Unveiling 10 Astonishing Truths About Running a Successful Business Website

1. The "Build it and they will come" Myth

The notion that simply creating a website will attract customers is a fallacy. People will only visit your website if they are already familiar with your company or if someone they trust recommends it.

2. The Illusion of Overnight Success

Some web design agencies may try to convince you that investing heavily in a fancy website will lead to an immediate increase in sales. However, many successful small businesses online have simple websites with effective sales letters. There's no need to spend a fortune on technical gimmicks.

3. The Reality of Online Profits

The idea that you can create a website for your business and make $5,000 within a month is far from the truth. Many businesses don't see any profit for 4-6 months. It takes time and a solid marketing strategy to start generating sales.

4. The Strategy of Successful Online Businesses

Successful online business owners don't just sell one product on their website. They attract visitors with a free or low-cost item, build a customer email list, and then regularly contact them with special offers and sales letters for high-end products.

5. The Time Investment in Online Marketing

The myth that online marketing doesn't require any time because there are plenty of people surfing the web who might stumble upon your site is misleading. Success takes time and consistent effort. The good news is that the rewards can be substantial.

6. The Power of Targeted Marketing

While it's true that there are many companies selling similar products, there are also many consumers. If you target your website correctly, you can achieve better results than thousands of other website owners.

7. The Speed of Setting Up a Website

Contrary to popular belief, setting up a website doesn't have to take months. Unless you're a large corporation with a lot of information to put online, you could have your business website up and running in 10-15 days. If you're familiar with computers, you could have a website in less than a week!

8. The Skills Needed to Create a Website

You don't need to be a computer whiz to create your own website. Basic word processing skills and familiarity with the internet are all you need. If you can use a mouse and a keyboard, you're ready to create your website.

9. The Variety of Marketing Methods

Marketing a website isn't limited to banner or button advertising. There are at least 100 different ways to promote your website, including writing a newsletter, posting on targeted forums, exchanging links with other website owners in your target market, and creating joint ventures with companies targeting the same customers. Don't forget offline promotion methods like business cards, direct mail, and local newspapers. The best marketing strategy is to focus on a few methods at a time, find out what works, and discard the rest.

10. The Cost of Website Design

Website design doesn't have to be expensive. I pay only $5.95 a month for my website. If you create it yourself, no matter how much you sell a month, you will still be in profit.

Yes, you may be busy and hesitant to learn new skills. But being in total control of your website and knowing that no one is taking advantage of you is worth the effort.