Being a product of a group called ‘Generation Y’ (the children of the Baby Boomers), I am naturally inclined to computers and the Internet than most people. So what I have to say even shocked me. But all of the facts line up with my next statement. Internet businesses are a bunch of hype…if not done right!

Here is the indisputable fact: Internet businesses are perceived to be easy because it is easier to put up a website than it is to build a store front. A false perception is the Build-it-and-they-will-come mentality. Like anything else worth doing, an Internet business involves work. Hard work for some and lots of time for all. Either way, it is costly (time and money) just like any other business endeavor.

Out of all the various media available to promote, inform, and sell a business, the Internet is THE most saturated and cluttered with competition. This is because it is cheaper to start a business online. You can buy a URL from GoDaddy.com for $9.95, get hosting for as low as $4.99 per month, and boom there you have it. You are in business! Even major companies like Amazon.com and Ebay.com have created solutions that allow anyone to start a business through their websites. There is no wonder why the Internet is over saturated.

Most Internet businesses fail because the competition is too great and frankly, they didn’t know what they were getting into. They never consider the various elements of what makes a business successful such as effective marketing. As I indicated earlier, the build-it-and-they-will-come philosophy doesn’t work on the Internet. If you build it, how will they find you? No one knows you are there. If you don’t show up on the first 2 – 3 pages of a Google search then you are lost in the rest of the clutter.

So now that I have hopefully gotten it out of your mind that an Internet business is easy work, let me provide you with some information on how to create a successful Internet business. It all starts with understanding your ‘who’ and directing them to your website (traffic). (Yes, you can even direct your marketing on the Internet.) One paid way you can get the traffic that you want to your website is through PPC or pay per click advertising. Below are some great resources for PPC:
http://www.payperclicksearchengines.com/
https://clickriver.com
https://adcenter.microsoft.com/
http://sem.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/searchenginemarketing/
http://adwords.google.com/.

The next way to get people to your site is the age old word of mouth. This works best if you know someone (or get to know someone), who is in a similar or related industry and get them to talk good about you to their followers. This sounds simple but it is the best way to get good traffic to your site.

Remember what I said about over saturation on the Internet? Well, people are tired of searching and finding junk out there; so when someone that they know recommends a site, they are more receptive to what you have to say.

The last way to get traffic to your site is through ‘self-promotion’. Social Networking and Social Media has made this easier than ever to stand up on a soap-box and tell the world what you have to say. Anyone who is anyone is on the social networking websites like Facebook.com, Twitter.com, and MySpace.com. Creating a presence on these popular sites creates a soap-box that allows you to get your word out.

The next means of self-promotion is having a BLOG site. Search engines, like Google, like blog sites because they can update relevant content quickly (besides all of the technical reasons). You can also use them to sell your products/services and communicate with customers/clients/patients (staying in touch with the community).

Lastly, publishing articles (online or offline) on specific topics that interest your ‘who’ will drive traffic to your site. Relevant information to a specific group of people is the driving force behind the Internet. Providing this information for Google can only help you get the traffic you are looking for.

Throughout this article, I indicated that you must know your ‘who’ or target market. In my next article I will define what makes up a target market and how that market can make your business go from zero to 60 seconds.