that are related to what you offer. If possible, use the product or service personally before recommending it to others. You’ll find that you can increase your web profits almost overnight by doing this. And keep in mind that the best affiliate programs are ones that offer residual or recurring commissions on each sale.

• You must be able to add new products or services on a regular basis.

Creating a new product of your own, once or twice a year, will give you a better chance of continually increasing your profits. It’s also necessary to update your existing products regularly in order to keep content and sales fresh. If you find it difficult to create your own products that often, perhaps you can find a product you could promote and do a joint venture with the owner. Even though the owner does not provide an affiliate program, you can still offer to promote their product or service for a percentage of sales. Be sure to let them know you have a targeted list of prospects that would LOVE their product, especially if they could get it at a reduced price through you!

• Develop a support system that keeps your prospects and clients happy.

There are many ways to offer support. But to automate the system, perhaps you should consider a “support desk”. At the very least, you will need to be able to respond to client questions or appeals for help in a timely fashion. Failure to address these requests regularly can only result in the loss of trust, on the part of the customer or prospect, in your ability to adequately meet their needs.

• Design a marketing strategy that can successfully drive traffic to your website.

There’s no other way to say this: Making money online requires that you get visitors to your website. There are many ways to do that. In fact, it is impossible to properly address this question in this limited format. I’d suggest that you visit http://boostblogtraffic.com/ to learn how to generate the traffic that will insure the success of your web business. Find the method or methods that will work for you. Then spend a day each week promoting your website.

In conclusion, you might want to print this article out and keep it handy so you can refer back to it as you work to build your business. If this list looks overwhelming now, don’t let it scare you. Developing a business is a simple step-by-step process that anyone can do. Remember! Rome wasn’t built in a day. And doing a little each day or week, can add up to some real impressive results over time. It’s a journey well worth taking. Why not start now?