(Image courtesy of Stuart Miles)
Hi all…hope you have been enjoying your summer so far this season.
Just returned from a very relaxing 10-days at remote cottage with my family…after overcoming the initial shock of not being connected, we had an incredible, fun and sometimes crazy vacation. Hoping you can relate.
Today, I wanted to re-post an email response I recently gave one of my subscribers who asked “How do I get started building my online business?”
Specifically, his question was aimed at what business should he really get into?
In other words, what should he sell, how and and to whom?
Pretty standard stuff, but I do really like it when people ask this question because it means that they are at least giving their online business some serious thought unlike others who charge in, chasing the money starting one thing after another without really building a business at all.
As you read this (and I truly hope you do take just a moment because what I say below comes from decades of business trial-and-error leading to success), keep in mind that above all else, you are still building a business – not just a get-rich-quick scheme – because those don’t work.
As you will see, my response was geared to my subscriber who “thought” he may want to get into selling his graphics design services – but the same advice I have given applies to anything you “think” you want to start your business around such as affiliate marketing, clickbank, Amazon, information products (your own), advertising, etc..
I start by challenging this emailer’s idea of getting into a business around “average” quality work in graphics design…
The real question here is are you willing to go from “average” to “advanced” and then on to “very good” with graphics design? Is it something you have a passion for? If yes, then you have found your business – and now you can move on to how you market, distribute around your talent. But, if you aren’t that jazzed about it and will stay “average” – not likely to do that well given there are thousands upon thousands of “average” designers out there.
What really takes people from “average” earners (hobby income of a couple hundred bucks a month) to bigger incomes is finding a business they stick to, build a reputation, invest in marketing and then experience the rewards as the months go by.
If you really want to get into graphics, then you have many options:
- Freelance work to build additional experience and reputation
- Gain some top customers and move beyond freelancing to direct contract work
- Build portfolio of standard graphics that you can resell as a package (or give away to build a list)
- Seek out partners/JV’s where you do the graphics work for a cut of the launch
They key here though is do you want to make graphics design services your business for the next 2-3 years where you will invest in your own improvement, gaining credibility, doing quality work and learning to market both through the internet as well as networking to become a top earner in the graphics design marketplace?
Like many great business people have said, you are either aiming for the top of your business or you are falling behind…there is no middle ground.
In fact, the middle ground in business is the WORST place to be, you spend more time, energy and resources to get noticed, but make far less than those above you who seem to get noticed automatically AND make much bigger profits.
So, if you are wondering where to get started online, please make sure that you choose a business model that you can become passionate about.
It could be setting up lists and websites to sell other people’s products, selling your own services such as graphics design, consulting or writing, or it could be producing videos that answer key questions in your chosen niche market…these will all work, but only if you have the desire to become “above average” and stick with your business through the months to come.
The reward, of course, is a new career with considerable opportunity and enjoyment on your part…you control your direction.
