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10
Tips to Help Get your Virtual Business
Up and Running Qui |
by:
Victoria
M. Parham |
One
of the most challenging aspects of getting
a virtual business up and running is the
pre-launch phase, which includes lots of
research and planning. Below are ten tips
to help get you up and running quickly:
Step 1. Choose the type of service or product
you want to offer.
Step 2: Certify that you have adequate knowledge,
skills, ability, and industry experience.
Step 3: Lock down your business niche (your
market) and specialize in two to three core
service or product offerings.
Step 4: Evaluate how much time and energy
you have to commit to getting your virtual
business launched. Be honest!
Step 5: Identify who your clients are and
how you will reach them.
Step 6: Ask yourself the hard question:
Is there a need for my service(s) or product(s)?
Use the following to make a true assessment:
a customer, or a prospective customer, has
to have three things: Need | Money | Authority
| and all three must be present or else
you're just wasting your time.
.Need - Do they need it - that is, do they
have a problem which they recognize as needing
to be fixed, for which your service or product
is a good possible solution?
.Money - Do they have money - if they do
have the need, do they have the budget under
their control to spend on your service or
product?
.Authority - Do they have authority - that
is, do they have the organizational power
to make the decision to buy your service
or product, and, this is separate from having
the budget itself.
Step 7: Give serious thought and consideration
to your budgetary constraints, projected
expenses, expected income and how long you
can "float" until your business is generating
income on its own; work on developing your
online (virtual) presence; purchase domain
name(s).
Step 8: Develop a business plan, action
plan or plan of action and review it often
to manage company growth.
Step 9: Get all legal and financial areas
in order prior to securing your first contract
or client; examine your equipment, software
and virtual office space for maximum productivity.
Step 10: Market your service(s) or product(s)
at every opportunity; work on establishing
yourself as an industry expert; start your
marketing efforts locally.
After launching your virtual business, consider
joining one to two professional organizations,
they can be local and/or virtual, doing
so will give you the opportunity to network,
build camaraderie, self confidence, and
a personal support network.
About the Author
Victoria Parham is the president and
chief technology officer for VSSCyberOffice.com,
a forerunner in the virtual support services
industry, an advocate of portable careers
for trailing spouses and family members.
Its web-based Virtual Business Owners
Training Program(tm), the first Virtual
Careers program for Department of Defense
ID Cardholders, is available and accessible
at military bases around the world. |
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