Small Business Blog

Archive for March, 2010

“With the continuing explosive growth of e-commerce, small- and medium-sized businesses that are able to reap actionable information from a rich online platform are uniquely positioned to compete in the online marketplace,” says Michael Emaus, President and CEO of eEnterprise (www.eEnterprise.com), a global integrator of NetSuite, the world’s leading on-demand, Web-based business management software. “Today, e-commerce demands sophistication, in terms of the online shopping experience, which products are presented to customers, and how sales are tracked.”

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce sales rose to $25.2 billion during the first quarter of 2006, an increase of more than 25 percent over sales during the first quarter of 2005. Adjusted for seasonal variations, the first quarter 2006 growth of e-commerce over fourth quarter 2005 was more than double that of retail sales overall.

“Although online sales currently represent only about three percent of all retail sales, that number is sure to climb,” says Emaus. “It’s crucial that online retailers position themselves to take advantage of this trend. NetSuite business management software integrates a flexible e-commerce platform with the critical, real-time information e-tailers need to make sound decisions.”

With NetSuite, online retailers can easily increase sales by automating up-sell and cross-sell recommendations on the shopping cart page, as well as by allowing customers to purchase and use gift certificates and coupons online. “Because accounting is integrated into NetSuite’s e-commerce solution, a customer can shop with a gift certificate any number of times, until the balance is used,” says Emaus. “An e-tailer can even offer downloads for purchase, using NetSuite’s ability for password protection and license codes.”

Behind the scenes, NetSuite gives a business owner or marketing team real-time, actionable information that they can leverage to increase their exposure to potential customers. “Instead of simply seeing which paid keyword campaigns are driving traffic to the site, an online retailer can see which campaigns are generating the most sales revenue, and make adjustments as necessary,” says Emaus.

The same holds true for inventory management, since NetSuite allows just-in-time restocking by dynamically calculating reorders based on seasonal demand or historical sales data. “Successful e-tailers don’t have inventory sitting around, nor are they caught with an item out of stock,” says Emaus.

He continues, “NetSuite removes the limits imposed by a traditional Web architecture and provides the online retailer with a marketing powerhouse. Small- and medium-sized businesses simply don’t have the resources to support the in-house staff necessary to design and maintain the e-commerce solution that NetSuite provides. Best of all, NetSuite is a Web-based application that can ‘turn on’ fully supported global resources in about five minutes.”

With the growth of online sales clearly outpacing traditional retail sales, NetSuite helps small- and medium-sized businesses level the playing field.

If you want to start a legitimate online business, you must start by separating the facts from the hype. Commonsense will tell you that if it seems too good to be true, then it is. Why then do so many people “fall” for these claims? It is because these claims tug on our emotions, dreams, hopes and desires. They take advantage of the mystery of the internet; the fact that many people are just a bit in the dark as to how things “work” with an online business. On top of this, there is a pile of testimonials that support the claims of making a ton of money overnight. This additional element is what pushes people to suspend commonsense. People figure, “What do I have to lose? It is not that much money….and what if it really works?” The trouble is that this sort of thinking can lead to a string of purchases that really do not amount to much online progress but instead really start to add up dollar wise. People who go to weekend guru seminars really need to guard their wallets, because the hype is on maximum drive at these events. No doubt that the seminar attendee will pick up some valuable information. It is a well known sales tactic that giving away free information earns buyer trust and that it will encourage people to want more. This formula really works

This formula should be used by everyone with a product or service to sell; whether the business is online or offline. It is just that the emotions and the expectations are so out of whack with so many online plans that they seem to border on being schemes. Anyone who wants to establish a legitimate online business needs to guard against unrealistic expectations and develop a plan and timeframe for getting things done. Those who do this will remove themselves from the ranks of opportunity seekers and place themselves on the path of establishing a real online presence.

So, the first important step to developing a legitimate online business is to realize that it will take time and planning to establish an enduring online presence. A systematic approach that has proven methods will help your business be found online. There needs to be a commitment to sticking to a plan and discipline to follow these methods in a consistent fashion.

The second step is to understand what your particular strengths and interests are. This can help you identify an online business model that will be right for you. You must consider the way you expect to monetize your site. Will you sell goods or services, generate leads, have a membership site/subscription program or have a content site that sells advertising space? These models all generate money. Sometimes it is possible to overlap these models, but with a startup business in particular it is best to focus on just one.

Step three is to research your target market. You must know if there is a demand /interest for what you want to do. Are people buying in your selected market? If your target market is just information seekers consider that it may not be feasible to sell advertising (since your visitors would be already getting what they want from your content). There is an abundant supply of free resources that will clue you in to what people want. You can type in a keyword at Google trends to see what the interest in your topic is. The highest rated articles in any given category on Digg will give you ideas too.

Step four is to do thorough keyword research. This means that you find out the number of searches, the amount of competition for those keywords/keyword phrases and also if these are buying terms. If any of these three topics are not taken into consideration, your online business will be swimming up a raging river from the start. You can invest in all kinds of software to do your keyword research or you can make the decision to have experts do it for you. You really cannot afford to goof up here.

Step five is to select a domain name that has your keywords in it. This really is beneficial, so do the best you can.

Step six is to be smart about your website’s development. This means that you understand that your site really has two types of visitors; human and robots. It has to be user friendly to both of them. If the search engine spiders cannot make their way around your site; much of what you have done will be ignored. Your site must be code friendly and search engine optimized (SEO). Very often people think that it is enough to just place a list of keywords in the meta tags. Stuffing keywords is always a big mistake whether it is in your meta tags or on your web page. Good SEO is so much more than meta tags and meta descriptions. Great SEO is a full time job. When your keyword research is done right and you work consistently on SEO, your site will build an online presence. When this happens you will be found by search engines and human visitors.

When you build your website, you also need to build it for your human visitors. It needs to have a professional look (no spelling or grammatical errors and a polished look regardless of the style you choose) but it does not have to be fancy. It needs to deliver what your visitors expect for the search terms they used to find you. Your site needs to easy for people to navigate to find what they want. This will help you convert visitors to customers.

When this is done, you will need a way to measure and track your website’s visitors. This will give you the information you need to constantly make improvements and get the results that you want. Google analytics is free and is a great place to start.

These are the basic steps for creating a legitimate online business. It involves a lot of commitment in time, energy and money. Those who do it all themselves will be investing a lot of time in learning the details of what needs to be done. They will also need to spend a lot of time in order to get the SEO portion done right. People who do not have the time or interest in learning about all of this can just hire experts who will get it all done right in a timely fashion. It’s nice to know that affordable expertise is available (and cheaper than a lot of weekend seminars).

Choosing the right online business opportunity can be very confusing. Today most internet users are bombarded with different offers to join an online business opportunity. What makes it harder to choose is some of the online businesses are just scams. Choosing which online business to go with is a task in itself. There are many different factors to consider before making your choice. First, you will need to look at your personal situation and analyze where you are at. Next, you will need to take a look at the different online businesses and analyze them. Lastly you will have to turn your online business into a profitable venture for yourself.

The first item to look at is yourself. How much experience do you have with dealing or starting an online business? If you are a beginner you will want to look for a business that provides training and guidance. You will also want to look for a qualified mentor. How much time can you put aside to work your online business? Many people make the mistake of thinking they will not have to put in much time to grow their online business. Just because your business is online does not mean it will not require time. The final question is, how much money can you afford to invest in your business? There are many tools you will need to start your online business. Number 1 would be your website. Do you have the experience to build your own website or will you have to hire someone to build one for you. How will you advertise your online business? Through free methods or through paid advertising? These are all things to consider before joining any online business opportunity.

The next item to look at, is the online business opportunity. One of the main things to remember is you cannot get something for nothing. You will have to build your business. No one is going to make you a six figure income. You should take a hard look at any company that promises to do all the work for you. Again you cannot get something for nothing. When choosing which business to start, I believe you have to learn from experience. There are many businesses out there, you should go with the one you feel most comfortable with. With of course a couple of guidelines to follow. First do not play with money you cannot afford to lose. You may not be successful in your first online business attempt and that is fine. But do not use your rent money or income you need to survive on your online business. The longer you can keep on working your online business, the greater chance you have of succeeding. Next if your online business fails do not quit, keep going and learning. Many people quit after there first attempt, if you quit you will never succeed. Have you ever been in a bad relationship? After you broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend, did you stop dating completely? Most people would answer they continued to date after their first relationship went sour. The same goes with your online business just because one online business did not workout for you, does not mean that all online businesses are bad.

Lastly you will have to learn how to market your online business. Which is a completely different subject but it can be done if you are willing to put in the work.

The main thing to remember when choosing your online business opportunity is the online business will not make you rich. No matter what any online business offers you, they will not just give you 5 grand a month for signing up. The only thing that can make you rich is you. If you build your online marketing skills, you will be able to pretty much sell anything and make money online. Do not rely on the online business opportunity but rather rely on yourself and you will succeed.

This article teach you how to benefit in the management of the business using your presentation skills.

Before the presentation:

Knowledge of the characteristics of the offeree the most important factors to the success of the presentation, they lead you to determine the style and language to be used, and will it be: Official or friendly. Professional, technical or slang. General information or specialized. Total or in detail

During the presentation:

? Be sure to follow listeners by your eyes fair and balanced.
? Noted the actions of the present and careful interpretation of physical expressions of the audience.
? Understanding of the situation and conditions of the audience: air, as food, stress after the working day, come from travel, and others.

Elements of the presentation:

? Introduction
? Content
? Conclusion

A-Introduction:

Designed to pave the audience and informing them about the elements of the subject.
A good Introduction made clear to the listeners the nature of the subject matter, showing them what to expect from the presentation, and the expectation of the speaker from them.

Elements of the introduction:

? Extended greetings to the audience
? Introduce yourself
? Substance of the presentation (the title)
? Time of the introduction

Content of the introduction:

? Reference to what should not be expected from the presentation
? Reference to training aids, material science, literature ,….. And other

characteristics of successful introduction:

successful Introduction must lead to:

? Attract the attention of listeners
? Break the barriers and melting the ice between the speaker and listeners
? Make listeners feel the importance of the presentation subject
? Make listeners feel of their need to information provided
? Reduction of excess expectations of listeners
? Suspense to engage listeners on presentation.

how to start an Introduction:

There are many models of good beginning, including:

? The issue of Introduction: will speak at the next hour….
? Communication with the audience: I know that the weather today is hot and you are exhausted from traveling.
? A short story related to the subject of the presentation.
? An interesting information
? an interesting question: : How much of you need a good solution for business management?
? Explain the problem and then begin to put alternatives to solutions.

B-Content:

Is the central part and most of the presentation, which aim to:

? Retain the attention of viewers.
? Help them to follow up the ideas raised.
? Directed towards findings the results.

characteristics of successful Content:

To achieve the goals:

? Is planning to build or structure of the subject the way in which to convince the audience.
? Divides the content to points (Headlines) primary and secondary clear and logical sequence.
? Be used to clarify the means of a simple and expressive.
? Use appropriate language structures to link the transition between the parts of the presentation.

Building structure of Content:

There are several methods for dividing the content of the presentation, including:

? The division of time: past, present and future.
? Factional division: finance, human resources, production.
? Comparative division: the old system, the proposed system.
? division of alternatives: the first alternative, the second alternative, the third alternative.
? Division of gradual (upward or downward:)one of the most important factor, followed by …
? Network division: individual, institution, society.

Wait for my next article Business Management and Presentation Skills part 2 about Management in Business.

Have you have made the decision to get an online business degree but do not quite know what business area to specialize in?  If you are looking for flexibility, it is hard to think of another field as vast as business.  Online business degree programs tend to incorporate classes from all specialties of business, giving you the knowledge to tackle any business project.  You may choose a general online business degree such as an online business administration degree or you may specialize by pursuing a specialty such as an online accounting degree.  To help you decide, here is what you can expect to learn in the many online business degree programs that are offered.

Online Accounting Degree

Accountants are essential to all organizations, as accountants log income and assets.  To remain competitive today’s economy, organizations are actively seeking job candidates who are thoroughly knowledgeable of accounting theories and practices. Upper level positions in accounting are always available for those with the essential understanding of generally accepted accounting principles practiced in today’s accounting profession.  An online accounting degree will provide you with the knowledge of financial, managerial and tax accounting practices.  Besides organizing and preparing a company’s financial statements, accountants are may also get involved in projects such as reviewing new accounting technology and evaluate financials for mergers and acquisitions.

Online Business Management Degree

For ultimate flexibility it’s difficult to think of a degree as valuable as an online business management degree.  Organizations are actively seeking job candidates who are well-rounded in their knowledge of business practices and management methodologies.  For those with the understanding of the skills to effectively direct the required imperatives that today’s marketplace demands, upper level positions in management are always available.  An online business management degree will teach you critical communication and problem-solving skills, along with practical knowledge about how businesses operate and function successfully.

Online Business Administration Degree

Can’t decide what business specialty to pursue?  If so, then an online business administration degree is the way to go.  With a degree in Business Administration, you will learn all of the fundamentals required in business & management including communication, critical thinking, strategizing and problem solving.  An online business management degree is your ticket to a wide variety of specialties, from office management and accounting to financial administration and human resources.

Online Communications Degree

With an online communications degree, you will become a vital part of any company seeking to stay on top of the fast-changing communications curve.  After obtaining a an online communications degree, you will have a thorough knowledge of the different methods of communication including print, television, radio and the web.  You will also learn the best practices to apply whether the you are trying to get a message across to one person, a community, or the entire world.

Online Finance Degree

The finance of any organization must be properly managed to make sure that the company is profitable and an online finance degree would make you invaluable to any organization as you help them to stay above their profit margins.  With an online finance degree, you’ll learn the principles of accounting and finance, asset and debt management and financial analysis.  After obtaining your online finance degree, you will know how to plan, evaluate and manage a company’s financial position and make recommendations to improve a company’s standing.

Online Human Resources Degree

As companies hire new recruits, companies turn to their human resources team to assist them in the company’s growth.  Your online human resources degree can make sure that you have a thorough understanding of human resources practices to help any organization grow.  There is more to human resources than just interviewing and hiring.  Earning an online human resources degree will not only provide you with the skills to interview and recruit new staff for a company, but you will also learn about employment law, labor policies, and proper hiring and training procedures.   

Online International Business Degree

When companies have reached a maximum in their U.S. market share, companies often look to grow by gaining market share abroad.  With an online international business degree in, you will be much sought after since you have the knowledge to take any company to an international level.  An online international business degree will combine basic principles of business theory and management with an international focus.  With the knowledge you gain, you will learn about the factors that affect international business activity and how to face roadblocks that international companies run into. 

Online Management Information Systems Degree

Information is the lifeblood of every company and companies rely on MIS personnel to make sure that information is handy and can be shared in the fastest way possible.  With an online degree in Management Information Systems, you will have a great understanding of both information and technology and how to combine the two together.  Earning an online management information systems degree will teach you how to think like a businessperson and a programmer, enhancing your understanding of technology within the business world.  This will allow you to deliver information technology solutions to any organization. 

Online Marketing Degree

The deeper we move into our fast-paced information age, the more important it is for corporations to invest in people with the most current, cutting-edge, marketing knowledge and expertise. An online marketing degree will provide you with this expertise.  With an online marketing degree you will learn necessary skills related to marketing strategies and planning, price setting and product development, how to identify key customer needs and trends, how to promote products and services internationally, different communication avenues available in the digital age, and creative approaches that will arm you with the latest in vital marketing information.

Online Masters of Business Administration – MBA

An online MBA – Masters in Business Administration will give you the credibility you need to succeed in a competitive business environment.  Earning an online MBA will broaden your chances of success as you will learn how to think like a business owner.  An online MBA will also train you in critical thinking and enhance your understanding of the business and financial world.

Online Business Degree Programs

As you can see, an online business degree will prepare you for any career in the business world.  Whether you want to join a corporation, already work for one, or want to start your company, an online business degree will embark you on your journey to success.

Why not? Your want own online business. The online business is the very perspective and lucrative for all that know how to do. If you are beginner must to know the secrets of Online Business Success.

The Internet marketing is the best making money resource for students, mothers, people with an injury, pensioners, people that love FREEDOM and people that want some more money. The Internet business is skyline for many online marketers,

I need will be and for you.

You may be inspired by the success online

millionaires. Remind you may really achieve a steady online income stream too. The facts show that those who approach constructive and step by step improve your knowledge and skills always succeed. This process is neither easy nor quick. Money making online business has never been easier. If you want to make serious money online and wish to make internet marketing your profession is need to use the The Magic Rules to Online Business Success.

Study and Learn every day from those who have online business success and implement their methods and strategies.
Understand and do not forget: Do not spend money before learn basic of internet marketing.
Calculate, Plan and Test Everything.
Cash do not make quick online.
Easy money online have not – do not believe before discuss with other.
Safety is something very important for your online business.
Success usually comes if you have good knowledge and skills.

You will be bombarded with emails, online ads and all sorts of materials online/offline telling you that you can be the next internet millionaire..

To be the next internet millionaire is not impossible but is very difficult if you have not ? great idea, good knowledge and skills and good budget.

Every serious beginner must to start from researching and learning the basic on online marketing. Research, read, study everything you can on Internet marketing before you start in. This is the thing end of the wedge for a beginner.

The best place to Get started are online forums. Taking part in online discussion forums gives you two priorities. It allows you to drum up business for your products and gives you input from a customers point of view.

By asking and answering questions you will get a better feel for what exactly your prospects are looking for. What problems do they have? What do they feel would be the best way to solve these problems? Which do they think’s the most pressing problem that needs to be addressed? How to build,

develop, optimize and register your site. How to promote your business and how to make money online.

Well…. If you are brand new to e-commerce and want to figure out how to make money online. You must to know and the basic tasks

The basic tasks of any online business are:

1.Researching to see how to make money online and learn the basic of Internet marketing.

2.Learn internet marketing from online marketing experts.

3.Building a website.

4.Creating content for your website that will draw people.

5.Getting traffic to your website.

6.Using e-mail to keep your existing customers.

7.Earning money from your online business.

Everybody Can Learn How To Make Money Online. To succeed online use Magic Formula to Online Business Success: Learn how to….from the best online expert. Improve your knowledge and skills on online marketing. Plan and test everything. ?ssure the security of your online business.

Do not believe before research and discuss with other. Do not spend money before learn basic of internet marketing. Remember, money online do not make easy and quick. To succeed is need time, succession and many many knowledge and skills on online marketing. If you use the Magic Formula to

Online Business Success be sure that you will achieve your goal.