Online success isn't for the weak of heart. Ask anyone who is making a profitable living online and they'll tell you hard work, long hours, learning, doing and reinventing yourself when needed is part of their successful strategy.
Anyone who claims otherwise, is well, full of hooey!
I talk to folks all the time looking for that magic bullet of online success. They have an idea, some more original than others, and believe they can make a go of it.
I then advise that an idea or a product isn't enough. Next comes, "I assume my site will be ranked on the first page of Google?" You know what happens when you assume...
Vital Mindsets to Having a Successful Online Business
Most important of all, you need to have the correct mindset based in reality. Online is not a "build it and he will come" playground.
Here are some of the things you need to think about and plan for if you want a shot!
Service, Service, Service!
So very many websites talk about themselves: Our Product. Our Service. Our Company. Me, me, me! Us, us, us! Many make the mistake of making sure that the visitor is told what the site owner wants them to know. But where is the customer in this?
- Think about why your potential customer would come to your site and cater to that!
- Compared to other sites with similar focus, why should he or she be interested in your product or service? Tell them!
- What makes your product or service unique, different, better? Be clear!
- What are their likely questions? Answer them!
Once a potential customer shows up on your site, the more information you can provide about your business and methodology will contribute to you being viewed as an expert in your field. Great content is backed up with experience! Your potential customers know this.
Be the Best!
Strive to be "the" site for your product, service or industry! Nothing less will do. How can you separate your site from the all the others currently ranking on that top page?
With billions of Web pages and thousands of competitors' sites already online, the only way you can succeed is to offer all around excellence in your business's presentation. To stand out from the rest. That's where investing in a Premium WordPress Theme is where you start!
Don't let that opportunity slip by with an unprofessional, sludgy, unorganized presentation. Your website must look attractive if you expect to capture your site visitors' attention. You need to convince them that your company is a high quality, reputable firm, able to deliver on your promises.
Remember, all your potential customers have to do is find a competitor that has invested in their image and the quality of their Web presence. You will then immediately be perceived as a hobbyist or amateur.
The only thing consistent - is change!
The Web is evolving daily. Be prepared to evolve with technology and stay on the edge. Those on the edge will be the survivors with the highest success ratio. Analyze your Web server, Search Engine and financial statistics to see what seems to be working, which pages are visitors naturally migrating toward, what campaign seems to attract the most visitors and orders.
Upon careful review of your Web server statistics and your off-line marketing campaign, determine what is working and what isn't. Modify your business plan accordingly today - next week or next month could be too late. Flexibility rules! Direct marketing has shown that while one classified ad may not produce a single inquiry, slightly different wording or position may be a winner.
Make changes and track results using different "Departments" or e-mail addresses so you know what effort produced the results you desire. You won't know what works best until you try -- and test -- different things. That is what really makes this gig tick!
Plan on continuous, incremental improvements until you get it just right. Not to mention keeping up with the trends and "looks" as the Web grows and changes. If the over two decades I've been "doing online" is any indication, we have our work cut out for us! Constant experimentation is the only way to determine your specific formula for success.
Be prepared to go to the next level!
With any business, how do you get to that level that will ensure your success?
- Know where you are. You must be on the plateau where enough is no longer enough. Many entrepreneurs become motivated when they start feeling like they are stagnating.
- You must want to reach for those lofty goals (and know what they are). Climbing towards seemingly impossible goals always require change. It will require extra effort. It will take commitment. You have to want it badly enough to pay the price. In time, money, sacrifice!
- You must have a plan. Put your goals in writing. You don't need a formal fancy-schmancy business plan. But make your plan clear, specific and measurable. Break your long-term goals into short term milestones.
- Focus on achieving one step forward each day, week, month, year. Track you progress and push yourself to strive where you need to be to reach your goals. Heck, who said this would be easy?
Don't have the time? MAKE THE TIME!
Even though I am very customer-responsive, I realize that if I do not actively, aggressively set aside regular time to run my business, it just will not get done.
We are all extremely busy. There never seems to be enough time. But I make the time. I make it a priority.
To stay one step ahead of obsolescence, I am constantly learning new technologies and developing new strategic partnerships. My strategy includes new sites, planning new articles as well as new Web site sections which will help position my business more effectively in the constantly growing WordPress Consulting and Business Coaching market.
Does it take time? Yeah, man! Will it be effective? There's only one way to find out! By doing!
Many have been led to believe the myth that all you have to do is put up a website and the world will beat a path to your door. Not going to happen that way. Yes, you can be extremely successful, but it is hard work, make no mistake about that!
Fail to Plan; Plan to Fail
Plan your work; work your plan. You've heard these phrases countless times. Nor is there anything unique about any of the points noted above.
- Focus on your customers. Cater to them.
- Offer excellence. Nothing less will do.
- Keep tweaking your marketing strategy. Again and again.
- Prepare for growth. Estimate (realistically) and plan accordingly.
- Schedule and prioritize your time.
Just presenting a great product on the Web will not produce. Even having a great website is simply not enough.
You must work at it continually and market your product or service effectively if you expect potential customers to find you in the first place -- and more importantly come back again and again.
You can't market effectively without utilizing these marketing mindsets, many of which can just be considered the basics of running any successful business on or off-line.
So, are you up to the challenge? My blog has 100s of articles to get you started!
At your service,
