Top 5 Dot Com Myths Debunked

Most people who get into business know what's involved. They have completed hours of research before getting into it. That's great! Even so, we may still have some myths that need to be debunked. Now and forever. We all may have some lingering ideas; after all many have these myths are quite tempting. However, it's important for serious business owners to quickly get them out of the way so some really forward moves can be made. In the world of the Internet businesses, the industry is rife with myths that ultimately can be as harmless as a distraction or as worse as a serious loss in capital, which could ultimately lead to business failure.

There are many persistent myths out there but we'll go over the most popular ones.

  • You don't need money to start! This type of claim coupled with you can make thousands in a few weeks or similar statements have misled many. Although there are some solid marketing techniques that may not cost you anything, it's unlikely you can start a profitable e-business without a dime.
  • You can get by on free advertising alone. One of the great things about the Internet is that it dramatically reduces startup and overhead costs, including advertising. There are loads of free classified ads costs, but based on my own research most of these sites produce little or no traffic. Majority of the people who visit these sites are just placing their own ads and are rarely interested in spending any money on your product or service. The same is true for "free-for-all" link pages. Once you've decided to become a serious e-business owner, you need to step up your game. The idea of getting something for nothing is just as unrealistic online as it is offline.

    Some legitimate free advertising that you can use include link exchanges, banner exchanges, article submission, ad swapping with other e-zines, and forum participation. There are other types of course but the above list gives you an idea. In the case, you are specifically targeting people who are interested in your product or service. Remember prospects, not suspects.
  • You don't have to deal with people. Many novice small business owners think a few auto responders and occasional e-mail will help them avoid the tedious task of customer service. E-businesses have much lower customer service expenses than other types of businesses but it doesn't mean you don't want to provide your customers with options. It's a good idea to set up a special phone number, during specific hours where your customers can reach you. Even if you have to start with just a voicemail, it's a start.
  • You can get rich overnight. There is no other way of doing business than over the Internet that offers such a great promise of wealth. The costs of a start-up e-business are minimal but it doesn't mean that the dollars will pour in. Like any other businesses, success depends on effort, the execution of solid marketing strategies, and most of all a great product or service.
  • You don't need to be knowledgeable about traditional business practices. People sometimes have the misconception that running an Internet based businesses is completely different than other types. Although e-businesses have their own set of rules, for the most part traditional business practices will go a long way. Regular visits to the Small Business Administration (http://sba.gov) will have novice business owners get their bearings.

    • This is not a definitive list but it shows some pervasive myths that can potentially get in your way on the road to e-commerce success. Becoming familiar with them will not only help you in your own business endeavor but it will also help you avoid suspicious and far-reaching business propositions.

    Copyright © 2005 Rhonda Winn - All Rights Reserved. Rhonda Winn has been helping small business owners since 2000. She is the author of the popular eBook, "How to Live Your Dreams and Achieve Unlimited Wealth in Small Business" Receive the first chapter free, when you join her bi-monthly newsletter today: SmallBizStartupKit.com. Her site contains dozens of free downloads, articles, forums, resources, journals, and more.

    You are free to publish this article as long as the content remains unchanged and copyright notice and byline is not removed from article.

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Say Something Worth Talking About

    I recently published a short e-book called 'One Thing I... Read More

    7 Questions to Ask A Potential Internet Merchant Account Provider

    Recently I went looking for an online merchant account, with... Read More

    7 Must Have Scripts to Look for When Shopping for E-commerce Hosting

    When shopping for e-commerce hosting there are a lot of... Read More

    Google to Compete with PayPal?

    PayPal is secure in its domination over the electronic payment... Read More

    PayPal Powered

    Three years ago I was doing some work for a... Read More

    The Census and the E-Commerce Wave

    Understanding business and product sales can sometimes put me in... Read More

    Evaluating Vendors of Ecommerce Fulfillment Services

    Once your website has secured an order, you have to... Read More

    Does Your Shopping Cart Have a Squeaky Wheel?

    Have you ever gone grocery shopping just before a holiday?... Read More

    Old Habits Die Hard in the Third Age Years

    I spent a lifetime in retailing and I'm still at... Read More

    Retirement Signature Frames ? The Perfect Retirement Gift!

    When most people think of a retirement gift, they think... Read More

    A Beginners Guide To Setting Up A Successful Online Store

    A beginner's guide to setting up a successful online store... Read More

    Working With Drop Shippers

    Drop Shippers, the manufacturers or distributors who are willing to... Read More

    Ecommerce Comes from Customer Satisfaction

    Online shopping is convenient, but many companies whose web sites... Read More

    10 Compelling Benefits of Having A 3rd Party Merchant Account

    If you have been wrestling with the idea of applying... Read More

    Top Ten Qualities to Look for in an Online Pharmacy

    As you may have noted, there are thousands or even... Read More

    Getting Started: Creating a Business Plan

    You're excited. You have a great idea for a profitable... Read More

    Accept Credit Cards Online Without A Merchant Account

    It is often assumed if you want to accept credit... Read More

    How To Prevent Your 3rd Party Merchant Account From Suspension

    What would you do if you were sent an email... Read More

    The Clickbank Crash of 2003: Lessons Learned

    I had a rude awakening recently. I checked the days... Read More

    3 Powerful Concepts That Climb Marketing Mountains

    You have probably heard many times how you should offer... Read More

    Turn Your Rusty Junk Into eBay Gold

    Often times people to stop to realize the income potential... Read More

    Online Credit Card Processing - How to Accept Credit Cards - Ecommerce 101

    Back in 1998 (through 2000 or so), I worked for... Read More

    The ClickBank E-Commerce Solution

    ClickBank.com can offer you multiple solutions for your e-commerce business.... Read More

    Merchant Accounts: What They Can Do For You

    Congratulations! You created an impulse in a customer to buy... Read More

    How Measuring Key Performance Indicators Can Improve E-Commerce Strategy - Part One

    The problem with most e-commerce marketing strategy today is that... Read More

    E-commerce Software That Will Safeguard Your Business against Fraud

    Fraud is a huge issue when it comes to the... Read More

    E-Gold

    E-gold is a digital currency, used extensively on the Internet... Read More

    E-Currency Exchange: The First Bonanza of the 21st Century?

    The 21st century has introduced the world to a new... Read More

    How To Sell Websites Fast !

    This article will explain in depth the steps needed to... Read More

    A Tale of Two Revolutions - Ecommerce: A Historical Perspective

    The World As It Then WasThe dynamic economic growth of... Read More

    How To Eliminate Credit Card Refunds From Digital Thieves

    Can you encounter the number of times where a Credit... Read More

    Get Out of The Way

    Get out of the way and make it easy for... Read More

    Excuse Me, Are You Wasting Traffic?

    The largest cost and concern of an internet business is... Read More