15 Common Mistakes People Launching Their Businesses Online!
Since the mid 1980's we have marketed clients and services all over the world. We started with Compuserve and the Source (US based online services similar to AOL today) and then started building websites and marketing products over 12 years ago.
Since our inception we have spoken to hundreds if not thousands of people regarding what has worked and not worked. We have helped launch clients successfully and ONLY duplicated the techniques we knew generated profitable results.
So why are we offering up the mistakes people make? Because everyday we see individuals launching websites and the failing at promotion and marketing. We want to help you be successful and ultimately hire us. We don't fool around…we are serious about this business. In the past we had the reputation of being expensive and unaffordable. Well, check out this document and then call us for more info.
So here are the mistakes YOU want to avoid!
Launching the wrong business
Everyday I sit down with people who want to start the wrong business online. They either don't understand the business or heard about this great opportunity. You need to focus on a business you have some experience at or can get assistance at reasonable costs.
Certain online businesses about 5 years ago were easy to start and made their owners lots of money. Today, the market is different and it's crucial that you choose a business that has a reasonable chance at succeeding.
Not knowing your competition
I am always amazed at how many people can't tell me WHO their competition is. If it doesn't exist (and this is rare) you have potentially picked a bad business to get into. Having competition is important and it supports that the market can tolerate your specific business. All we have to do is provide above average customer service, a well designed, easily navigated website and you are already in the top 10% of the field. Guaranteed.
Not knowing your target market
The first question I ask potential clients looking at starting a business online is WHO they are going to sell to. And I don't mean men and women between the ages of 21 and 30. We need to be able to list in detail who is going to be attracted to your product. This includes where they live, what movies they go to and books they read. We need to know their education and whether they have families. The secret technique we have used for years is lifestyle marketing. This is a service that ECI provides their clients.
Not spending enough
Hey, everyone wants to build a website cheap. And we all have brothers, sisters, relatives etc that can help us build a site cheap. And that's where 75% of most businesses fail. They build a cheap site that cost them nothing and then expect to get rich. WRONG! It simply doesn't work that way. The reality is that for a small investment ($3000 as an example) you can build a professional site. And if these sites earn $5000 to $10,000 in sales in the first few months, you are doing very well. But most people don't spend near enough. And we will tell you…if you don't spend a certain amount you are simply wasting your time and not serious about online e-commerce.
Spending TOO much!
Spending too much? Yes, you read this correctly. I see about 2-3 sites a week where clients have spent $25,000 to $50,000 for sites that can be had by even professional web developers for ½ to 1/5th the cost. It's important that you know what current sites go for and that's why we offer the planning stage FIRST, before you spend a fortune.
Set reasonable goals
Is it reasonable to earn $1 million in your first year of business online? Possibly. But be prepared to spend at least $250,000 to $500,000 to do it. If you can get your money back in 6 months, that could be considered by many to be a good investment. But if you are ONLY prepared to spend $3000 on a site and maybe $500 on marketing, be realistic about what you can expect to earn. Everyone wants to be the next Amazon, Google or Yahoo but the reality is that it costs money.
Don't ignore the sales to other countries
We learned this lesson a long time ago. If you market to North America, you can expect 8 out of every 10 sales or leads to come from the US. So for Canadian clients, we tell people, don't ignore the US market, it's huge. What about US clients? Many ignore the Canadians but this group is one of the fastest growing demographics of people buying product online. And many products are simply not available in Canada so the consumer looks south to the US. One might also consider sales overseas to Europe and countries like Australia. The secret is to know what markets to sell into and what ones to avoid. Eldoren Consulting can assist you in this area of expertise.
Invest in a website that is easy to navigate
Clearly 80% of the websites we review or see on a daily basis are hard to navigate and easy to get lost in. Does it make sense to build a great site, spend a bunch of money drawing traffic only to see them get lost on your website? Nope! Even after 12 years of building sites, we are amazed at how even today with all the resources available, poorly navigated sites get built. We can guarantee that if you work with is, that will not happen.
Always provide easy to access contact information
Next to the poor navigation, this is one of the BIGGEST mistakes people make. Don't make the consumer kill himself trying to find your phone number, email address, toll free number or mailing address. There are still millions of people who will visit your site, look at your online store and then call a phone number because they feel that is safer. That's why we still encourage mail order using your site to get contact info.
Free Hosting - No one rides for free.
Free hosting sounds great. But the ads that popup, the limitations to the email and a dozen other reasons scream out that this is not the way to go. No one gets free rent downtown. Why would it be different online? If you are serious about online commerce, you need to spend the money (the small amount it costs each month). Most hosting packages can be had for less than $50 a month.
Beware old marketing tricks that no longer work
Everyday I see clients and internet businesses that utilize marketing "secrets" and techniques that 6 years ago or longer worked well (maybe) but today make you look stupid and uneducated. I still see dozens of sites with HUNDREDS of links off their site. The ad revenue rarely makes one a profit today and here these guys are sending all their hard earned traffic to other peoples sites. Doesn't make sense. Eldoren Consulting can offer techniques that work today. Guaranteed.
Use your email to your advantage
Surprisingly, many people still are reluctant to use email properly. Learn how to setup auto responders. Learn how to handle incoming attachments. Know what you can send and not send without your messages appearing as SPAM. And if you are sending out an email, make sure it's spelled correctly on ads and correspondence. This is one of the most embarrassing mistakes when you pay for a campaign and advertise the wrong email address.
Don't SPAM people
This goes without saying. But everyday I see new clients trying to SPAM or send unsolicited email. It's stupid, illegal and costly in the end. And there are legitimate techniques to getting the word out without the fear of lawsuits and upset consumers.
Utilize Innovative Marketing Techniques
Many newcomers to the Internet will use the standard techniques to getting business and then wonder why people don't visit their site and buy their goods. Or they wonder why their traffic hasn't gone up. The secret to marketing online is one word. INNOVATION. We can show you dozens of affordable techniques that cost fair and reasonable fees (free in some cases) for promoting your business in an innovative manner.
Get some advice from the Pro's
Like any business, you can go out and start your business with your own advice (and maybe Uncle Louie's) and hope you succeed. Don't make the mistake of ignoring what others have already learned. It sometimes pays you to get professional advice. Many people can save themselves a fortune. That's why when we meet with clients we offer and introductory discussion or advice but then you pay. We are professionals who have years of experience and reference letters to prove we make our clients money.
Don't make the 15 mistakes above. Call us today (250-784.8383) or email us at gcurrie@eldoren.com and we can get you on track.
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Customer Service!
Over the past 15 years, Gordon and his team of web developers and programmers have worked all over Canada and the United States. We truly believe in generating results for our clients and that means we travel to see clients on a regular basis.