| A fool and his money are soon parted - Old Saying | | | | up providers and check their pages for prices. Going |
| Dubious people may well advise you otherwise, but | | | | back to our demo business, how much do nurseries |
| common sense tells you certain things are doomed | | | | charge for liquid fertilizer? What does a |
| to failure. Take Fred for example. Fred is one of | | | | comprehensive, "How To" gardening book go for |
| those characters who feels it is his duty and sole | | | | these days? If you can source competitive products |
| purpose in life to give out advice on how everyone | | | | or services or even better, produce them yourself |
| can line their pockets with gold. Fred knows the best | | | | then go for it. If not, keep searching because sooner |
| deals going. He can tell you how to turn your measly | | | | or later you will. |
| income into a six figure income, (even show you | | | | 3) Never underestimate the importance of location. |
| photographs of million dollar sports cars even you can | | | | Certainly if you are in, or ever have been in, business |
| own), with hardly a finger lifted. Want to get rich | | | | you realize that location means everything. If you |
| quick? Yep, good old Fred can see to that. | | | | want your business to have customers, (called traffic |
| For every Fred on this earth and other parallel | | | | these days), you either have to be located in busy, |
| worlds, there is a Charlie. Gullible Charlie. Charlie will | | | | high traffic areas, or spend plenty of time and money |
| throw away good money chasing dodgy, "get rich | | | | on advertising and offer good incentives to create |
| quick," schemes based on the word of someone he | | | | traffic. Around the world, high traffic locations come |
| has never heard of, backed by testimonials from | | | | at a premium price. Busy shopping strips ask big |
| people that probably don't exist. Skepticism and logic | | | | dollars for the privilege of setting up shop. The net is |
| rarely play a part in Charlie's life. He goes along with | | | | no different. |
| anyone's advice and believes just about any tall tale | | | | 4) Develop the best way to market your product or |
| he hears. | | | | service. First of all, target the right people. Pile your |
| Putting all BS aside for a bit, the world has more | | | | business into a neatly organized webpage (or blog), |
| Charlies than Freds. This can mean only one thing. | | | | then write your own informative articles about your |
| There's a helluva lot of suckers out there. Let's hit | | | | business. Publish informative articles on Digg, Reddit, |
| home even harder. We have all been there at one | | | | Mixx, and others. Provide a link back to your page |
| time or another and even the best cons have been | | | | letting people know there is more great info to be |
| conned at some point. Since the advent of God II, | | | | found. Tell friends and relatives about your site and |
| (the internet), both species have thrived and | | | | get them clicking. Let people know who you are, |
| multiplied in vast numbers. | | | | what you have and why they should have it. If you |
| So far the Net can claim fame in several categories. | | | | are honest and loyal, you will build a list of clients. If |
| - World's greatest playground | | | | not, then you will be chasing new customers forever. |
| - World's biggest career booster | | | | 5) Public relations is one of the most important |
| - Worlds most sordid meeting place (even Caligula | | | | aspects of any business. Treat every potential |
| would roll over in his grave!) | | | | customer like your best friend. Sometimes to sell |
| - Worlds busiest market place | | | | something worth ten dollars may cost you a further |
| The list goes on! | | | | ten dollars in "freebie" information. For example, "Look |
| To manage any business successfully, certain criteria | | | | ma'am, pansies are classified as annuals and grow |
| must be met. The level of success will be graded by | | | | best during the cooler parts of the year. However, if |
| the amount of time and money spent on meeting | | | | you shade them from the afternoon summer sun |
| these measures. The following brief list is a | | | | and trim them back, you can get two to three years |
| breakdown of what is required to run a profitable | | | | growth from these." Every smile, every piece of |
| business. | | | | positive feedback you give potential customers will |
| No one is going to hand you over a ready made | | | | eventually strengthen your enterprise. |
| business for $29.95, so keep your credit card in your | | | | 6) Work hard at keeping your store looking clean and |
| pocket because with out a good business plan you | | | | fresh. Update products, services, and information so |
| will go nowhere. Do the hard yards first, work out | | | | that it never stales. Keep your name out there on |
| what you can afford to invest, then seek niches | | | | the airwaves through as many social media outlets |
| suited to your budget. | | | | and forums as you can. Work at making a name for |
| Remember these key points: | | | | yourself and the traffic will flow. |
| 1)Plan a business around what you know and enjoy | | | | These are the basic truths of setting up any |
| doing. As an example, we will use a demo business. | | | | business. If you enjoy it you won't find it so difficult. |
| Let's say you know something about gardening. You | | | | This article will help you to a certain degree, but only |
| enjoy plants, have a small garden and you can tell a | | | | you possess the most important thing needed. The |
| pansy from a petunia. Hit the computer and Google | | | | willingness to begin and the determination to |
| your heart out. Find out what is going on out there. | | | | persevere. |
| Is there a lack of solid information or how to's on | | | | Only cons know how to make a quick buck. Trouble |
| certain aspects of gardening? Are there niches | | | | is they burn bridges each time they do. Successful |
| available for a product or service you think you can | | | | businesses and long lasting enterprises are created by |
| provide? If it's tedious and tiresome then consider | | | | building bridges. Don't be a Fred and don't be a Charlie. |
| remaining with your current job on the budget you | | | | Instead, be unique, be honest and be different. Be |
| are accustomed to. Show some patience and | | | | dollar smart and be realistic. Perhaps even this could |
| determination and things will start happening. | | | | be a niche worth marketing in itself. |
| 2) Check to see if a buck can be made from the | | | | If a man has money, it is usually a sign, too, that he |
| potential markets you have analyzed (I assume you | | | | knows how to take care of it; don't imagine his |
| have been taking notes, right?). If it's a physical item | | | | money is easy to get simply because he has plenty |
| available in physical stores, visit these places and | | | | of it. |
| conduct a little industrial espionage. Otherwise Google | | | | |