Title: The Key To Starting An Internet Business Word Count: 647 Summary: The Internet is getting bigger with each passing day. More people are viewing it as some sort of get rich quick scheme but the reality is that this couldn't be further from the truth. Just like any other business, starting an Internet business takes a lot of hard work and dedication and success won't just come to you overnight. Many people believe that simply because you don't have to rent an entire store, hire a huge staff and have a lot of inventory to control, starting ... Keywords: starting an Internet business, Article Body: The Internet is getting bigger with each passing day. More people are viewing it as some sort of get rich quick scheme but the reality is that this couldn't be further from the truth. Just like any other business, starting an Internet business takes a lot of hard work and dedication and success won't just come to you overnight. Many people believe that simply because you don't have to rent an entire store, hire a huge staff and have a lot of inventory to control, starting an Internet business is much easier. Although in some respects that may be true, don't let yourself be fooled into believing that it is just a walk in the park. There are many things to take into consideration before starting your Internet business. The common mistake of Internet entrepreneurs is jumping in without knowing the market before hand. A good rule of thumb is to have the mentality that you are probably not the first person to think of your idea. Before starting an Internet business, check out other similar online ventures. Take a look at how long they have been in business, what types of features and products they have, and what makes their website stand out. Like any other successful business, an Internet business starts out with a solid business plan. If you aren't sure how to implement this, either ask a trusted friend with his or her own business or seek out some information online. There are many resources to help you with creating a business plan. Approximately 90 percent of online businesses end up folding within the first 3 months of operation. There are many reasons for this. The biggest reason is lack of preparation for the launch of the business. Another big factor is lack of funds, or lack of calculation of just how much money will be needed in order to start and last beyond the first year. The start up costs largely depend on the type of business you are interested in starting. If you are planning to sell your homemade necklaces over the Internet, then your start up costs will certainly not force you to take out a new mortgage on your home. But if you are looking to go worldwide and offer a wide array of products and services, there could be a sizable amount of investment involved in starting your Internet business. One of the most important parts of starting your own Internet business is creating your website. View your website as the entrance to a store. This is the first impression that potential customers will have of your business, so you need to grab their attention very quickly. It is much simpler to click away from a website than it is to leave a physical store so you need to be creative. When a potential customer clicks onto your website, you are going to want them to stay. If they don't, you are losing a sale. Many times it proves beneficial to hire a professional to design and maintain your website. It should be easy to tell within the first ten seconds of entering the site exactly what it is you offer, what makes you better than the competition and that your prices are competitive. Web surfers are quick to close your page and go to the next; just surfing until something catches their eye. It is important that the customer feel engaged as soon as they visit your home page. Catch them there, and you may just have your sale. Website designers can help you create a website that will best suit your new Internet business. A few satisfied customers can quickly turn into many satisfied customers when you have a website which is designed well and easy to navigate. Proper business planning and finding the right professionals for website creation will be great first steps in starting an Internet business.