| v> | | | | ensure everything fits and navigation is smooth. |
| Do you have a hot new idea or must-have product? | | | | 9. Launching Your Plan and Building Momentum: Revisit |
| Are you ready to take the dive and start your own | | | | your business and marketing plans annually, fine-tuning |
| e-business? While not overnight, thousands of | | | | and updating for your changing business landscape. |
| e-business start-ups have become massive success | | | | Whether you’ve dreamed of working from |
| stories in the past few years. The Internet is a prime | | | | home, being your own boss, setting your own hours, |
| entrepreneurial environment, fostering creativity. But | | | | becoming one of the many eBay entrepreneurial |
| even Google, Amazon, MySpace, Flickr and NetFlix | | | | success stories or simply promoting a remarkable |
| had to start somewhere, and that somewhere is | | | | idea, the next few weeks are certain to bring |
| probably just where you are right now. | | | | valuable insight. Stay tuned and leave your inhibitions |
| Most entrepreneurs find that starting a web business | | | | at the door. |
| can be daunting. Where do you start? How do you | | | | Determining Your Brand and Niche |
| get the word out? Where can you acquire funding? | | | | It doesn't matter how many clothing stores, gadget |
| “The first three years are the most | | | | distributors or gizmo providers are in your market, |
| trying,” states one entrepreneur. “Not | | | | you can still differentiate your product or service |
| only are you faced with planning along with heavy | | | | from the next and create a powerful brand that |
| sales and marketing efforts just to get your name | | | | people are drawn to time and time again. Develop a |
| out, but you often lack a sustainable budget to do | | | | winning strategy. Branding is just as important online |
| so.” Patience and planning are the key to | | | | as it is off. |
| surviving your first three years – and beyond. | | | | A brand says who you are, what you stand for, |
| Vasrue’s five part article series on starting | | | | what your core values are and where you're going. It |
| your own e-business will explore the basics of | | | | infiltrates into everything you do from this point |
| launching an online business, show you the key steps | | | | forward. Your brand includes your logo, mascot, |
| to take and challenges to consider. | | | | corporate colors, uniforms, sales tactics, marketing |
| This informative series includes: | | | | visuals, copy and advertising methods. It's a unique |
| 1. Determining Your Brand and Niche. Brainstorm a | | | | business differentiator which sets the tone for your |
| unique business trait to form the foundation for your | | | | image, your name and your corporate culture. It's a |
| company’s brand. | | | | conscious and subconscious message companies give |
| 2. Defining Your Audience: Get in your | | | | off. |
| customer’s shoes, so you’re better | | | | For instance, if you compare two major computer |
| able to advertise to them. | | | | companies - IBM and Apple - you'll notice that not all |
| 3. Setting Your Business Structure: Understand the | | | | computers are created equally. While Big Blue's image |
| benefits of corporations, partnerships and | | | | is corporate and conservative, Apple radiates a more |
| sole-proprietorships, and ensure proactive tax | | | | progressive and edgy appeal. But how do companies |
| compliance. | | | | differentiate themselves - and how can you? |
| 4. Developing a Sales, Marketing and Business Plan: | | | | In the start-up phase of ebusiness development, it's |
| Understand the importance of planning, and critical | | | | important to brainstorm a brand, set this plan on |
| plans you should set into action. | | | | paper and into action. Companies like Ben & |
| 5. Creating a Realistic Budget: Don’t spend | | | | Jerry's focus on the environment, and they've |
| $1,000 on a new desk. Allocate money where you | | | | developed not only a product mission, but an |
| see the strongest ROI. | | | | economic and social mission as well. McDonald's brand |
| 6. Finding Funding: Start-ups have many avenues to | | | | is youth-oriented, from its hip 'I'm Lovin' It' |
| take for capital – from mom and dad to | | | | commercials to dear old Ronald the clown. Geico, yet |
| venture capital partners. | | | | another online insurance solution, promises to save |
| 7. Finding People: Determine your values as a | | | | you money - a ton of money. |
| company first, then hire staff based on these core | | | | Once established, everything your company does |
| beliefs. | | | | should reinforce this single point - your brand |
| 8. Planning and Building Your Online Storefront: | | | | message. |
| Organize your website before you hire a designer to | | | | |