Friends, family, and even strangers are intrigued by our lifestyle, and they always have lots of questions for us.
Ultimately, people want to know if online business is something they can do, too. My response is simple, yet complex.
“Online business is for anyone, but it’s not for everyone.”
What exactly does that mean?
The basic concept of dreaming up a new business is something anyone can do.
Just think of something you’re interested in or something you’re good at, and think of a product or service you could sell to people.
When Shane and I started our first online businesses, we had no shortage of interests and product ideas.
The Internet has truly leveled the playing field for all kinds of businesses.
Twenty-five years ago, if you were interested in something like deadwood bonsai techniques, you would need to start a corner bonsai store and rely on traditional advertising to get the word out about your products.
My guess is that your bonsai business wouldn’t last long (assuming you live in a town like mine).
Today, you can do a quick web search and find over 50,000 websites discussing this obscure topic. With over 7 billion people on Earth, odds are other people share your bonsai interest.
The Internet makes it possible to reach out to those people, and more importantly, sell them relevant products.
Think about your interests and hobbies. Is there something you always search for on the Internet but can’t find? That could be a great opportunity for an online business! Now it’s time for the tricky part – taking action.
Anyone can have an idea and start an Internet business, but not everyone will take action.
We ultimately decided what to focus on by creating websites that revolved around tasks we were already doing. That way, if we didn’t sell anything, we would at least be able to use the content we created to make our lives easier. We decided on a business idea and saw it through to completion. Thankfully, we didn’t fail.
Wow, so you guys got lucky, right?
Not exactly. We believe you make your own luck.
Our online business success was mostly a result of lots of research and hard work.
We constantly read books and blog posts and listened to podcasts to learn more and more about online business.
We worked late almost every evening after our kids went to bed.
We took advantage of time off work to create content and products to sell.
When we weren’t working at our old jobs, our lives revolved around our church, our children, and building online businesses for an entire year.
We also had a few other things working in our favor.
First, my sister had been self-employed through online business for about a year before we got started and has really helped us out a lot – especially with web design (check out her website, Nuts and Bolts Media).
Second, Shane is crazy (but in a good way). He is pretty relentless when he gets obsessed with something, and boy did he get obsessed with online business.
Next, we’re kind of nerdy. We have a lot of prior experience with technology that comes in handy when developing websites, such as Adobe Illustrator, HTML, and audio/video editing software like Audacity and Camtasia Studio 8.
Finally, I had worked in sales and marketing for several years in the past, so I knew a little bit about marketing in general (but had a lot to learn about online marketing!). I think people are sometimes surprised to hear that our new jobs, while awesome, do require work.
Online business is not a “get rich quick” scheme.
Our schedules are flexible, and we’re able to do things we couldn’t do while working 9 to 5, but it doesn’t mean we’re not working behind the scenes to keep everything going.
I’m not afraid of a little hard work. Could online business be right for me?
Maybe, but it’s not going to happen unless you take action! If you’re willing to put in the time to learn new things and you’re ready to juggle work, family, and online business responsibilities, you should go for it! Who knows? You may be where we are by this time next year!
You can connect with S&J on social media too!
Lawrence Mak says
I think everyone can jump into the sea of internet marketing, but not everyone can swim to the shore at the other side. If they did it, they are success and make money.
If they don’t, they fail and drown. Only 3% of internet marketers can swim to the other end, while 97% drown and fail.
Dave Starr says
Lawrence, with respect I think your assessment is a little too dramatic and you make online failures sound a bit to much like real life drowning.
Sure, someone may, for example, decide to publish an eBook on some aspect of their life and then find the “market” doesn’t seem to like it. OK, that’s a “failure” but It’s hardly unusual or life threatening or anything like that. There’s nothing invested to speak of and the entrepreneur can just tirn around,do some better research to make sure there’s a demand, and produce another product to try again .. once more at virtually no cost.
Don’t know where you’re from or if you follow the “other” football … not the one that Shane coaches ;-), but even if you are not a soccer fan you probably have heard of David Beckham. His success ratio for taking “free shots”, perhaps the easiest shots to make in the game, is less than 10%. So should he retire from professional soccer since he “fails” so many times?
To continue with another sports example, the famous Wayne Gretzky, one of the most awesome hockey players ever, summed it all up pretty well … “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”.
Take a shot, the ice will support you ….
Fórmula do Negócio Online says
Man, awesome phrase!
“Online business is for anyone, but it’s not for everyone.”
For me is really new, and I will for sure add it to my site!
That’s the perfect explanation for what I feel, awesome!
Thanks
Jocelyn Sams says
Thanks for your kind words! 🙂
Bryanna says
Thanks for the tips! Your story is so inspiring! I am hoping to be where you are next year at this time!
Amanda says
Hello Jocelyn and Shane,
You’re blog and story are very inspiring! I’ve been wanting to find the right online business idea for some time now and it’s stories like yours that help me to keep trying.
I was wondering how you validated your ideas? I’m wanting to validate an idea that has to do with education, but from the parents perspective. I just don’t really know how to go about it.
Thank you for any help you can offer!
Amanda Swartz
from WhenFailureIsNotAnOption.com
Shane Sams says
When we have a big idea, we usually break it down into parts. We give part 1 away for free. If a lot of people show interest, we ask those people if they would like MORE of the product. If they do…we make more and charge for it. That is pretty much our general strategy for validating an idea. The key is getting your stuff in people’s hands for free…and then asking them what they want. Give them what THEY want, not what YOU want to give them.
Alyce says
Thanks for the post you guys have done a great job! I have had an offline business for several years and have just taken the plunge into the online game. I like how you reminded us that it’s not about luck it’s about working hard to achieve your goals – this is true for any business not just online!
Carlo says
Thanks for the tips! Your story is so inspiring!
Clede Nilson Costa says
Man, awesome phrase!
“Online business is for anyone, but it’s not for everyone.”
For me is really new, and I will for sure add it to my site!
Adriano Lopes says
Excellent story, thanks for sharing.
curso tpia says
Thanks for sharing.
Rolen says
wow yeah, thank you to sharing
Higor says
In my point of view, I believe that everyone can get into internet marketing, but not everyone gets great results. That’s because a lot give up very easy, Only 5% of the people who get involved in the business will have satisfactory results.