Whether you are just starting out, or have been an Internet entrepreneur for a while now, there are certain points of it that you should never neglect, no matter what your niche may be. It’s likely that each of us will lose focus on one, or all of them at some point, which is why I am writing this article.
It never hurts to have a gentle reminder of the very basic, yet important tips we were given, or learned early on. We all get to a point where something is capturing our attention more than normal, either a tight deadline for a particular project, or trying to garner more work. So, it’s only reasonable to think that we might neglect the basics.
Read on to receive that reminder we all need from time to time.
Point 1 – Goal Setting
Setting goals has always been good advice. But perhaps it’s never been quite as important as when you are a self-taught entrepreneur. There isn’t anyone, except for maybe family, to push you as a manager in a traditional office would do. So, you must rely on yourself more than ever.
Setting goals is a great way to keep you on track, providing motivation to accomplish what you believe you can do. Of course, you need to believe you can, first. A quote that I just recently read, by Lydia M. Child, is very fitting here: “Belief in oneself is one of the most important bricks in building any successful venture.”
Once you conquer that, set milestones to reach the big goal. Each time you reach a milestone, give yourself a mini-reward, or a pat on the back…whichever you can afford. If you are just starting out, pats on the back will do.
When you reach your goal…or, perhaps, just before you do, set another one. Keep yourself motivated and on track, or things like deadlines and bills will sneak up on you without warning.
Point 2 – Keep up with the Industry Trends
You should always keep track of what is going on in your industry, because it’s most likely changing often, especially when it’s tied to the Internet and technology.
If I could recommend one of the easiest ways to stay on top of everything, it would be to browse the Internet …and often. You can learn what is new in your industry by simple searches on your niche, browse the competitor sites, and communicate with your visitors or customers to find out what they are looking for when they come to you.
Point 3 – Grow with Technology
If you can count on nothing else, you can count on the fact that technology will change. Keeping up on the changes will allow you to maintain your business to its fullest capabilities. Not only are there various electronics such as iPhones, iPads, web-conferencing, and much more, but you also have to maintain your computer system that helps your entire business to function well.
You also might have a staff that you will need to communicate with through technology, which will require someone to keep it up and running with updates and system changes. If you don’t want to hire a server administrator to do it for you, then the need for continued training and education might be in store.
Fortunately, there are many online courses you can take such as VMware vSphere 5 training. You can take these courses in the comfort of your own home, and stay current on all the changes that are guaranteed to happen.
Point 4 – Organization is Vital
Have you ever tried to work in an area that is not organized? I have, and it’s frustrating and disruptive to thinking clearly and working efficiently. If you are spending time looking for something that you should be able to find right away, then you are taking valuable time away from production.
So, organize for clearer thinking, as well as a more productive atmosphere. Here are some ideas to keep you organized:
- Use shelving and cabinets to keep the desk and floor clear
- When working with deadlines, set milestones and use email reminders to stay on track
- Make a daily schedule, with the most difficult tasks to be done first
- Schedule breaks to make sure you take them
These should help anyone get organized, but there is probably more you can do specifically depending on your business. For example, if you sell retail, keep track of your inventory in an organized software program, and update it regularly.
Point 5 – Refresh and Update Your Written Content
One of the most important tips I can give would be to keep your business current and updated as changes occur. That includes your written content on your website, advertising, printed material such as brochures.
Take for example, your website. If you don’t change it up, and often, visitors have no reason to come back, because they have already browsed through it. I would also suggest that you give it a slight personal feel to the reading so the reader can relate. Use real life examples and a style that is easy to read.
Some people are not comfortable in writing their content, which is fine. That is what freelance writing is all about. You can find freelance writers at websites like Elance to help you out, either short or long term. They are independent contractors, so you don’t have the cost of hiring someone like you would in the traditional setting.
In Closing
I have shared some information that you can hopefully apply to your business to enhance productivity and growth. And, the best news is that they are easily applied to any Internet business, no matter what your niche is.
This is a guest post by Kathy Barber who decided to take her passion for writing and turn it into a full time career as a freelance writer. She is currently working on a series of articles that is inspired through her research on www.ecourseclassroom.com of Cisco CCNA courses. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, traveling, researching, cooking, and dabbling in photography.
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