by Adrian Garrett

Created on: June 11, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2010

Can you really start up an Internet Business overnight on a shoestring?

I read in an article today that you could start an Internet business with little to no money, have it up and running within a matter of hours, and start producing profits immediately. Fantastic. Amazing. Wow. Count me in.

But then there was a little bit on the end that said if you know what you're doing.'

And here's the catch do you know what you're doing? Is it really possible to start an Internet Business overnight on a shoestring? Because if you don't manage your expectations at the beginning, you'll become disheartened and dejected and fall off the wagon before it's even got rolling.

The article went on to talk about Autoresponders, ftp, web design, HTML and so. And rightly so. These are all integral parts of getting your Internet Business up and running. But on a shoestring? Overnight?

There was only the slightest hint of a learning curve in the article. And who is going to be on your shoulder to motivate you and push you and make sure you get things done? And you need to know where to look for the right cost-effective tools.

Let's be really honest, it will take more than a few days for a non-techy to get there head around designing and posting a website. Deciding who you want to host your domain can be as confusing as which Autoresponder product should you use.

So what is really achievable? What are the real timescales? What are the real costs?

It's seems apparent to me that it depends on the answer to of a number of simple questions. Questions that you need to think about and answer honesty so that you can manage your expectations from the start.
Do you already have a product?
Do you have a name for it?
Do you really know your budget?
Are you technically minded?
How much time do you have for research?
And so on, and so on.
Because the answers to these simple questions will determine how long it will take to get your business up and running.

My point is this.
We all need help and assistance when we start something new.
We all need someone to hold our hand and guide us every now and then.
We all need someone to help motivate us and encourage us when we lose focus.
We all need a plan or some kind. A strategy.
We need someone to challenge us with the right questions, in the right order and at the right time.

We must manage our expectations from the outset (that doesn't mean we can't aim high!).

Also, we're all basically lazy and want to get all this help and advice and support in one place. We want it in a form that we can easily assimilate. And perhaps more importantly we want it in a visual form rather than in a book. We wanr to be told what to do and when.

So perhaps we should be seeking a mentor who has done it all before. Someone who can coach us and show us and keep us motivated. Because let's face it, it's never as simple as people say or is it?

Get real and manage your expectations before you become disheartened and feel overwhelmed.

Learn more about this author, Adrian Garrett.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.