Businesses with global brands spend millions of dollars researching new ideas before they offer anything new to their customers. For these market-leading giants the cost of global launches is vast and the price of failure can be even bigger. Here are the main reasons why these problems can be avoided in an online venture.
1. Free market research
There is no need to invest millions in an expensive market research campaign. It is free and easy to find out what people are looking for, and what products and services are available to fill those needs. It is even possible to ask clients or prospects what they actually want.
2. No expensive tools
Launching a physical product often means investing years of staff time and millions of dollars in research and development. With an online business the investment capital can be generated out of online profits from a business which could be started within hours for just a few dollars, using only a basic PC and an Internet connection.
3. No inventory or warehousing costs
Off line businesses have problems managing premise, staff and stock. But most online businesses sell electronic information, including all sorts of facts and entertainment. Even when physical products are sold online, the internet trader either passes the order directly to the original maker of the product for the order to be delivered directly to the buyer or subcontracts the whole order fulfillment process. Vast warehouses holding stock that could take years to shift are very rare in online business.
4. No bank loans
There is not much need for working capital because neither plant and machinery nor product inventory needs to be bought in advance. So when launching an online business there will be no need to take out massive loans, with all the risks these debts involve. In 2008 many otherwise profitable businesses were wiped out because of their need for working capital that the banks could not provide.
5. Many free services
The Internet contains many free sources of current information about what potential customers need RIGHT NOW, and also information about how to meet these needs. This information can be found from the major search engines, social networking sites and online encyclopedias. Furthermore many suppliers provide valuable products for free. As a result many people have launched successful online businesses based only on this free information.
6. Limited downside risk
Because it is so cheap and easy to start an online business the risk of failure is limited. The main investment is in the time needed to decide what to offer to the market and then preparing that offer in whatever form it takes. Fortunately the Internet also provides tools that will limit the risk of wasting time on products that will not sell at a profit.
7. The investment Is all in the planning, and that is free!
The risk lies in choosing the wrong market, the wrong product, the wrong action or (unfortunately) taking no action at all. All businesses need their founders to make an investment of some sort, and in the case of online business the "sweat equity" has to be invested in finding, building and marketing at least one product or service to sell. Luckily for anyone starting an online business today there is no need to design a successful business model from scratch and there are many businesses that can be followed with minimal cash expenditure. By Guy Thompson
No comments:
Post a Comment