Building a Web Site For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Learning the Real Secret to Internet Success

Are you ready for the real secret of success in any business? Here it is:

Put the right product or service in front of the right audience at the right time for the right price.

There ya go. That’s all you need to do to succeed. Well, okay, implementing this advice isn’t always easy. And when it comes to e-commerce, there are some special considerations.

Developing the right attitude

If you go into Internet commerce figuring that you don’t need to do any real work — that it’s just something that you can dabble in between football games or pay attention to if you happen to feel like it — you’re better off going fishing. At least that way, you may end up with food on your table.

To win in any kind of business, you need a different attitude than you need to hold down a job. Let’s face it; the whole point of most jobs is merely to keep a paycheck coming in. Most people work in jobs they don’t care about — even jobs that they hate. They stick with their jobs solely because they have bills to pay. (Honestly, would you show up for work if you won the lottery? No? Neither would most people.)

If you run your own business, though, work is different. If you’re sick and tired of rush hour, wearing suits and ties or high heels, and having bosses stand over your shoulder demanding that you work harder than they do, the Internet may be your ticket to financial independence. But you must pay a certain price. To run your own business, you must work ...