Internet Home Business - It’s Not That Easy!Written by Stephen Brennan
I’ve written before about amount of email I receive in form of link exchange requests. There’s no need to go into it all again but suffice to say, with seven websites with varying subject matter and content, I get my fair share of these requests by both email and through Linkmarket.net, link exchange scheme in which I am a member. I mention this not because this is about link requests, but about opportunity that all these requests present to view hundreds of other websites each week, mostly newern ones and mostly home business or affiliate oriented.In order to make a decision whether to link or not, I will look at each website, not only PR and traffic ranking, but basic appearance and layout will give me a reasonable insight into how serious they are, how much they have researched and planned their website and consequently their whole approach to their home business. I find this method is a reasonable means to predict if website will still be around in six months and whether owner will still be online at all. I am sorry to say, while spending at least 4 - 5 hours a week at this activity, I'm disappointed at amount of people who are literally 'throwing' a website together without any apparent planning (or basic knowledge about how to actually go about it). The number of websites I see, which have clearly no chance of of serving a home business purpose at all, is staggering. What's more staggering is what some people seem to view as 'viable'. Lack of content (and I mean none at all) and no organised effort to concentrate on any keywords or phrases at all, let alone a subject, are most obvious and numerous. There are many sites which are simply one page, that's it. The page will contain two paragraphs on how "you've come to right place to get..." whatever it is, then a few totally unrelated banners and 'obvious' affiliate links and perhaps a Google Adwords box. Don't get me wrong, my purpose here is not to bemoan quality of these hastily prepared and ill-equipped websites, nor is it to lament failing abilities of those that have attempted them. My purpose is to impress on these people and others planning same route that home based business, in any shape or form online has to be treated like any other business endeavour. Would these people put same lack of effort and planning into signage for their 'bricks and mortar' business? No matter how many times you read that home business is easy and there's millions to be made so quickly with so little effort or knowledge, I'm afraid it's not true! I so often see words, "no knowledge or effort necessary" and then figure per month or year that you can (or WILL) earn. It's possible, but only WITH right knowledge and effort. Ask anyone who has spent more than six months online, trying to earn a dollar (not necessarily an income) and they'll tell you that you can't expect to be successful without at least some basic knowledge and a fair bit of effort. Of course, there are those who have been lucky enough to strike something at right time, in right place and manage to be hugely successful in a short period, but these are few.
| | Beware The IsmsWritten by Dan Reinhold
This article may only be reproduced in its entirety, including resource box and subscription information electronically or in print. A courtesy copy of your publication would be nice, too! Beware The Isms by Dan Reinhold A home business can serve any purpose you want: provide pocket money, pay car loan or even mortgage, produce funds for kids' college education. Properly cared for and nurtured, it will serve its chosen purpose well. Even a robust, vigorous home business may become UNhealthy. There are potent dangers that often arise, horrible maladies to sicken them and make them wither away to nothing but a memory. Beware...The Isms. The first is perhaps most cruel, as nourishment and care of home business becomes erratic and faltering. Without benefit of continuous attention and strengthening activity, it can fall prey to Sometimeism. Sometimeism is a terrible fate for home business, as its energies are sapped by occasional and casual efforts of brief and uncertain duration. As these tidbits become ever fewer and farther between, poor weakened home business succumbs to starvation and worse, neglect. Another plague that can strike a home business is much more insidious: little by little, it is worn down and exhausted by an acute lack of seriousness. This nightmare is called Hobbyism. When afflicted with Hobbyism, a home business feels draining effect of too many hours in forums and chat rooms, exacerbated by still more hours checking emails. Any business without its very life's blood - commerce, enterprise, trade - is doomed while unforgiving hours grow and multiply with online games and Flash presentations.
|
