As indispensable as it is, unless you’re using it to secure capital or financing, it needn’t be overly complex and exhausting. So let’s make it easy. We’ll cover some basic guidelines, enough to help you create one you can use.

Here are six sections you should write into your business plan.

COMPANY PROFILE

This is first section you’ll write because it drives remainder of your plan. What is your company’s mission? What are you trying to do? This section describes why you’re in business. If this section reads "I’m in business to make money", you’re in trouble. Any company can say that. Instead, profile section should describe how you’re going to meet needs of businesses or consumers in such a way that you can make money. You make money by

1.meeting needs of customers

2. at a price they’re willing to pay

3. at a cost at which you can make a profit

MARKET ANALYSIS

A critical component, this section should demonstrate your knowledge of market in general. It involves thinking about what you can do better than others in same business, and honestly acknowledging what can they do better than you. Look at your competitors, compare them with your company. What you’re looking for is what Xerox called a USP, a "Unique Selling Proposition" and what I call a JND, a "Just Noticeable Difference" that makes you unique or different.

How is your industry doing? Is it growing? Shrinking? Are there barriers to entry that will keep others from offering same product (service)? Are big boys moving into your territory?

Also consider: Is your competition local, regional, national or global?

Consider external factors over which you have little or no control, such as economy or changing laws or regulations.

MARKETING PLAN

This section outlines your sales strategies. You’ve got something to offer. Here you describe how you’re going to let people know about it. Advertising? Press releases? Direct mail? Word of mouth? Flyers? A blimp?

Do you really BELIEVE this hype?

I’m guessing (hoping) that you don’t! I’m guessing (hoping) that you can’t hit delete key fast enough!

You just can’t get something for nothing.

I recently read a story that said that "Success Family has Work as father and Integrity as mother. If you can get along with parents, you won’t have any trouble with rest of family."

What you do need to know is that you don’t always have to work harder, but you do have to work smarter!

If you want to be successful in Internet Marketing, you must find someone who has already blazed trail and been successful. Study them, learn from them, ask them questions, listen to their answers and model them.

I can guarantee you that every one of them will tell you that they didn’t get a free lunch. They worked hard before they figured out how to work smart.