So What's The Best Start Up Internet Business?  The 3 Cardinal Rules

My friend Sami was literally pulling his hair out. "I know I want an online business", says he, "but what is The Best business to start?"  I mulled over the answer probably longer than I should have.  Then I gave him these tips for a home internet business.

"Sami," says I, "there are 3 things to consider when starting an internet business."

Rule No. 1:  Look To Your Heart

This has got to be a business that gets your motor running.  You will devote hours and hours, and then more hours, to making it successful and keeping it successful.  Make sure it is a topic that you enjoy.

"But there isn't anything that I love," Sami says.

So I offer up this little exercise to identify the best internet business to start for Sami.  "Remember," says I, "the last real day off you had.  What did you do?  Or remember when you walked into a bookstore, what section did you go to?   Or remember the courses you took in school -- which ones did you enjoy the most?"

"Aaaaaah," says Sami. "Last Saturday I went fishing.  And when I got home I made a barbeque.  Is that what you're getting at?"

"Yep," says I. "We are getting a lot closer to what you would enjoy in a business."

Sami protested that he didn't really know enough about either fishing or barbeque-ing, but I assured him that he knew a lot more than 95% of the folks out there, and that makes him an expert.  So we have two possibilities for an internet home business:  Fishing, and barbeque.  And Sami really likes reading Zane Gray, that is Option 3 for Sami's home based internet business.  And I already know he is a master at designing logos for businesses, so that is Option 4 for Sami.

"But can any of those really make any money?" Sami asked, forehead scrunched.

"And that," says I, "brings us to Rule 2:

Rule 2:  Look To Your Pocket

Make sure your business can make money.  There are dozens of options for monetizing a topic, and one general rule to know.  If you are selling a high priced item, you don't need to sell very many to make a good living.  If you are selling a low priced item, you need to sell a lot more. 

Also, it is usually easier to sell the low the priced item.

One more thing:  you nearly always make more money selling your own stuff.  OK, that's three general rules on monetizing a website.

There really are dozens of options for making money on a website.  Here are a few of the most popular:

AdSense Ads.  (Like the ads on top).  I ask AdSense to put these ads here.  The advertiser pays me every time someone clicks on an ad.  Cool.

Affiliate Advertising.  Another company makes a product.  I feature it here, and every time someone makes a sale from this site, I earn a percentage commission.

Ebooks.  I can feature ebooks that others have written, or ones that we have written. (You will earn more money with your own ebooks.)

Membership Sites.  You've got lots of info on a specialized top.  This is one of the best internet business to start.  You put all your info into a site, and people pay you each month to be a member of that site.

Sell Services.  You have a skill, perhaps in foreign languages or small businesses or yoga.  Your website features your skills.  More skills are in demand than you might imagine.  I know personal fitness trainers and English language instructors who do exceptionally well.

There are a lot more ways, but the best internet business to start will likely have monetization potential in one or more of these business models.

TOP TIP:  It does no good at all to loooove a topic if you can't make money from it.  This is a BUSINESS that you are starting, not a hobby.

Rule No. 3:  Look To The Pros

The more you can learn from others, the fewer mistakes you will make yourself.  So put yourself in a position where you can learn from others. 

If you have a friend or associate who can help you, use that person.  Don't try to go it alone.  Let that person help you pinpoint the best internet business just for you, in just your circumstances.  And let that person help you make it a success.

Also look to community based courses to help out.  Many community colleges have excellent introductory e-commerce courses.  Soak up all the knowledge you can from the pros of the internet.

When I finished telling Sami all of this, he looked at me and said, "So, will you be my person, the one who helps me?"  "OK, Sami", said I. 

Sami grinned.  So did I.  I think he is really going to make it.

And here are a bunch more articles to help you on your way: