Sutherland Shire Families Move towards the Internet

Sutherland Shire families are being squeezed financially, and are resorting to trying any or all of the internet scams advertised on the internet. Internet business' are best assessed through offline enquiries, length of time the business has been in operation, product or service demand, ease of operation, start up costs and time in which investment can be re-couped. Sutherland Shire, Sydney business presentation to cover interactive internet marketing, business plan and product demonstration on Wednesday, 15th October.

Time-poor Sydney families with young children are constantly being squeezed by economic pressures such as increasing land values and subsequent high council rates, high rents and higher taxation responsibilities. Increasingly there is a definite move toward finding alternative sources of income beyond the traditional means. Small random numbers taken within the last two to three months, has shown that 10% of business opportunity seekers on the net live in the Sutherland Shire or surrounding areas. Many families turn to the internet because of its appeal of offering an income source that can work 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, with less up front investment than a normal retail shop or manufacturing facility would involve.

Typically, the kind of internet home business opportunity which promises thousands of dollars of profit, for little or no financial investment and little or no effort on the part of the recipient, smacks of an internet scam or at the very least, a fly by night operation with ineffective, unviable infrastructure with high debt levels.

Internet business should be researched thoroughly before a decision can be made about them. They are best assessed using the following criteria:

1.   Ring the company directly. Write down the phone number and ring them -- are they a one man operation, did they have a quick response time, where exactly are the Head Offices situated -- are they a public or private company, are they listed on the Australian Stock Exchange ?

2.   The length of time that the business has been in operation can be taken as an obvious indication about how stable the company is. The majority of Australian business fail in their first year, so a business that has been established for the last 10 or more years can offer the stability that relatively young companies cant.

3.   Product or service demand is an essential criteria, and sometimes overlooked aspect when searching for a work from home opportunity. Products or services that are viewed by the consumer as essential will offer wider markets and increased scope for growth. At the same time, products directed towards niche markets will offer the opportunity to market to extremely targeted markets. A mix of the two is the ideal product and service balance.

4.   After getting caught up in the hype or excited about the new found income source, the logistics of running an internet business is one of the things that most people dont think about. It is a common misconception that an internet business will take little or no effort to operate. The initial setup of the website and associated mechanisms such as autoresponder and such usually require a lot of attention and time. The ongoing time investment will range from individual to individual, but will generally demand atleast 20 hours per week, depending on the individuals own personal goals.

Can this business be run effectively around children / current job commitments, how will orders be taken / delivered, how will payment be taken, how will repeat business be obtained etc. The home business that offers built in mechanisms and infrastructure to maintain and service customers are extremely viable and lucrative.

5.   When going into business, there is always the dreaded startup capital that you will need to use to get started. This is unavoidable, even with internet business -- especially with internet business. You will typically have to pay website design and hosting fees, ongoing credit card or payment facility fees, ongoing advertising costs as well as the initial fees to join and market the companys wares.    This initial investment should be regarded in perspective of the potential revenue that could reasonably be expected to be made in the first year. For example, an initial investment of $700 would need to yield atleast $7000 revenue within the first year, to be considered viable. A viable internet home business will take about six months to a year to achieve profit revenues.

Internet websites are the cheapest form of advertising, thats why they are so widespread, however, they are also the most misunderstood method of making money. Internet home business can be both a nightmare and a godsend. Evaluating each opportunity and idea according to the above guidelines, could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, as well as months of your time.

Internet home business generally are advertised on the internet, regardless of whether the opportunity is above board. An internet home business overview and presentation will be held on Wednesday, 15th October 2003 at 11.30 am, to start at 12 sharp, at the home of Jenny Mathers, 55a Warrah Road, Yowie Bay. Ring 0405 601 186 to reserve your place. The seminar will cover how to operate a legitimate internet business from home, effective strategies on earning ongoing income, as well as business plan and product viewings and demonstrations.