What you need to know first, about cashing in on the Internet:

By James Tong
Posted Wednesday, September 8, 2004

The value of having an online business is no longer questioned. Successful online professionals are establishing their web presence, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and new customers to their websites and business. Before you can join the ranks of the online professionals, you need to get the right resources to help you make a valid decision, before starting out on your new online home business via the Internet.

This article is the first of many in getting you started on an online business you can run from the comforts of your own home. It has an overview of what you really need to know first, in preparation for a successful and profitable online business, rather than just plunging in blindly and making costly mistakes along the way, and perhaps even quitting before you get started.

Here's a checklist for you to consider, before getting started.

1) Identify your clear personal objectives for starting this business. What do you hope to get out of it? What are you prepared to put into it?

2) Determine whether you seriously want this business. Why?

3) Are you willing to commit your full effort and attention into this business venture, either on a part-time basis, or as a full-time career? How are you going to do it?

4) Are you willing to do what it takes to succeed? No matter how long or how hard it becomes in;

getting the knowledge and skill you need?
putting in the investment for your business growth?
learning from mistakes and growing from it?
investing as much time and effort as is necessary?

5) Are you willing to put in the necessary financial investments to get started, and to see it through until you succeed? How far are you prepared to go in terms of your financial investment;
$3,000 - $5,000? (shoestring budget)
$5,000 - $10,000? (average investment)
More than $10,000?

6) Are you willing to put in time and effort to learn everything needed to ensure your success? How much time will you allocate for each aspect of your business and the frequency for;
planning?
research and development?
advertising and promotions?
web publishing?
ezine publishing?
preparing articles and reports?
preparing sales letters and materials?
preparing email follow-up templates?
prospect and customer communications?
website management?
Monitoring and tracking responses?

7) Have you identified the nature of business you want to get involved in? Determine if you are providing a business, a product, or services.
If you are providing a service, specify what type e.g. mailing list service, web hosting service, autoresponder service, auto management service, etc.
Will you be marketing your own products? If so, what types and what plan would you use?
Or, are you promoting other people's products where you receive commission for business conducted by you, such as reseller and associate programs?
If so, what are the companies concerned, and what is the marketing structure you intend to use? Have you checked the background of these companies?

8) Do you have a clear understanding what an online home business really is?
If so, what is an online home business according to your understanding of it?
How does one operate an online home business?
Why do some people succeed while many others fail?

9) Have you decided if this business is meant for you? Why?
Are you cut out for this business?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Are you willing to be totally responsible for the success or failure of your own business?
What are the steps you are going to take to ensure success?
The above checklist will help shed some light in your research about yourself, before you actually set out on a research of an online home business, and before you actually start your home business hastily and impulsively.
To get the best out of your preparations for starting your online home business, please answer all the questions with serious thought and honest answers. You answers will help you plan and decide on the direction of your future.

Your future is in your own hands. Seriously evaluate your answers before blindly jumping into an online business. Many have done so, with a result of getting burnt by scams and hypes. There is no such thing as a 'free lunch'. You have to put in the time, effort and financial investment to be able to get the best out of your efforts and business.

Help is there for those who seek it. Are you prepared to extend your hand to get it?

About the Author
James Tong (cybermultipreneur), is a teacher, coach and consultant to home-based enterprises in the Asia Pacific Region. He is also the author of a host of articles and reports on various topics. Visit (http://www.cybermultipreneurs.com/) for more information on his work and electronic publications.

To benefit from his insight on successful home-based entrepreneurship, get a Free Subscription to CyberMultipreneurs eJournal Today! To subscribe to CyberMultipreneurs ejournal, put the word SUBSCRIBE in the body of an email to: cmej@oaknetpub.com