IF YOU WERE TO START AN ONLINE BUSINESS, what would it be and why?

1) Do you think you would make money with that business with the competition on line today
2) why haven't you started it yet
3) how would you attract clients(customers) to your website
4) how would you advertize your site without using TV,Radio or newspaper and magazine.

ONLINE BOOKSTORE FOR ENTREPRENEURS ...

1) Do you think you would make money with that business with the competition on line today

Definately... just look at all of the questions on this portion of Yahoo Answers! I especially see questions from teens about money. If you specialize in a specific niche you can do quite well. People are hungry for information so an online bookstore specifically offering the right selection, right price, and excellent customer service will yield a decent income.


2) why haven't you started it yet

It wouldn't really cost alot to start up such a business but time is the biggest problem that I have. I work full time. I have started a business plan for such a concept. There's a hungry market out there needing to be serviced but I will NOT start such a venture until I can devote 100% of my time and energy to it. No matter what business you want to take on, don't even think about it without the proper legal paperwork (tax id, business license, etc.) ... the IRS doesn't believe in part time or hobby income that's not collecting taxes for them.


3) how would you attract clients(customers) to your website

Good question. There's a book called "Marketing Without Money" by Nicholas E Bade that offers 300 ways to advertise online and offline and many are practical ways that fit any and all businesses.

4) how would you advertize your site without using TV,Radio or newspaper and magazine.

Again, that book by Bade can be very helpful in answering your question. You are really looking at a specific target market so there's no reason need to flood the tv or radio to attract a small group of customers from the mass media. You can network with small businesses, chamber of commerce, and a bunch of other places that can help you find qualified customers. Having a website is great but making sales from it is what makes it profitable.

Selling 'stuff' (anything legal) on eBay

1) Yes - hundreds of thousands of people already do it...

2) I have :-)

3) You can use eBay to 'host' your shop site. If you host your own shop, you can include your web site address in your Profile and with each item auctioned on eBay include links to your Profile.

4) eBay advertises for me :-)