I just finished a terrific book Internet Riches: The Simple Money-Making Secrets of Online Millionaires by Scott Fox. It’s an easy read and packed with a ton of useful info especially if you’re getting started online.

You’ll find real-life case studies from entrepreneurs big  and small. And some interesting niche e-businesses that have thrived because of the explosive growth of the internet.  

Part 1 starts off with Scott Fox’s anectdote on what he considers the Internet as the “Gold Rush”.

From turning obscure passions such as custom made boat toys to billard cues - niche  ideas thrive because of the internet’s ability to attract mass audience that share similar interests thus turning ‘niche’ into a profitable business venture.

Part 2 helps you identify your interests, skills, work experience, and how to develop a business model that best enhances your interests and skills.

Tip: I recommend you do the exercises in writing and ponder the results. Don’t just gloss over the exercises because the key is in getting those ideas that pop into your head down on paper.

Getting ideas out of your head starts the creative process. The more you write down what your interests are the more ideas will come to you.

More importantly, it’s highly recommmended you start a business that’s centered-around interests that you already enjoy. It’s really challenging to work day in and day out if you can’t stand the business you’re in .

Part 3 is more operational i.e. choosing a domain name, building a website, and suggestions to ask a web designer, if you choose to work with one. There’s a good section on the pros and cons of Ebay for those that want to sell on Ebay.

Part 4 is on marketing your business  with link exchanges, banners, and optimizing your website for search engines. Keep in mind this book is a few years old and online marketing changes rapidly.

I would expand on this list to include current marketing trends i.e. social media, video marketing, article marketing. and using different mediums to reach your target audience.

The benefits of an online business …

The costs of starting an online business is significantly cheaper than ever. You no longer have to spend thousands of dollars on websites.

Why would you when you can opt for a pre-made template with all the bells and whistles you’ll need i.e. semi-cutom designs, shopping carts, payment options, and much more.

Even though it’s ridiculously cheap to build a professional looking blog or website, your long-term success requires commitment and dedication.

Don’t be fooled on the hype of instant internet riches for doing little work. Just take a look at the dead blogs that haven’t been updated in months for a reality check.

Blogging is a commitment so don’t be a ‘one-blog-post-hit-wonder’. And the online marketplace faces much fiercer competition today.

Internet Riches is a great step-by-step book with proven strategies that will help you get started online. It isn’t a hyped-up book however some of the online marketing strategies could be updated to include current trends.

Do the exercises that are recommended through out the book. Particularly if you’re still ’searching’ for business ideas. I like the Millionaire Idea Journal which you’ll use to write down ideas as they come to you.

Interestingly, sometimes the best ideas come when you least expect it, and the key is to record those ideas before they disappear.

The paradigm shift to the internet is so profound and cheap to start a business, there really is no risk, so why wait especially if you really do have a great idea and want to start a business online.

If I haven’t convinced you yet on the unlimited potential of the internet … for only $14.96 … just get the book -  new, used, borrowed. I definitely recommend it. 

Have you read it? What did you think? Share your thoughts.

By the way, below is Scott Fox’s newest hardcover book: e-Riches 2.0.  I’ll definitely be checking it out and will share my review when I finish it .

But if you’re curious … that’s my Amazon link below if you want to check it out.

’til next time,

Janette

If you’ve never been to a local farmer’s market, I recommend you find the nearest one, and spend a couple hours there. Here’s what you’ll learn. On any given Saturday, my local farmer’s market is booming with families, men, women, youngsters and elders, congregating around the vendors, and swapping stories with their fellow neighbors in the community. It’s more than a marketplace to buy fresh produce, fruits, or home-baked pastries or breads.

If you’re willing to listen, what you’ll hear is real life conversations taking place in person. If you watch the market vendors, you’ll learn a thing or two about selling products without being salesy; how to socialize and connect with people in the community; and how you can use these skills to start conversing online.

What does a farmer’s marketplace look like? You’ll see kids playing and families talking and having regular conversations about what’s going on in their community. You’ll see shoppers talking to vendors and vice versa. You’ll hear vendors engaging in regular conversations with people. They greet you and ask about your day that has nothing to do with what they’re selling. They’re interested in having a regular and normal every day chat.

It’s understood that they’re there to sell products but they don’t have to sell directly. They use samples from their goods like fresh fruits or bakery ready for you to sample while they’re socializing with you. They remember you especially if you go regularly like I do, and if you go often enough, you get to know each other better. Soon, you prefer to buy your fresh produce with your local vendors, instead of at the store.

Back in the olden days this was how the marketplace worked. Before the internet made shopping so easy and spoiled or bombards us with too many choices, the marketplace was where people went to eat, buy goods, connect, socialize, and have conversations with fellow community members.

The proliferation of the internet hasn’t really changed the scope of the marketplace because the fundamentals are still the same. Except, the marketplace is now prominently online and the conversations have transitioned from traditional marketplace to online. Ebay is one of the firsts to offer the convenience of internet marketplace. Whether it’s Ebay or Amazon, the marketplace has always been and will always be, about real people having real conversations, before any business transactions can take place.

Giant shopping sites like Ebay and Amazon is more than just an online marketplace where people browse and buy products. Similar to a local farmer’s market, Ebay and Amazon have built communities around its marketplace for shoppers like you and I, to review, rate, and share our likes and dislikes with other shoppers. It’s an online community just like your local farmer’s marketplace where conversations are taking place and where people go to connect with others in the community. Isn’t that why we read reviews on Amazon before we make a purchase or check a seller’s status on Ebay?

Obviously, the complexities of the marketplace from a business and economic perspectives are more complex than what I can cover in this short post. But the point is, the origins of the marketplace was formed to connect members in its communities as a place to socialize as well as for selling, trading, and buying goods.

What does this mean for you as a small business owner in direct sales or as a home-based business entrepreneur? Whether you’re online or offline, small or big, the success of any business is driven by its people. They are customers, employees, partners, vendors, and so forth. And with the internet such a huge platform and an overload of information at times, the importance of “humanizing” your business, giving what you do a real human voice, is more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.

So the next time you have the urge to sell your products, services, or recruit someone to your business, stop. Instead, start by having a regular conversation and get to know the other person in your community. You will attract more people to you by being genuinely nice (yeah, nice people do finish first). Be helpful and be a real YOU. Isn’t that what a real community is all about? This might seem so simple and obvious to a lot of people but evidently it’s NOT to everyone. So stop promoting and start conversing!

Love to hear your thoughts on how the traditional marketplace has changed because of the internet. Leave a comment or question in the Comment section.