Here is a checklist for launching your Web site:

• Business idea
• Protection of business idea through MAGIC
• Business model
• Market coverage strategy
• Positioning strategy
• Product design strategy
• Marketing mix strategy
• MAGIC strategy for entire marketing plan
• Site plan
• Site design (including shopping cart)
• Site hosting (including payment system)
• Merchant account/Internet merchant account
• Order fulfillment plan
• Service and support plan
• Business plan

We have covered all of these steps except actual site implementation (plan, design and hosting). While many companies offer site implementation and business building-services, your "business" is the most important thing. If your business idea and business model are sound, you can come up with a sound marketing plan. These three elements of business success will facilitate everything else.

 

Although you may need some help with Web site development, you can begin placing these elements into a business plan that can be used for the purpose of raising the capital you need to launch your site. This capital can be used for Web site development and for expenses connected with product design, patent protection and promotion. There is some belief that, with Internet business opportunities, it is better to "go ... set ... ready." In other words, launch your site, make correction based on customer feedback and then put this all down in a plan. If you wait a month, a "year" has passed. The opportunity may have passed too.

 

The Internet does not treat all competitors alike regardless of resources. Deep-pocketed rivals can still dominate if for no other reason than the fact that they can move faster by putting more money into their effort. But money can only buy so much smarts. If that wasn't true you wouldn't see the colossal product and strategy failures by big companies.

 

You have a lot of things going for you. You are smart. You have energy. You are not subject to organizational politics or resistance to change. That's why you are or can be an entrepreneur.

 

Web business is business made possible by the Web. What is possible for you?