How to Take a Small Business ONLINE

One of the biggest challenges that independent business people face is how to take an Offline business Online.

I am often asked many questions about doing business on the internet... by folks who know that I teach seminars and write ebooks about this very subject.. Often the questions are about how business is set up within common internet industry business models.

A common example is that most web designers handle all of the details regarding the web sites they design/develop, including registering the domain and providing the hosting.

From the designer/developer's point of view, this business model is very attractive and a good money producer... however, from the point of view of a small business owner, this scenario can be fraught with many hidden dangers!

So... what do I do as a business consultant? Do I go with the flow and offer advice based on the common business models?

I always answer every question by first asking myself *What would I tell Lisa?*.

Lisa is my BF/Cousin. She is a single mom with 2 daughters in college and no financial help other than from her own business.

Lisa was the inspiration for my Disaster-Proof Your Online Business Survival Guide and Workbook.

She called me at midnight (my time) to say that she didn't have access to her web site to change the registration for an offline workshop. Her workshops are the financial backbone of her business, so this was a MAJOR business crisis!

As it turned out, we were able to get the issues resolved. Lisa's web developer had sent her the important info when she changed web hosts, so she had acted responsibly. Lisa had carefully kept the email that was sent, even though she wasn't sure exactly what is all meant, so SHE had acted responsibly.

The problems had arisen because Lisa had not realized the importance of being the person controlling the information, decision-making, and action taking concerning her web site.

Over and over, similar issues arise and I end up fielding calls from small business owners with problems and concerns.

Exactly how much does a business owner need to know and understand? Often you are already overwhelmed with the minutiae involved in running your Offline business...

I know how much of a temptation it can be to look for someone else to make the decisions and take care of the details for your Online business, and truth be told, most of the business models for Online Business are set up this way!

Unfortunately, Online businesses need a knowledgeable and active owner at the helm, and Online businesses need to be handled as legitimate businesses in their own right, not just as red-headed stepchildren.

When it is YOUR business, YOU need to control ALL aspects of it, whether you are Lisa or some other business owner!

Most small business owners are clueless about the internet and it becomes easy to allow someone else to take control and *just handle it* .

I tell my clients to think about this in the same way they think about their bank accounts. They may not know all of the Ins and Outs of banking, but they certainly make sure that they are in control! You need to take the same approach with your Online business.

My goal with SurviveAndConquerOnline.com, is to provide Offline Business owners with the information and knowledge they need to make the technical and strategic decisions about their Online businesses in the same way they do for their Offline businesses.