Please Stop Me Before I Web Again!
by Mike Banks Valentine
Here I go again! I'm caught up in the whirlwind of an idea
and creating a new web
business with nothing but my ISP, a
cable modem, a computer and a new domain name to support me.
I know it's a sickness but I just can't stop! Someone please
stop me before I web again!
Many small business entrepreneurs online have started this
way. You get what seems to be a really good concept either
from a friend or possibly even in a dream and you are off
and running. Check for the availability of an appropriate
domain name, scribble some notes on a napkin at dinner,
tell a trusted friend or two about the concept, create
a logo idea and either call the web designer or start
right in designing your site the same night.
This one came to me from a friend who shared an idea for
a new web business with me over dinner. I shared my own
take on the idea and added a few more thoughts to a skeleton
of a business plan and before you know it we've fleshed out
the concept and have started dressing it up for a night on
the town! We're both so anxious and excited to begin that
we
each have dreams that night of a wildly successful and fun
new business.
Contrary to the typical television stereotype of money hungry
maniacs, salivating over the possibility of a huge new IPO
(initial public offering) and undreamed of riches, we simply
think it would be fun to do and may even keep us well fed
and reasonably dressed for awhile. We'll both continue with
what we get paid to do in the real world while designing the
site and further polishing the business model we've crafted.
I suspect this is a relatively common scenario among those
of us who have been online for a few years and have studied
the comings and goings of small businesses on the web. I'll
go even further and submit that millions of people have done
exactly the same thing but have not had the required business
knowledge and the skills or connections to get a web site
created, posted, submitted to the search engines and promoted.
My new business partner is an example of one of these millions
who have ideas, but don't have the know-how to make it happen.
In this particular case, I'm glad that I was able to fill
the
technical and creative void and help launch a new business
on
the web, but how many more wonderful ideas will go undeveloped?
Why would that happen? Because the creator doesn't know what
an
URL is and swears at the computer, then turns it off when
they
see the "blue screen of death" instead of knowing
it's time to
consider running a defrag program. It might be that they don't
like the idea of sitting in front of a computer for days on
end
learning to operate a good web authoring program. It could
just
be that they believe it takes a Harvard MBA to run a successful
business and wish they could just sell or license the idea
and
be done with it.
Whatever the reason, I just can't help wondering how many
good
online businesses would be launched if there weren't those
small
technical hurdles to overcome.
Do you have a great idea for a fun new online business? I
may
be available to help you out with it in May 17, 2032 when
I run
out of my own ideas and finish helping friends get their small
business online!
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WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet
Ezine emphasizing small business online http://website101.com/arch/
e-tutorial online at: http://website101.com/shortcourse.html
By week's end you're ready expand your business to the web!
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