subject: Start A Website Business [print this page] People often want assurances when they start a new business. There are no guarantees of business success, but there are many people operating local directories, even in unlikely places like Beverly Hills, who are very successful and profitable.
This is a great time to start an online business. Although that has been said since the start of the Internet, many more people are using the Internet every year. Trust is also increasing as the medium becomes more established.
There are huge opportunities opening up online:
- Media is moving away from print and toward the Internet. Advertising dollars are following.
- Innovations like Facebook and Twitter are causing people to spend more time online than ever before.
- New technologies like the ipad and mobile platforms are also increasing the hours people spend online.
With your local directory, you have the tool to take advantages of these undeniable trends. So here are a few of the things we advise when you start your online business and to be successful long-term with your online business:
Be Passionate About What You're Pursuing - If you are passionate about your directory's topic, and this true for local nightlife, local health and beauty, or whatever, you will be successful. The big directories like Yelp are great, but since they are not focused on your local niche, you can be more successful than they are in your specific area. So do it with passion!
Know Your Space And Competition - What do you have to offer that your competitors do not? How do your prices compare? Many people enter into the online business arena and discover that they have nothing to offer that isn't already in place, or they do not have the features or the low price of their competitors. Don't be that person! Figure out why you are a good investment for advertisers beforehand.
Never Stop Working - You (usually) won't have lots of traffic from the first day you set-up your site. However, since you are starting out with a well optimized and search engine friendly site, you have a great website for building an online business. Growing an online business takes time, and luckily, tools like Facebook and Twitter are making it easier for you to launch and grow your business far faster than ever before.
Use Social Media To Your Advantage - You can build a fan base for free on Facebook and Twitter with a modest amount of work. Plus, on Facebook, you can advertise with a small budget within a 10-mile radius of your targeted demographic, or place advertisements based on keywords and activities in members' profiles. Set goals to add a certain amount of fans and followers each month.
Build A Valuable Resource - Create a site that people will regularly refer to for what they need: great deals, specials, local information and photos. If you create a great local online resource, you can be sure that you will be successful.
Your local online directory is a great foundation to build on. If you spend the time, passionately building your business, taking advantage of tools like Facbook and Twitter, adding new content regularly and doing the other things mentioned here, you will build a successful online business.
