Ecommerce Dreams: Making Money Online – What Is The Reality?
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By Jennifer Shaheen, The Technology Therapist®
As featured in Women & Biz magazine

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The World Wide Web has opened up the possibility for so many people to start selling their products online. Every day someone looks at the web and they say to themselves – “How can I capitalize on this growing medium?” The story is a common one, today Martha is making cookies or jewelry or pillows and tomorrow she is an online millionaire. Is the story a dream or an urban myth created to get more and more people to start online businesses? Will your dream become a reality?

Reality, starting and running an online business is not a part-time job. If you are dreaming of making money in your sleep then that’s also where you’ll be spending your profits – in dreamland. The reality is that eCommerce web sites are hard work. Let’s look at the real items that you need to recognize:

  • Researching the success of your product online
  • Building a secure ecommerce web site that appeals to your audience
  • Updating and maintaining your web site
  • Customer satisfaction and growth
  • Marketing Your Site - Being found online

Start by first researching your product, and then finding other individuals who have an online store that you see as successful. Small business owners like to help each other through associations and networking groups. Reach out for help, and ask the questions you really need to know about how to succeed:
  • How long did your web site take to develop?
  • Were there any hidden roadblocks you did not know existed then, and that you understand now?
  • How much of a budget did you plan for to market your web site?
  • How long was it before you really experienced steady traffic and sales?
  • What made the biggest difference in the success of your web site?
The reality of creating and marketing any web site is that it takes time to reach your goals. Be realistic about your plan and take the time to find the answers to the questions you have and the questions you did not even know existed. I personally see businesses fail online because of 2 key items.

One, web site owners don’t listen. They need to listen to their customers what they want, how they like to shop and their concerns about what your online store policies are. Listening extends further than just your customers. It also extends to your web developer or consultant. If you hire an expert to help you create and grow an online business, then you need to listen to their advice. Otherwise you are wasting your money.

Two, business owners fail because they have no budget for marketing. A web site needs to be marketed and it needs to be done by planning and understanding your customer and where they spend time looking for businesses just like yours.

The key ingredient to succeeding online is planning and these items will help you understand what needs to be incorporated into your plan. Starting with these key ingredients, reality will help you reach your dream of success online.

©The Technology Therapy Group, LLC
Jennifer Shaheen - The eMarketing and Technology Therapist®

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