6 Tips on Overcoming the Obstacles to an Online Business

On the Internet, its easy come, easy go.

Opportunities are everywhere you care to look online. Tempting promises of easy riches and instant millionaires stare us in the face. People fall for the hype, discover that its much more work than theyd thought, and dump the business.

Half-hearted attempts at making money online simply arent enough. If youve been online for some time now, you no doubt have come to the same conclusion: building a viable Internet business takes time and effort - just like any other business. We all lead busy lives ... but if you truly want to start a home business, its going to require a commitment to overcoming whatever obstacles lie in your path. Some of the most common include ...

1.__No Time.

Lack of time is definitely one of the biggest obstacles to starting your own business. Many people are working full-time at another job, have children to care for, do volunteer work, and generally lead busy lives.

There is no doubt about it: starting a business is going to require sacrifices. Think about any time-wasters you currently indulge in; can you use the hour you spend watching TV each night to work on your business instead?

This isnt to say you should cut everything else out of your life. Everyone needs to relax, eat right, and exercise to stay healthy. But its never going to be the right time, so getting creative about organizing your time is a must. You can find some wonderful time-management tips at http://www.day-timer.com/content/resource/resource_library_home.asp

2.__Frustration and Complaints about Using a Computer.

This is *very* common; obviously you and your computer are going to have to be on the best of terms if youre planning to do business online! Yet many people ignore this, get frustrated, and give up.

You dont have to be an expert; you just need to be comfortable. End PC rage by taking a little time to learn how they work. Check with your local college or community center for appropriate courses, or get yourself a copy of the excellent Windows for Newbies, a wonderful book that uses a picture-driven learning system, http://www.buildyourhomebiz.com/windows.html

3.__Uncertainties about Learning HTML.

HTML is the language used to create web pages. Its often called a programming language, conjuring up intimidating mental images of techno-geeks madly coding complicated software in some dark, dank basement.

Have no fear. HTML is a really just a simple formatting language - much like what the old word processing software used to use. There are plenty of excellent tutorials available. The one I recommend is Joe Bartas excellent online tutorial, available at http://www.pagetutor.com/pagetutor/makapage/index.html

4.__Worries about Technical Stuff

It can feel somewhat overwhelming to try to figure out whats what when youre new to the world of computers or the Internet. And it can be hard to ask questions that may seem simple to others. For a set of great (free) tutorials written in Plain English, visit http://www.buildyourhomebiz.com/nctutorials.html

5.__Money!

Surprisingly, this is one of the LEAST mentioned worries Ive heard from my visitors and newsletter subscribers. Starting an online business doesnt have to be expensive at all; so long as you already have a computer, your expenses can very easily be less than $100 a month - and often much less. My own expenses in the first few months online were less than $50 a month, just for Internet access and web hosting.

Some options for covering your business costs include:

* Continue to work full-time while working on your business part-time;

* Work part-time at your job and part-time on your business;

* Use some of your savings;

* Borrow from family or friends;

* Take out a small business loan. Check out the Small Business Associations list of financial assistance programs at http://www.onlinewbc.org/docs/finance/sbaprog.html

6.__Fears About a Lack of Support from Family & Friends.

This is a tough one. Family and friends are supposed to upport us because they love us, right?

For many of us, family and friends who are seeking to protect us from scams may either deliberately or inadvertantly make discouraging remarks.

There are no hard and fast rules for handling family and friends; if youre not yet comfortable telling others about your online ventures, then dont. Otherwise, just be firm: state that you are working hard to build a viable business and that you would appreciate their support.

Building a suport network of like-minded individuals may help. Search for suitable forums at http://www.delphi.com/ or join the Small Business community at http://www.buildyourhomebiz.com/advice.html .

Make a conscious choice to put forth the time and effort needed to build a viable business. Make this your year to increase your online income!

(c) Copyright 2001, BuildYourHomeBiz.com, Angela Wu

About the Author

Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, an exclusive newsletter for eBusiness beginners. OBB features ongoing tutorials on how to build a profitable Internet business on a shoestring budget. You dont need a million-dollar budget to be successful! Find out how you too can join the thousands quietly earning a living online: http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html

angela@onlinebusinessbasics.com
http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com