I’ve been doing this long enough to know what works, what’s pure hype and what site owners need to consider to learn how to do business online. That’s the reason many choose to work with me. They know they’ll get the straight scoop with no ulterior motive other than to ensure their success.
Business is business. Yes, some of the “how tos” may be different between the on and off-line worlds but the bottom line is business. To succeed online, just as in the off-line world you need a desired product or service that is priced right for the market. You need to run your Web site or eStore with the same level of seriousness as you would any off-line brick and mortar.
This is where selective methodology’s comes in. Business owners who are not well versed in online business practices seem to be solidly of the opinion that the can selectively pick and choose what they want to pay attention to or do. As though regardless of proven strategies and tactics that someone like me would advise, if they don’t like them or if they take too much time or money, the can safely be ignored. Believe this at your own risk.
Issues like competitive pricing, or even if one is entering a saturated market in the first place are blatantly ignored is lieu of an idea being positioned for failure. It doesn’t matter if your pricing is not in line with the value or quality of your service? It doesn’t matter if your target market is one that is being aggressively attacked by those who’ve been online for a decade already building brand and trust? Of course it matters!
How about responding to site inquiries with no clue of any professionalism or education — looking like you’ve never made it out of the sixth grade. “E-mail Etiquette isn’t necessary! I don’t have to pay attention to those details.” It is necessary and those “details” can make or break you.
No business plan, no idea of where you are going to get customers or site visitors, no clue as to if your “idea” is even viable enough to invest any time or money in isn’t a concern? It sure should be.
Business is business is business. Having an online business does not negate solid business planning. Having an online business doesn’t mean you communicate as though you are illiterate. Having an online business doesn’t mean you can charge what you want regardless of the reality of your online competitors.
One can hide their head in the sand or go to some dark corner and play mushroom and pretend all these issues are of no consequence. Then you wonder why search engines have an ageing delay that makes new sites survive online for 9 months or more before being index.
Business is business is business. Period.
At your service,
Judith
When you move or change your phone number, you notify all those you want to know about your new contact information. When your contact information changes, you need to ensure that you add your Domain Registrar (where your domains are registered) to that list of those you notify.
If your credit card expires or you cancel it, you update all the companies that you use that card with so that your automatic charges can be made without issue or possible cancellation of services. Here again, your Domain Registrar needs to be updated or your domains cannot be renewed. And now, that will cost you big money if your domain expires and goes past 12 days into the redemption period. Large fees are now being levied on domain owners who shirk their responsibility in keeping their domain records and accounts up to date.
Several times each week I work with online business owners who find that their domain names have expired. “Why wasn’t I notified!?” Many times these folks try and point at the Registrar or even to me being at fault as to why their domains were allowed to expire. “How could this happen!” Because you didn’t update your domain record to reflect your current info and new e-mail address! It is your sole responsibility — no one can do this for you. You have no one to blame but yourself.
If you read all that small print in Domain Name Agreements you will see it is your responsibility to keep those records up-to-date. Most reputable registrars even send out notices each year reminding domain name owners to make sure their records are updated. If you don’t make these efforts, you are to blame for domains that expire or are actually lost to someone else.
If you have an invalid e-mail address on your domain’s record, you won’t get these important reminders and notices. If you have an expired credit card, your domains cannot be auto renewed.
Domain name record accuracy should not be an afterthought. It should be right up there with notifying business associates, family, friends and utility companies when you change any of your contact information.
Why not stop right now and go check your records and makes sure they are up-to-date and that your records reflect current information?
At your service,
Judith
Even if…
- …you have the best site in the world, if is it not developed with search engines in mind, you won’t get found.
- …you have the best product in the world, without a professional presentation, you won’t get inquiries/orders.
- …you can do it yourself, your skills and knowledge are probably not adequate to succeed.
- …your friend talks about incredible results with their home-brewed site and no PPC or marketing efforts, are you really going to believe them?
- …you think you have a great idea for a Web business, have you gone to Google and checked to see how much competition you will have?
- …you have no business experience, are you willing to get the basic principles and methodologies in place to give yourself the best chance for success?
- …you have a Web site up and running, are you willing to be coached and advised on the important issues you’ve yet to consider?
- …you don’t like doing a certain thing, are you willing to embrace that concept/activity if it means a difference to your bottom line?
- …a professional provides you with the issues/features you need to integrate into your program, will you make a point of putting them in place?
Even if…. you choose to ignore all the above at first, which many for whatever reason think they have a choice to do or not and still succeed; there is still a chance for success by putting your ego on the shelf and becoming open to all that you simply don’t know or are even aware you need to know. There is no way you can go this alone — even us pros learn something new each and every day we go into the office!
Realize you will need help, advice and coaching. From a company that has your best interests at heart; not just the desire to get into your pocketbook or to cater to what you don’t want to deal with. There are no short-cuts to success.
Do you have what it takes even if it means you have to learn, apply, spend and be coached, acquire new skills and embrace new concepts? You won’t succeed unless you answer a resounding “Yes!” to that last question.
Time to throw away those rose colored glasses.
At your service,
Judith
