Where to begin

Okay I have said time and time again, starting a business online is literally as easy as signup, opt in, and pay. Anyone at all can do it. My 9 year old could do this. This is why I don't teach people how to start businesses and I don't give out advice on starting businesses (unless specifically asked). Instead I assume everyone has the intelligence to start a business and pick a product they believe in. Its stressed everywhere on the net so I don't need to stress it. My goal is to teach people how to take their business, and make it a success. There is always one starting place when it comes to business that in my opinion, is a never fail starting place. If you start here and succeed - you WILL succeed in business. If you start here and fail, you WILL fail in business. So where is the starting place? KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS You need to know who you intend to sell your product or service to. It doesn't matter what you are selling. It doesn't make one bit of difference how much or little money you have to spend on advertising. It just doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is knowing your customers. This is where nearly all your marketing focus belongs, on your customers. You need to learn about the people who buy the products you intend to sell. You need to know where the hardcore product users gather and discuss things, you need to know the age ranges of your customers, you need to know what types of sites they frequent, you need to know if they are tech savvy, you need to know where they shop, what websites they visit, what they eat for food, and basically every last detail you can learn about them. This makes marketing easy. You know where your customers are, you know who to target, you know how to target them... all this comes from knowing your customer. You know if they are more acceptable to video or textual marketing methods (for example don't try to sell products to linux users with video, they are more likely to read manuals and learn details). Knowing your customer is everything in this industry. You will note that I have VERY different marketing methods than that of Harry S. yet we are both equally successful. Why? Because the truth is despite any debates we have or any difference of marketing methods, we both know our customer, and we know where they hang out online and we how to get their attention. That's what really matters in business. Its not about what you join, its not about what you sell, its not about branding, its not about selling yourself, its not about pictures, its bout knowing your customers! Any other marketing topic, comes in second to that - because your customers will ALWAYS define your business model and your sales model. Business 101 Step 1: Know Your Customers