LESSON #15: Creating a Business Plan
Two lessons ago we talked about the importance of having a vision, which is basically the big picture of where you want to go. And in the previous lesson we talked about goals, which are the specific milestones along the way toward your vision.
So today we’re going to talk about plans, because you need to have a plan of action to hit your goals…
(Watch this video…)
Main points:
For examples of how to make a typical business plan, you can see:
- Small Business Association business plan info
- Traditional business plan sample
- Name of business
- Vision for the business
- Who is the target market?
- What will we sell? (be specific)
- What makes us different from the competition?
- Marketing strategies
- Goals for building and growing the business
- Plan of action to achieve goals
Action steps:
1) Make a business plan.
If you wish to use my template, you may download it here for free:
Click here to download the PDF file (do a right-click “save target as” to download it to your computer)
So now that you’ve got a plan, you’ll need to commit to it, and figure out how to stay motivated. I’ll be talking about those things in the next lesson.
As always, you are welcome to post your questions and comments below.
Have a great day!
Eric
This is another valuable lesson on business plan, I’ve downloaded the PDF template for my various niche websites and I do want to thank you for the time and effort you have put in making these free lessons. However, I think you should be in the teaching profession and not Internet Marketing…
Regards
Dola
Hehe thanks Dola… I sort of am in the teaching profession thanks to these lessons
Hey Eric,
This is absolutely fabulous information. I’m recommending your course to all the moms who email me asking how they can learn to work at home online.
One suggestion. Would it be possible for you to post the Online Business Plan Basic Outline in Word? In the current PDF version it can’t be completed in a digital form -which means handling paper…which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to keep as much of your online business computerized as possible.
Thanks!
Sabrina
Cool thanks Sabrina. Well the reason for the PDF was to help make sure it was standardized… but since YOU asked…
http://www.ericstips.com/OnlineBusinessPlan.doc
There’s the Word doc for ya — no support included
Eric,
I Really like the idea of a simple One Page Business Plan. Thanks for streamlining this tedious process.
You’re very welcome
Thanks for the template Eric…I downloaded it and printed out about 20 copies. I’m keeping them in the same folder as my Internet Marketers Dictionary and will use one each time I begin a new project or website. As far as I’m concerned these lessons are your claim to fame..lol!Your the best!
Gary
We Give You 120 Individual Turnkey Websites With Your Paypal ID On Each
http://www.Instant-Paysites.com
Great idea, thanks!
Another great video, Eric. I bet 99% of online marketers would benefit from watching it. I know I did.
Thanks Neil! I’m honored to count you as a reader
Hi Eric
Thanks must go to Sabrina for her request! Although I do recognize that the PDF format helps everyone in being able to read ebooks etc. It’s useless if you want to edit to suit your own particular needs,unless of course if you purchase Adobe’s PDF suite, and as Eric has told me NOT to BUY anything then the Word format is something I can do with!
The plan I have written is surprisingly rather much as you’ve suggested Eric so up to this point I’m in ‘tune’. And Gary hits on something I feel makes good sense, so thanks for that Gary.
Paul (UK)
Hey Eric,
Been following your course and finally took action to do something about it. My website below is the result of what I’ve been following and hope I could apply more of your lesson’s and techniques to improve further.
Thanks for everything.
Your free digital resource center.
Dbookworm.com
It’s great to see that you have a site up and running! I look forward to see how it grows as you learn more.
Hello! Eric,
So far so good, I created my plan, it was a smooth ride until “plan of action “, I create that part as well but I have some questions:
1) There is no way I can put the bullets in the right order, to follow the order of your lessons, because I don’t know the succession of the lessons. The question is: the order in which you will give us the steps to accomplish the goals are the natural order of achieving success? Or can be just a pedagogical order.
2) Question 2 and 3 are personal: when we do the creation of the Blog, I need to learn how to create a “do follow” Bog, the creation of a Blog is a piece of cake with cPanel - Fantascico, but a “do follow” Blog – I don’t know how to do it.
3)My intension with the new website is to create one that starts as a free membership, but can be up-grated to a paid membership for more sophisticated info. Do you cover the creation of membership sites as well or you think that part must be outsource because involves deeper knowledge about database creation, security etc?
Thanks Eric, you create a lot of excitement and I cannot wait the next lesson.
Regards
Michaela
1) The order of the steps is the best order that I’ve been able to come up with to guide you to success. As I’ve said before, my way isn’t the only way, but yes I would say it’s a natural order.
2) I think you are referring to not using “no follow” tags on your blog. OK I will try o cover that, and if I forget, just ask me when we get to the lesson where we set up a blog.
3) I am hoping to cover membership sites, but it will be much later on in the lessons. I thionk it could be outsourced, but it’s not too difficult if you’re comfortable with basic website stuff.
Eric, thank a lot for responding!
About blog, “no follow” is the default in WordPress, and this means we don’t have a back link. My understanding is that if we change to “do follow†we will have back links, but to do so we need something: a plug in or some script. I probably need more info about the correct meaning of “no/do follow†and which and why is better to have in blogs. Please try to explain, because what I know at this point is vague and not enough for a clear picture.
I am happy that the order will be the natural progression to succeed. I cannot thank you enough for this considering approach.
By the way, I am a big fun of Squidoo, when we progress, I volunteer to create a lens in which I’ll talk about your education FREE program and I’ll attached all the sites which was create during the training and some good success story as well.
I little more exposure for your training and for our URL’s is going to help.
Do I have your permission to do this? But I have to wait a little, probably in the middle of training it is the right time to start the lens, because I want to show some early results and keep going update the lens with the progress, and finish with the 100% success stories! What do you think?
Regards
Michaela
At a free library “Business Research” workshop, the librarian said she used to run both an ebay business and a grant-writing business. She talked a lot about business plans and said, “If I had written a business plan, I would probably still be doing my grant-writing business.”
that’s a great testament to the lesson!
Agreed, Business plan is like a beacon and direction you will guiding your ship called “Business” With out it you will get lost and eventually sink. Thanks Eric for all the information!
Online Business Plan
Name of Business:
Infrastructure Healing
Vision of Business:
My vision is to put what I have done in the healthcare field into an online business. I have been doing physical body work for the last 28 years and have developed and created a healing modality I call Infrastructure Healing.
Physically I can not work the hours I did in the past and would like to generate an online business related to my field. I have 28 years of experience in my private practice and feel I can write, create e-books and sell affiliated products I have come to trust.
I would like to generate $120,000.00 a year. Also my license for my practice is in Arizona and I would like to generate enough income to be able to move to California to watch my grand kids grow up.
Who is the target market?
People wanting information and help with health conditions, people looking for body workers, massage therapists, chiropractors, healers
What will you sell?
Services—Treatment
E-books
Affiliated products
What makes me different than the competition?
28 years experience
Most people looking for someone to give them an answer, I will help them discover that the answer is within and how to do that for there physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. If they are looking for the ideal diet I will help them to discover what the ideal diet is for them by learning to pay attention to their body.
Marketing strategies:
Website
Blog
Help from Eric
Web traffic
Monetize site
Goals for building and growing the business (specific events/milestones, including financial goals, with deadlines):
Short term goals
Design a website for infrastructurehealing.com
( done by 08-02-08 )
Layout and color scheme
Logo for site
Home page
Articles 2-3
Fees
Privacy statement
Contact page
About the Doctor
Have it online
Links
Blog site up and running ( done by 08-16-08 )
Have it linked to my website
Sign up with Auto responder
Have first 5 auto responses typed up
Think of having a list for signing up.
Set up my business name with the state and the city
Get business cards and letterhead with new business name and have all pertinent data on them. Especially website and blog information
Cancel my AZ Chiropractic License
Medium term goals
By end of 2008 will be earning $5000.00 a month from working on clients and $5000.00 a month from online sales of affiliated products and E-Book.
Plan of actions to achieve goals.
Follow Eric’s on line business plan
Do what I outlined in goals and get information, website and blog out to my past clients.
Thats a very nice detailed plan…wish I had mine as organized as yours. I suppose more will fall into place as I continue. Best of lusk to you!
Cool, thanks for sharing it with us!
Hi Eric,
In setting about to write a business plan, I find that I don’t know where to begin. While my goals include product creation and info marketing in several info niches, including the spiritual self help niche, it’s hard to ignore my already-created ‘non-info’ products, which include a published novel, music, and screenplays.
First up is my award-winning comic-adventure children’s novel, Saving Bluestone Belle. This book is available in hard and soft cover editions, and is selling on Amazon and other bookstore and author sites. It will soon be available in an ebook edition. However, it is in need of a business plan, a dedicated website and laser-targeted marketing. Its general market is parents of 9-12 year olds. This horse-themed book also touches on issues related to animal rights, kid entrepreneurs, and broken homes.
Can you suggest an internet marketing approach for this book that will enable me to create a business plan and follow your lessons on info marketing, while building book sales?
Thank you.
Best wishes,
Susan
I’m glad to have a published author such as yourself on board
Ultimately, you need to determine what business you really want to be in, and write a business plan for it. Could you mix info-products, fiction books, and music in the same business? Sure… it’s a writing/publishing business. However, it could cause some problems like lack of focus.
I also hate to say it, but in general fiction books do not make much money on the internet. So if you’re going that route, you will have to really think outside the box. Most fiction authors don’t sell enough books to make a living, so you would really need to set yourself apart by working on branding, buzz marketing, back-end monetization, ancillary products… basically turning your fiction book into a series with a business enterprise built around it.
Many of the marketing techniques in these lessons can help in those areas.
So one option would be to focus on your existing products, and you would need to “adapt” some of the lessons for your situation.
The other option would be to focus on a new business with a money-making product that helps you fund your other passions (writing, music, etc.)
Thank you for your thoughtful response, Eric. Yes, focus is a very important part of success. But is it necessary to think in terms of one business? I always envisioned multiple internet businesses with multiple products and websites, and specific marketing strategies for each niche. In that scenario, it’s not ‘either/or.’ Every product and passion would have its day once I get to it on my list of goals. Hopefully, focus is not sacrificed if this is approached systematically. Some internet marketers are proponents of this type of business structure. Do you think it can work, or is it too unwieldy?
Thanks again for your help.
Best wishes,
Susan
It’s definitely possible if you approach it systematically. The problem for most people in such a scenario is they attempt to multi-task and develop multiple products at the same time, which usually slows the entire process down. So yes your vision can be for all of it, and then you will just have to focus on breaking it down into manageble bites when it comes to goal setting.
Thanks Eric,
I have looked at many business plans before and most are so complicated that it is amazing that anyone can get anything out of them.
A one page plan gives me, and those who I share it with, a simplified process for stating what we intend to do, how we are going to do it, and what we expect to receive from it.
Thanks for your help,
Jim
http://www.scc-i.com
http://www.ctrinformationmarketing.com
What a good info you give and also it’s free. Thanks eric.
My vision and I know my other one was pretty lofty. Its just to make a life which assists my family and contributes equally to finance and attaining our dreams together. It at the same time creates more of a network and supports everybody in that network.
Hi Eric,
Thank you very much for the great lesson and information. I am very excited everytime I see you email in my inbox for I know that I will definitely learn something new whenever I receive an email from you. And I am right, you have highlighted the importance of preparing a business plan before starting any business venture. I will surely do that. Thank you also for the business plan sample.
Hi Eric,
Great lesson! Most of online business seeking people are afraid to start because they think it is the same as an offline business. In this lesson you explained clear the difference between online and offline. Thanks and keep on teaching us!
This is a great pace to be going at, Eric. Having been through the pain of having to build entirely innapropriate ‘academic’ business plans before, your ‘Business Plan Lite’ is a breath of fresh air. Because it’s so brief I’ve actually written more than I normally would and things are now already a lot clearer. Lovin’it!
Thanks Eric - good basic advice!
[…] the email I received this morning referenced Lesson #15: Creating a Business Plan. I also recommend checking out the previous 14 lessons, and in particular the 3 prior lessons […]
Dear Eric,
I am going through all the lessons you are sending me. It is very helpful. You are doing great job for newbie like me.
Will you please answer one question to help me?
How on earth a person like me can be successful having no referral?
Regards
Eric, thanks for your video… yeah doing a business is not easy, we need dedication, discipline and more importantly as you said a business plan. I have known selling digital products are profitable. What I haven’t done is to create my own product. The benefits of creating a product probably is for branding thus increase revenue i guess….
Proson
2000 contributors are already joined can’t be wrong! Join as a contributor to this massive giveaway now and build a huge list! Just click the link below right away and get started
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Hello Eric, Thanks for the time that you are spending to create Erics Tips / lessons. As always they are very helpful and I tell anyone that I think may be interested in starting an online business about your site. Thanks again Danny.
http://www.succstrat.com
I love reading these lessons. They provide a lot of things that I don’t apply to my own business. Thanks Eric
Hello Eric,
I really appreciate your teaching. Thanks!
It has put lots of puzzles/questions in place.
Just a question. Are you going to guide us on traffic generation?
Great stuff.
Thanks
Yes I will be talking a lot about traffic later on in the lessons
Thanks Eric.
One of my Goal is to Meet you in Person and Thank you.
Wonderful tips on Online Business Plan. I have printed the standard form and intent to list Name of my Business, Vision and other relevant details.
Together we shall win!
Adesegun Akitoye
http://www.repeatrichrelief.com/pips.html
Thank you Eric. It is nice to have things made simple.
Can I leave a message for Dbookworm.com
I tried to leave a comment on your first post and it would not let me submit.I wanted to wish you well.
Hey, thanks for the wishes.
Awesome video. Yeah love the old school bus plan that becomes part of the dust on the shelves.
THanks for the PDF
Rich
I have a question. Would you do some market research before picking a product or after? I, like many others, overthink things like this. But, I know that there are probably a lot of people that only have one thing for an idea. I have tons, and have a hard time reeling myself in. So is the exercise to just go for something or should it be researched first to determine its marketability and target audience, etc?
Thank you Eric! as always another brilliant video.
Hi Eric:
This is for a subscriber from lesson #13 His name is Raymond. Hi Raymond how are you doing today?. You were saying you were having trouble understanding Adwords and Clickbank, well I was just wondering if we could contace each other, together we might be able to figure this thing out. My Dad always said 2 heads are better than one lol. It would be a great honor to beable to be of some help to a fellow subscriber. I must admit I’am not very knowledgeable with computers, but together we may shine some light on this goal towards our vision. If you are interested in trying this? post a comment on Eric’s Tips and we can figure out a way to contact and help each other.
Have a great day Raymond,
Gus
PS. Thanks Eric for making things possible.
Hey Eric Great job you are doing
Hey Eric one quick question are you the same person as Eric Rockerfeller that promotes/affiliated to Mike Filsaime?
No I’m not the same person. I know E-rock and he’s a decent guy, but I’m not him
Thank you Eric for all your time. I have been gathering info for over six months now. Too many other teachers/gurus are in the mode of get rich quick. Your latest action steps are not even mentioned by many other marketers. Some of your lessons have been very basic, however if you can teach someone that is starting from that level to generate an income online, then even I should be able to succeed.
I look forward to all of your lessons, and their action steps.
Thanks for giving us a great foundation to build a business.
Hi Eric,
Another very valuable lesson.
I am little scared to see the traditional business plan.
The Template you provided is simple,easy to follow.
Thanks once again for sharing it free.
Best Wishes,
Kannan Viswagandhi
http://www.growing-self.blogspot.com
Refining the Business Plan by taking road trips and elevators.
Hi Eric. Again a great lesson. I sat down and worked through my business plan and thought I had it figured out…until the road trip! While I was driving, my wife asked me what I was up to on the internet.
I had to concentrate on driving, and give her a condensed overview of what my hours were filled with and how I was going to translate all this into a practical reality ( thank you spouses for the “practical ” aspect of things).
The result was a great bullet point overview of my business plan, with all the resource demands, and benefits condensed. Just wish I had an audio recorder! This reminded me of the old elevator pitch technique. I hated it, but it was very effective on reaching clarity.
Thanks again,
Colin
Hello Eric,
I am astounded by the quality of information that I have accessed so far in these very valuable lessons. I have been into this internet marketing for 2 years with no success. Now, I am beginning to see why. Keep the good work.
Ibrahim
Hi again, Eric and others…
Thanks so much, Eric, for these videos and the teaching. I’ve had trouble watching them on a regular basis, but I always come back and catch up when I get a chance. I’m feeling a bit stuck on this one, though… Here’s why…
Maybe I’m the only one, I don’t know, but at this point I really have no idea what business to plan! I know what my skills and strengths are and I have some idea of what I would like to do, but to have a specific business plan? It’s just not there.
Any advice or information will be greatly appreciated…
Gene.
Gene, let’s back it up a little. Do you know what “type” of business you want?
See lesson #4 for ideas:
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/lesson4/
One of the hardest parts for many people is just choosing one path to start with, but you have to choose one.
Then a hard part may be finding and choosing a niche. See lesson #19 for ideas, as well as this comment:
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/lesson19/#comment-50960
If you want to start an information publishing business (ie. info products), then you can follow the outline I’ve provided, and fill in the blanks as you progress through the lessons.
Eric,
Been reading your stuff and Im really enjoying it! Ive attended and purchased several courses from Mike Filsaime, Matt Bacak and Marlon Sanders and you have great info here, but on top of being great its free, so it really helps those who are starting out (like me). Keep up the great work.
Joe Almeida
PS I really like your prayer ministry site as well, very cool. If you have time I’d like to discuss it with you as I’m trying to do something similar with our church site. Check it out at http://www.fbcnet.com and send me an email to let me know if you can share some ideas with me.
love the one page business plan idea - it simplifies things so I can focus on actually buiding & growing the business. The plan is vital but I don’t want to spend every waking hour ONLY on the plan. I need action too!
Great program - keep it up.
Karan Kinder
http://www.theBestAdirondackChair.com
Hey Eric,
Thanks for the template. Much easier to fill out and plan with than a full fledged plan. It’s important to have a business plan but it’s also important to review it on a regular basis.
That takes discipline.
Thanks again,
Luca Di Nicola
Great lesson Eric again you have brought to our attention a simple basic yet often overlooked ingredient. We have heard of business plans but don’t think about them when starting an online home based business. This is yet another gem that will alter the way my business efforts have been and will proceed to. Thank you.
Eric this is excellent advice and I am learning to plan. Thank you.
I can’t seem to load the PDF template; I’m told that the PDF I’m running won’t work for it!
A Generous offer anyway.
Jane
Thanx as always!
Like a friend on ours Giovanna Garcia say “imperfect action is better than no action at all.” Now is the time for taking the action.
Thank you for the business plan outline.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
Hi Eric,
Your tips are so step by step, detailed and most helpful to newbies, I have not seen it laid out so simply from the ground up like this before.
It’s a great way to start helping people that need it the most.
You never stop learning.
Best regards
Great information Eric.
This was a good idea putting this in a form. It helps clarify what we are doing and where we are going. Kind of hard to know when you have arrived if you do not know where you are going.
Thanks for the effort of supplying this.
Bo Tipton
The Ornery Marketer
Eric, Thanks again for your lessons, although I do not have a business name yet i am sure one will come to mind. I’m pretty sure I want to go into Affiliate Marketing is this one of two business models you will be instructing us on as you said in lesson 4??????????. Thanks, James
Yes, we will be focusing primarily on marketing your own product, and secondarily affiliate marketing. I think it’s better to have your own product vs. only being an affiliate marketer. I do both.
Hello Eric
one question, the name of the business has to be related to the type of info product that you will create? because i kind of have different niches in mind(still brain storming) but i am not sure if the name of the business has to match or should i just do a BP for each niche that i want to get into…?
thank’s
Irving Orta
The name of the business itself can be anything you want. But as I discuss in lesson #22 and #23, it is important to properly name your product and your domain. In those lessons we look at names from both a branding and marketing standpoint.
PRELIMINARY E-BUSINESS PLAN
BUSINESS NAME: COSMIC OPTIONS
VISION:
PERSONAL VISION: Fulfilling my personal dreams would include an expansive list of FREEDOMS for my heart and soul! I will establish these freedoms from a large open parcel of land from which I can view majestic mountain peeks. I will be surrounded by family and friends, who love me. I will have the financial resources to remove all barriers and constraints to all my dreams. I will have the freedom of time to support my spiritual needs and those of my community. I will commune with nature. I will travel. I will have the financial ability to support my extended family by paying for mortgages and college educations. I will support St. Jude Hospital. I will support those who work to save endangered species and our planet. And…
BUSINESS VISION: Create business channels necessary to facilitate $300,000 yearly gross earnings by December 24, 2011 through providing ethical products and services that are an integral part of the Health, Wealth and Relationship stability and growth for the family unit.
TRAGET MARKET(S): Family Unit consumers (including non-traditional family unit or extended family and children) interested in growing wealth, establishing or maintaining health (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.), and dealing with transition in relationships.
PRODUCTS / SERVICES: 1. OTC health care supplements and health/beauty aids, including
non-disposable items such as canes
2. Products to support achieving emotional or spiritual or
emotional growth ??? e.g. E-book summaries of existing resources,
original E-books, Bibliographies (search work already complete),
3. Services to support achieving emotional or spiritual growth?? e.g. on-line
counseling / advice ???
4. Products to educate / support / track family growth acquiring financial wealth,
whether for additional income or as a primary source of income
5. Products to facilitate achieving financial goals more quickly, e.g. automated tools,
COMPETITION DIFFERENTIATION: As the Preliminary Business Vision states we will differ from the competition by ethical business practices, which will include no ’double talk,’ explicit discovery of product or service outcome intended, precise disclaimers and explanations, no ‘intended manipulation, products that work, products that are not overly confusing, etc.
INITIAL MARKETING STRATEGIES: (When I took marketing courses, marketing was explained to me as all steps from inception to distribution of the product.) In that light, my marketing strategies are as follows:
Analyze responses and sales
1) Identify or create product(s) or service(s) line(s)
2) Identify distribution vehicle(s) e.g. website, drop ship
3) Match product and distribution vehicle
4) Identify advertising medium e.g. articles, ads, mailings, give-a-way
5) Simultaneously initiate advertising, product/service and distribution vehicle or as closely as possible
6) Analyze responses and sales
7) Adjust strategies and re-implementation or change as necessary
10) Repeat as necessary until satisfied with results
11) Count the money and pay taxes!
GOALS:
FIRST 3 GOALS: (1) Work through Eric’s Tips received via e-mail through 04/12/2009.
(2) Analyze existing websites to determine reason(s) for lack of sales by
03/31/2009.
(3) Complete daily Action Plan for earning money online by 04/12/2009
(Until I am better able to recognize my mistakes, that is as far as I can go
without help.)
ACTION BY GOAL: Goal (1) a. Read e-mails daily.
b. Read Eric’s Tips (#16 is next.)
c. Follow Action Steps
Goal (2) a. Review open websites (again).
b. Use Google Webmaster Tools to analyze
c. Take notes on identified problems
d. Research problems
e. Implement solutions
f. Verify that all assignments for Daily Action Plan Day 1
through Day 12 are complete; complete any missing
assignments
g. Determine if there is a connection between Daily Action
Plans and unproductive websites, correct as necessary
Goal (3) Read and complete 2 Daily Action Plans per day
thanks for sharing!!
Be wary of April Fool virus today! Do not log on to weird & attractive sites.
Great information Eric.
THanks for the PDF
eric you blow me away with your style and format how do you maintain such a cool calm consistancey this is what i am learning from you please keep the positive thoughts flowing
god bless you and yours
Thank You I love the tip, I think the problem with people , they don’t think/belive they can have wealth.
They somehow have stopped dreaming
Great info that you have put to gather. I have been glued the the screen watching the lessons.
Thank you Eric, I will be using your pdf. For a newbie like me these lessons are great.
At 2009.06.03 03:31, PRESTON HAYES said:
HI ERIC,
I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE REASON THAT I AM GOING WRITE A CRITICAL RESPONSE TO YOUR TIPS IS BECAUSE I RESPECT THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT FORTH TO TRY AND EDUCATE NEWBIES. I AM A NEWBY AND I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER GURUS TRY TO EXPLAIN INTERNET MARKETING. YOU ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON AND THAT IS YOU ALL TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO, BUT LEAVE THE HOW. FOR EXAMPLE: ALMOST ALL OF YOU WILL TELL US THAT WE NEED A LANDING PAGE OR A CAPTURE PAGE OF SOME SORT IN ORDER TO GET CONTACT INFORMATION. THAT PART I KNOW. WHAT I DONT KNOW IS HOW DO YOU SET THAT UP AND MAKE IT WORK WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES OR TIE IT IN WITH THE AUTO RESPONDERS. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NEWBIES AND HAVE VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WRITING THE CODE OR CREATING THE PAGES FOR THE FORMS TO CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION. WHAT I PLAN TO DO IS TO LEARN HOW ALL THIS IS DONE AND CREATE A WEBSITE THAT WILL EXPLAIN IN DETAIL
NOT ONLY THE WHAT BUT ALSO THE HOW AND WHY. THAT
IS THE MOST VALUABLE AND BENEFICIAL PART. I SAY THIS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE “WHAT” BUT IT DOES NO GOOD IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW. SO I SAY WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT WHILE YOUR TIPS ARE GOOD FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF I KNEW HOW TO SET UP THESE PAGES SO THAT I CAN PUT THEM TO PRACTICAL USE. I HOPE YOU DONT TAKE THIS AS AN INSULT BUT INSTEAD KEEP IN MIND THAT AS NEWBIES WE NEED THIS BASIC AND EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION.
I don’t take it as an insult at all, but I think you’re speaking too soon…
You’re only on lesson #15 of 100. By the end you’ll understand how and why
Eric:
I am committed to following all the tips and staying current with all the action strategies. Preliminary Buisness plan
Name of business: Business partner and I will decided next tuesday.
Business Vision: To generate multiple streams of income by July of 2010. Creating wealth and prosperity in both mine and my partners lives. Provide the freedom to take care of our families so that we will be able fullfill the vision that God has for out lives. Buisness will generate $100,000/year by July of 2010.
Target Market: Will change as we grow. To begin our target market will include horse owners who are afraid of their horse and want to overcome their fears.
What makes us different from the competition: Our ability to provide ethical buisness practices while providing products and services that work in the horse industry. We will strive not to over “hype” and manipulate customers to buy the products and services. And, we will provide solutions to horse and rider problems that work within reasonable amounts of time.
Marketing strategies:
Identify areas that are currently not working on website.
Traffic not driven to website by search engines.
1) Need to get website back up on top of search engines.
2) Affliate site with other programs that have like interests and goals
3) Affliate site with products that we can support, because they are proven to work.
4) Set up a blog for the site
5) Update site with current information
6)Analize responses & sales
7)Adjust strategies to increase sales
GOALS:
1) BOOK 4 offsite clinics by Dec 31st
2) BOOK 4 onsite clinics by Dec 31st
3) Fill College for Kids program (immediatly) Done offline
4) Increase search engine traffic by (waiting on Erics tips)
5) Affliate website with other websites (Waiting on Erics tips)
6) COntinue with Daily action plans
Plan of action to achieve goals.
1)Read & follow Erics tips
2) Do action steps following each tip
3) Determine if there is a connection to website failure and action plan
4) Make necessary corrections to website
5) Begin to develop own product
Patiently waiting for the information that I need to fill in the blanks. Thanks for the direction and looking forward to new information daily.
God Bless
Pam
Pam, you don’t have to wait on Eric to increase your search results. Just hire an seo company to work on your site. http://www.camrud.com/seo_search_engine_optimization_denver.html
Making my business plan is difficult right now as I have not been able to narrow my choice down to a single product. I know that my sites that sell collectibles and decorative items will have to take more of a back burner to the part of the business I will use for this course. I am a Notary Public for the state of California and a certified loan document signer. I think a web site for that service would be good for me. There are many Notary Publics in California. I have registered on a couple of Notary Directories. I have only done one signature since I was commissioned. My commision is good for a little over 3 more years and I would like make a decent living with it before I have to renew.
It also be worthwhile to create a website offering my services as an FF&E contractor, but I am almost totally clueless as to how to create the website. I have a basic idea of what an FF&E contractor does. I know the target market for this service would be architects, interior designers and interior decorators.
I need a little advice regarding my direction before I make the business plan as the plan is a bit different for each service. I can see having two web sites — one for each service.
What do you think about all this?
Louise
I would recommend starting with one or the other. Don’t build the 2nd site until the first one is a success (or failure).
I spoke with my advisor in the Career Development Services department at my college yesterday and we decided that the best direction for me to go was to establish an Internet presence as an FF&E contractor. This freelance position is directly related to my B.S. degree that I am supposed to get in December. As a result of our tele-meeting, I was able to create my Business Plan:
Online Business Plan Basic Outline
Name of business: FFE Direct 4 U
Vision for the business:
To be an online supplier for interior designers, architects and interior decorators. As an offline component, to serve as an FF&E contractor having the responsibility of ordering and placing all the furniture, fixtures, and equipment for design projects in and around my geographical area.
Who is the target market?
1) Interior Designers
2) Architects
3) Interior Decorators
4) Construction Engineers (possibly)
What will we sell? (be specific)
1) Offline, service as an FF&E contractor
2) Online, supplier of FF&E for interior designers, interior decorators and architects
What makes us different from the competition?
My/Our passionate desire to serve in a capacity I enjoy to perform the duties of an FF&E contractor, especially for those in the design field who do not care for the FF&E part of design projects. My passion is backed by excellent design skills.
Marketing strategies:
1) Spread my online and offline visibility through ASID, AIA, Chambers of Commerce and their relative websites
2) Meet with local interior designers to share my portfolio and desire to be of service to them
3) Implement traffic strategies as learned from Eric’s Tips
Goals for building and growing the business (specific events/milestones, including financial goals, with deadlines):
1) Create website for business within one week of Eric’s showing us how
2) Post portfolio on Westwood College project sharing website by July 31, 2009
Plan of action to achieve goals:
1) Research FF&E duties and responsibilities for better understanding of the scope of the job
2) Research potential earnings per typical project
3) Read article my professor shared with me regarding FF&E for hotels
4) Check in with Cassy at Career Development Services on July 2, 2009
5) Show up early and ready to begin work when I have a project assigned
This is the first business plan I have ever created. I would appreciate any feedback.
Louise
Looks like you have put some serious thought into it, and you’re off to a good start.
So Eric, What exactly are you selling? This is a business, as you said… I like your approach and all, but it seems a bit devious that we are on lesson 15 without knowing what you are selling to us.
devious? These lessons are not about selling you something, they are about teaching you. I recommend various products and services throughout the lessons. I am an affiliate of some of those products/services, which earns me commission. I’ve made no secret of this.
Ultimately you could say I am selling myself. I am branding myself as a provider of high quality information by giving the best lessons possible.
Eric,
It’s easy to understand why Jon would ask such things. I have been scammed so many times in the Internet market I would hate to repeat it. It’s good to see you’re offering free lessons, and if there is a product you mention that I have a viable need for I would not hesitate to purchase it for your benefit. Oh, and Jon Eric does sell other products, he has stock trading lessons which in my opinion are one of the best investments I’ve made. You do a good job Eric keep up the good work and I will try to keep up on the lessons. Kind of hard though, as I have a house in the United States, I lived most of my free time with my wife in Peru, and I work in the oilfield previously in Russia now am in Mexico.
This is my first post. Your lessons have been great so far. It is nice to see someone actually revealing how to suceed online in a step by step way. The lessons so far have caused me to do some serious thinking.
I have to write down my vision and business plan. I have to stop buying stuff. I need to focus on one thing so I will start my online business focusing on weight loss information.
Hi Eric,
also my first post ,and thanks a lot, i also threw away a FEW thousand dollars,but i surely have learned something from your lessons,Thanks
Hi Eric
Many thanks for Lesson 15 I have downloaded your Online Business Plan, its great. Learning a lot and look for to my next lesson.
The Best.
Eric,
That recent lesson the big picture was awesome. Now all the following lessons make perfect sense,
Kent
Hi Eric,
I need some advice. I do not know how to create a website but after 30 years in the UK government could create something on the net to teach people how to use the system. Should I create a websie or create an article in one of the many directory or article sites. I am only at lesson 14 so do not know how to create a website yet
regards,
david hughes.
I will cover all the details of how to build a website in lessons #27 through #37.
Articles are something you can use to help market your business… so you need a website first.
hi Eric,
Thank you for lessons you have presented on this website.
Thanks for the PDF. I have a business plan written but it isn’t very specific. I think as I follow the course I will be abale to say more certainly what I will sell and how I plan to achieve my goals.
Hi eric,
I have to agree with Julius on this one. great info.
Eric,
Your heart, mind, and spirit appear to be in the right place, up front, honest, and GOD fearing person that you sound like you are (also heard you say you have a Mac and like them even though the examples are in Windows format, LOL). My father is a computer newbie who contacted me one day out of the blue in April of 2009 about helping him start and run a web based business using ALL MY KNOWLEDGE about computers. While I know tons more than he does maybe about getting around on a computer and on the internet without getting lost, I know very little if any about internet marketing. I have a life, career, and family each pulling me in about forty bajillion directions. When my father, who is currently retired and is making a valiant effort to try to learn all he can about internet marketing by spending 10-12 hours a day researching the subject online, called and told me about your Tips I must admit I was skeptical about it being just another site selling things that neither he or I need. You have convinced (SOLD) me on the idea that while you would love to have me buy some of your products and or services, that it is not a requirement to receive all of the great information your putting into these lessons. You are therefore the first internet marketing Guru I’ve come across who has made it clear that THIS IS FREE and buying something is optional, so I have decided to complete the Tips from start finish even though much of it to this point is information I previously knew (I believe it won’t be long now until you reach a point where this is not the case). I also waited until I had received many of them before starting so I would have to catch up to things I did not know instead of waiting on the next lesson to arrive. I know you are not much into network marketing which I find humorous because what you are teaching is identical so far to all the things I learned as an Amway distributor (dreams, goals, plans: written, specific, timed, oft reviewed living document so to speak) while actively building a business. My father flunked college algebra, he told me this when I signed up to take freshman high school algebra. He told me it was difficult and I would have to apply myself to get a passing grade. I chose to take that as a challenge and hardly ever opening the book I passed with a +99% grade. I only mention this to say that he seems to be challenging me (again) to do this internet marketing thing not only for the purpose of helping him, but to help myself. You also seem to be saying the same thing (second opinion) that this will be hard and need much work to get off the ground. Which brings me to a few questions, My father seems to KNOW what he wants to do health & fitness which although it is a niche seems to be one that almost everyone and his brother is doing, and as for me I currently DON’T know where I want to go with this at all. I’m going to try and follow all your Tips helping him to follow the star he sees and then later do another project or two or more for myself. While I am very computer oriented and logic driven my creative juices either dried up or were stolen. Am I still going to be able to pull this off or do I need to put into my business plan to hire a right brained individual who seeps creative things into my technically efficient sites I hope to make? For example I really want to build a business which allows me the freedom to follow my long time dream of building and flying my own airplane, but I cannot for the life of me think of a way to use airplanes, flying etc in a web based business. My father on the other hand KNOWS that everyone and his brother is in the health and fitness niche but is not as worried about that as much as he is his lack of technical expertise in actually getting a site up and running which is what he has enlisted my help for with his site. I don’t mind learning in fact I LOVE to learn new things that I don’t already know. I also know that failing is a way of learning but I am sometimes so full of the fear of failure that it keeps me from doing anything to keep from failing even though not trying in and of itself is failing also. I’m not the greatest people person there is (this is why I do not actively pursue my Amway business, not because it does not work, but because I verbally beat people up about it because I CANNOT understand why everyone would not do it since it JUST MAKES SENSE to me) and this warps my ability to communicate what an extremely great business opportunity it really is for them as well as everyone they and I know. So I do nothing because the pain of trying and failing is GREATER to me than the pain of just going with the status quo. I really hope that this can be different in that I can do something where I can present the information as it should be, then let the technology keep me supplied with the information on just the people who are really interested in what I have presented while weeding out the people who just may not be ready for it right now. If there were a prize for being able to use the most words to say the least bit I would probably get the GOLD medal for my efforts huh? Keep up the good work. Keep a copy of this so when I make it bug like you, you can show the world if I helped this guy out I can help just about anyone!
P.S. To all the people who commented on the need for a word processing form of the INTERNET BUSINESS PLAN .pdf, I would recommend you have them copy the text of the .pdf onto the clipboard then open up MS Word or what ever they are using for a word processor and paste it into that program, they may need to reformat the Word processor document but it will be good practice for them.
Thanks for the comments Jon
This is a very serious question for me, am I qualified to do internet business being in the third world country? I sense I know the answer but I just want to hear your answer to confirm and remove some of my worries. Ty!
Since I don’t really know you, I can’t say whether you’re “qualified”, but I certainly don’t see any reason why you should not conduct Internet business in a third world country. The Internet is the great leveler of the playing field, and you can play at a global level no matter where you live.
Hi Eric
I posted awhile back and did not see it anywhere. When or where does it show up.Also, as we read these, are we all on the same lesson or are some people on later lessons? Also what does LOL mean.
Comments show up when me or my assistant have time to go through and approve them.
Some people are on different lessons.
LOL = laugh out loud
Hi Eric,
I like your business sheet. It will help me a lot as far as getting more focussed is concerned.
Regards
Butch
Hi Eric
It’s so easy to understand the plan.I never before met like this one.
Regards buren
Eric
Thanks for the PDF, your help is appreciated, it makes things so simple!
John
You know Eric, this lesson gave me a whole new perspective on organizing my thoughts and all the hows and not to’s of a business. Careful thought processing is something I like to do but never knew how to do it with business, thanks!
Eric, as often when I receive lots of info I get in confusion, one silly question (although someone said there aren’t silly questions …)
Do you see the Online Business Plan for each individual project (like the website linked to my name) or to the whole like having my society that has plenty of websites . I hope you understand what I mean
I think both. You need to have a plan for the overall business, as well as a plan for how each individual project is going to make money and contribute to that business.
I don’t create a full blown business plan for each website I launch, but I have a plan it, and understand how it fits into my bigger plan.
Hi Eric: How do you do it? How do you ignore the fact that here you have many people eating out of your hand and you do not pay attention to the fact that they could easily fall prey to your power of suggestion? It’s there, you just have to look at what you are doing with an objective mind. Kudos to you Eric!!
I still do not understand though why you chose to go with a service website, when there are so many items online you could have steered us toward to make money. I hope you truly understand just how badly I want to succeed online. I lost a ton of money with Storesonline and Herballife. Just a couple of my fool-hardy ventures. These people make it all sound so profitable but when you actually get into it, you are more or less left to fend for yourself. The ironic part is, I do not feel any anger or resentment toward these people. Water under the proverbial bridge so they say?
Is it possible to use what we are learning from you in the same way to build a product retail site? I believe it should be, right?
I am really enjoying your lessons and I am learning a lot that I did not know. Do you do any one-on-one?
Kind regards: Jim
Yes you could use the priciples from these lessons to build a product retail website, but we will be focusing specifically on building an information marketing business, wherein we sell information products. I am not offering any 1 on 1 consulting at this time.
Hello Eric,
I just bought Niche Blueprint 2. I want to make an online shop. Do I really need such a business plan for that? Do I need a company at all, for that?
Thank you in advance,
Arne
I recommend developing a business plan for any type of online business that you are starting.
I have not reviewed that product. But in general, if you’re going to follow a system then I would say follow their system and just do what they say to do.
As far as a “company”… that’s up to you. You can certainly run an online business as a sole proprietor. When choosing the classification of your business entitiy (Sole proprietor, LLC, etc) I would suggest talking to either a tax professional or business attorney. There may be tax benefits and liability protection with certain business structures.
Ok, I see… thank you very much again for your tips and recommendations. I think I will start with the shop first, and when everything is looking good, and I will have a constant income stream, I still can open a company, right?! (By the way, I am German)
NB2 is a step by step course, and there are great tools included. I’m very confident now, that I will succeed with this.
But there are also many other things that I am interested in, like CPA. But you have to get approved first, and I heard that it is not that easy to get approved by a CPA Network. So, I will start with the shop first, and will learn nearby other things.
Thank you Eric, and all the best,
Arne
Business Plan
Scott W Kelley Company
My Vision is to live in Northern Michigan in the summer where my children live and to live in Florida for the winter near my parents. I want to have a golf membership this year 2010 and play more golf. I want to be making 50,000 a month residually and have all my debt paid off in the next 5 years. I want to see money deposited into my bank account automatically and never to worry about owing anyone ever again. I will contribute to my community by creating jobs and donating to the local charities doing this by growing my business to exceed my needs. I want to be able to travel the world and take adventures with my daughter April and visit her in Africa and stay with her for a month or two.
The Target Market is anyone who bathes, takes showers, brushes their teeth, does laundry, uses a dish washer, and washes dishes, cleans the bathroom, cleans the kitchen, takes vitamins and who would like to make extra income.
We are selling green safe products for the home and body. We will be selling memberships to a consumer buying organization that rewards their member with discounts on products they use everyday, but safer and less expensive than the competitors.
What makes us different than the competition is we deliver a product that does not use harsh invasive ingredients that can harm our persons and environments. Because we have concentrated packaging we use less plastic which allows our prices to be lower than our competitors. Our products are purchased on line or by phone and delivered to your front door. Because of the membership we save a customer up to 15% when purchasing online from over 400 stores who we are partnered with. Not only that but when you join as a member and if you tell a friend you get rewarded with a check each month which can be used for anything they wish for just shopping, other wise known as Loyalty Dollars. Our competition does not do this at all and when a customer purchases one of their products, they might get a coupon for their next purchase. We are totally different than our competition.
Marketing Strategy
Attractive marketing campaign
By using Word Press Blog and Blogger I will write articles on all the different products as a review using testimonial to the products. We will also discuss health issues, concerns and solutions by using our product.
By creating these posts of information, one blog for the health and one blog for the business opportunity I will spin new articles to be submitted as fresh content to drive traffic to my sites. This method has proven over time to still work very well to promote and drive traffic to our sites. We will also be using RSS Feed, Blog commenting, Forum Posting and Press Releases.
Social Bookmarking will be utilized as also to share the articles that I have written.
PPC will become a future option as the business grows.
Goals at this time are set to drive traffic and write and publish articles. It takes about two weeks till they will get picked up and by Feb 28th I should be able to measure my progress and to improve. The goal is to have 8 new people in my organization by the 28th of Feb, 2010.
To achieve this I will have to write and submit everyday, and as I am new I can not over play my position by over submitting. Quality articles with good information with problems, solutions and testimonials will be the foundation of the content. This will assure the article will live on and produce quality traffic for many years. Building the foundations right now is crucial for establishing authorship and there is good reason to as articles may get picked up three times faster when there is credibility.
Eric, Just want to say thank you for helping me along. I have suggested this to many people. Hope they come here and get your lessons. Thanks again!
Thank you very much!
Eric, Thank you for these lessons I appreciate all the effort you have made to create them. You have taught me how important it is to let people know who you are and how you can serve them before you can expect them to do business with you on an ongoing basis. I look forward to your future emails that link to your future lessons. Thank you for your unique approach.
I wrote a business plan for an import export business and sent it to the SBA and they suggested I take a marketing class before they would get involved with the start up capital I needed mainly for advertising,like 75%,anyway I never followed through,allthough I have been trying to start an online business ever since that would not need all the thousands I don’t have to start,because I know I have the intelligence and the drive to succeed.
Hi Eric,
I’m so pleased that your tips get right to the basics and are so step by step with such detail. They are so helpful to us newbies. You lay it out so simple from the ground up.
This has been a great lesson once again. You have brought to our attention a basic but simple ingredient often overlooked. Most of us have heard of business plans but we don’t think about them when starting an online business. You have given me another great tip that will shape the way my business will be molded.
Thank you once again Eric.
Frank
PS. Eric I see that some of the post have a picture. How do you do that?
Thanks Eric for this it is very usful and i will follow those guide lines and new ideas.
I really appreciate what you are doing from the bottom of my heart!I paid money to get materials on internet marketing but to be sincere, it was only when i started following your tips that i became convinced about the whole thing. Your lessons are down to earth and easy to understand and you are a great teacher. Thank you so much.
Thank you for the MS Word option. Now I can save my multiple site/business plans individually–on the computer, each under it’s perspective title. Paper gets lost around here.
hi Eric thanks about your business plan
Business plan, Thank you so much, That’s great.
Eric you are so wonderful, I am a nigerian and will use this to tell alll the AFRICAN YOUTHS HERE AND EVRYWHERE,There are more than enough jobs online than SCAM……
Thanks Eric.
You get to the point, business plan is just what I need. I need to get organized to get things done.
Thank you so much for this information. It was very useful and sooo kind of you to provide it for free.
Thanks Eric, a real time saver and easy to pin up and use as a reminder of the goals! Which is as you planned?
Organized? This has been my downfall, I already knew this but this and your other lesson so far point it out. Thank You I’m beginning to feel able to grasp the material
I’m ready for the next lesson
Thanks so much eric , your lessons are just the brain sharpener I needed to make my own million dollar very soon D.V.
I am visualizing myself up there already , thanks again
Orginizational and time-management skills are very important when planning a successful business.
I think this old! novice needs a little more help.. I am still not able to get a pdf file set up or able to look at or down load. I have tried in lesson 15 to down load the business plan and not able to look at the plan it’s self. Can you help? I keep getting error message not able to up date adobie reader 9.0 what step am I not doing right to complete pdf file to a readable form and acceptmence of program update??
I’m afraid that would be a question for Adobe. I’m assuming you tried downloading the latest version at:
http://get.adobe.com/reader/
And they do have a support forum available here:
http://forums.adobe.com/community/adobe_reader_forums/adobe_reader
Great Stuff Eric Thanks