Recently I had a dream that I was once again on my wealthy uncle’s sensational yacht, way out in the center of a vast ocean, all-alone, and feeling incredibly tiny and vulnerable. There were no winds to fill the sails of the 75-foot, luxurious trimaran, and there was nothing but water stretching to the horizon in all directions. Success would be to find an island of paradise, or to be spotted and rescued in the shipping lanes. But alas, I was stranded, out of food and fresh water, and large sharks were now circling ever closer.
When I awoke from the dream I was fully aware of why I had the dream. It was because I regarded my fledgling Internet business much like my uncle’s beautiful boat; stranded out in the ethers of the online universe; amidst killer sharks, looking for the winds of traffic to fill my sails and deliver me to success in paradise island. My dream mirrored my business frustrations.
It was then that I realized there are 7 aspects of a successful, respectable online business:
1. Never give up.
“I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.” (General George S. Patton) Every winner knows that they did not quit. I do not need to say anything further.
2. Uncompromised Integrity.
Make a list of your top ten principles or values about how you live life; list your top ten beliefs about how to conduct yourself in life. This is your integrity. This is who you are. This is how you live life, and this is how you conduct your business. Never compromise these principles for anything or anybody. Place these values or beliefs on your website for all to see.
One big hope in the Internet business is to have something you write or sponsor “go viral” and thereby drive huge amounts of traffic or make lots of sales. A word of warning: be careful not to compromise your value set in the pursuit of a viral event. Nothing can compromise real and true integrity.
In my lifetime I have been amazed at what people will do for money. Your personal integrity should not be for sale.
3. A business plan with a clear mission.
I ask you: how will you reach any desired destination without mapping the course? Build a business plan with a clearly defined mission statement. Everything you need is available through excellent (free) resources on the web (the SBA, SCORE, Entrepreneur, and many more).
Although people construct business plans with various purposes in mind (such as soliciting capital funding), it is vital to have at least a general business plan with a clear mission. This means stating how you will provide products and services, in addition to describing those products or services. There are many excellent business plans and mission statements available to read (at no cost) that will help you create your own.
4. Build credibility.
“Those that vow the most are the least sincere.” (Richard Brinsley Sheridan) One repels sharks by demonstration of business creativity and resolve, and one defeats a shark by never becoming a shark. Your demonstrated integrity goes a long way in building credibility.
There are many options online. The greater your credibility, the more likely you will make strong sales.
5. Exceed the need.
A successful and respectable online business goes beyond recognizing and filling a need that people have and seeks to exceed that need. If you have merely filled a need, there is not a strong incentive for a repeat customer, whereas if you have exceeded filling a need, the customer will return and bring others as well.
This means top-level customer service, fairness, and sensible policies, in addition to products and services that go well beyond merely filling a need.
6. Without resources, clout, or name recognition, uniqueness is essential.
When a Wal-Mart, a Sears, or an Amazon builds an online presence, clearly they have a total advantage over an unknown individual or group. Their success is virtually assured, whereas the unknown business is so insignificant that they are in an all-out fight for survival.
The only way for an unknown to compete in the world of eCommerce is in a market of lowered competition (a niche market), and/or being completely unique – enjoying a unique appeal – within your chosen market (thereby lowering direct competition).
Your unique appeal will eventually plateau and decline, so it is vital to keep ahead of all competitors through a continual evolution of your business, maintaining an “edge” over the competition.
7. Build relationships.
And finally, to maintain a successful and respectable online business, one must cultivate relationships – both customer relations and business-to-business associations – and thereby reinforce the entire structure.
Perhaps the best part of building relationships is giving. “You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help other people get what they want.” (Zig Ziglar)
In conclusion, although my dream of being a small speck in a huge ocean was terrifying, I am glad that I had the dream. It showed me these 7 vital aspects. I realize that any or all of these 7 items can create of hole in the hull of my yacht, sinking it to the bottom, and leaving me to the sharks.
Stumble Upon
Del.icio.us
Buzz
FREE eBook: "6 Steps To Lifetime Success & Abundance"
Loading ...
