How Not to Create an Online Business

As a web company we are in contact with many embryonic web businesses. Some have been in existence for a while, others still have the wrapping on them. One common theme we find, and it's a real issue, is business owners don't think about web traffic until it's too late.

It's not uncommon for them to build a website, buy stock and get all their ducks in a row, then wonder about how they will tell people about their website. Obviously you can't send traffic to a website that doesn't exist but you should be thinking about web traffic approximately 3 seconds after you've had your eureka moment for a new business that's going to transform your life.

In fact, if you are looking at business ideas I'd suggest on-line research (keyword research, competition analysis etc) should be top of your list of priorities.

Here's a common email we receive.

"We've created an on-line shop and we NEEEEEEEEEEED to be on page one of Google when people search for 'blue widgets'"

You know, it's a bit like building a bricks and mortar shop in the middle of nowhere, filling it with stock and then trying to work out how you are going to attract customers from the nearest city 80 miles away! You just wouldn't do it!!

The thing is, attracting those people from 80 miles away might be easier than securing a page one Google position for a specific high value search phrase, people, it's a big bad world out there, wise up and consider web traffic early.

There are of course some easy ways of promoting your business if you have the funds to do it. For example you can use Pay Per Click advertising. It's simple, it works and it generates instant traffic. Mind you, using our bricks and mortar analogy if you divert the traffic to your new shop and don't give them what they want you might as well flush your folding down can. Get PPC wrong and you'll become poor quite quickly.

There are also some funky ways of promoting your site off-line. For example White Van Ads (search for it) will promote your business to 1000's of people a day using mobile adverts carried on white vans, and a campaign won't break the bank.

Whatever you do don't leave website promotion as an after thought. All your hard work and investment creating your website, renting an office and buying stock will be wasted if people can't find your site and making sure they can isn't easy. To help you here's a handy check list to creating a successful on-line business.

1. Have a great idea for an on-line business
2. Establish what people who will buy from you search for
3. Establish how hard it will be to rank your website in the search engines
4. If 2 & 3 stack up proceed, if not go back to step 1!

Of course you may need to secure the services of a company who can help you understand the on-line landscape (steps 2 & 3) but it's better to spend a little early than lose your life savings.

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