Use The Internet To Fuel Business Ideas

The Internet is a phenomenal tool, especially for entrepreneurs who are hoping to go into business for themselves or want to expand a company they have already started.

The New Sales Frontier

If you are someone who hasn’t spent much time online it might shock you to find out that there are some companies and businesses that operate solely on the web. It’s true—web based companies are the wave of the future because they are cheaper to run and can service customers all over the planet.

This is not limited to informational products, though those are the backbone to the Internet Marketing community. It is also possible, thanks to drop shippers and companies like Zazzle, CafePress, etc to sell physical products as well.

Spy on Your Future Customers

Okay, “spy” probably isn’t the nicest word to use here but it still applies. As you navigate your way through the Internet pay attention to what people are talking about—especially if they are complaining. You won’t lack for material—people love to complain about stuff online! What’s the point of reading all of the complaints and criticism? To figure out what people need! Over time you will start to see common themes develop in people’s complaints and, hopefully, you’ll have an idea for a product or service that will solve the problem they are having.

The best example of this is Michael Fertik and Reputation.com. According to the official Mike Fertik bio, Fertik saw that people were getting more and more concerned about their ability to protect their private information and reputations online. So he came up with a service that will help them solve this problem.

The Best Research Tool Ever

Do you have a great idea for a business? Look it up online and see whether or not it already exists. If you find that someone else is working along the same lines as your idea, that’s okay. In fact, it can even work out in your favor because you can see what that person has done and then make sure that your business is better. You can learn from their mistakes so that you don’t make them yourself. You can see what has worked for them and take it one step further.

If you don’t find that your idea is already being implemented that’s okay too—your business can be a pioneer in your field. There is certainly something to be said for being a novelty online. Even better, if you do well, you might get discovered by a major corporation or other type of big wig and be able to take your independent idea and turn it into a huge profit and major product. Google, for example, started out as the little guy trying to compete against big guys. MySpace spawned tons of spinoffs. John Scalzi published his first novel independently online and it did so well he’s now published several other novels under a major publisher.

The Internet is one of the best things to happen to the professional world and the indie business world. Whatever you need to know, or want to do you can find it or do it there.