You are reading this post because you want to either launch your online business or turbo-charge your already existing online business, which ever be the case, you are in the right post.

But like every other business, there is a right way to do online business and this also means that there’s also a wrong way.

My objective in writing this post is to point you in the right way in your quest to launching or re-launching your online business in Nigeria.

This is the first part of a two-part series; you can read up the second part of this post on my Blog after you have read this post.

I’m going to go through the most common mistakes people make while starting their online business (it’s possible you are already making some of them already); and I’ll proffer a solution to each of these mistakes.

Are you ready? Ok, let’s go.

1. Waiting Too Long To Launch A Product/Service

This is by far one of the most common mistakes that people make; they think they need to have run their blog for some time before introducing a product/service; if you rented a shop, do you say, I have to wait till I have paid some more rent on this shop for a couple of months or years before I stock the shop? If your answer is No, then why do you think you need to wait for some time before selling product or offering your service on your blog?

Listen, the moment your blog/website is live, you should start monetizing immediately; once you are adding value on your blog by creating valuable contents, people will buy from you.

2. Solving An Unimportant Problem

Another mistake people make is solving a problem that people don’t really care about.

I hear newbie online marketers say ‘I have been selling/offering my services on my blog/website, but nobody is buying’; and they tend to conclude that internet marketing does not work or does not work for all business or that you need to have been in it for a long time before it can yield results.

But imagine if you had the cure for HIV; will HIV patients not seek you out?

Your task is to find out the problem that is a top priority for your audience and provide a solution to it. What you need is to look for more important problems to solve, not a bigger audience.


3. Not Really Listening To Customers

How do you then find out what problem is top priority for your audience/customers? It’s by listening to them.

One principle of Relationship Marketing is to listen to your customers and provide what they want not what you think is best for them; what they want is what they’ll pay for and that’s what will give them the utmost satisfaction. So listen to them-they are Kings.

4. Not Being Different

One temptation is to look around to see how other businesses are offering their products/services and doing the same thing; but you’ve got to be different, always play to your strength and let your customers know the difference between you and competition.

Seek what has not been done or a better way(s) to do what has been done.

5. Choosing A Topic You Don’t Care About

I wrote extensively about this in this post http://danewah.com/7-ways-to-consistently-drive-quality-traffic-to-your-blog-posts/ I might have to beg you here, don’t ever go into an online business you are not passionate about; the reason is that you will not succeed if you are not passionate about that particular niche/market that you have chosen.

For you to succeed in online business, you need to be blogging consistently; for example, you need passion to be able to consistently churn out quality posts without compromising on the value and quality of your blog posts.


Action Point: What have you learnt from this post? What mistake were you on the verge of making or already making? Let me know about it in the comment area, I’ll respond

I assume this is for those living in Nigeria right? Cux folks from the West/ern world won't risk buying anything online from Nigeria.

.second to comment!!!!!!!!! Dancing Azonto

Too straight and normal.

What's this new "boards" about

9ce 1

nice one.

Very good post, for you that don't understand is better to keep quiet and learn. I have been sent millions of naira to build houses for people abroad without any refferal but my blog.

very true, very relevant, very valid. nice one op!

following

Gudgud

Nice write up.

how does this change the price of garri in the market

this is lovely post, been enlightened by this post. tanks

Thanks

whats with this Board i'm seeing on my profile

Iceberyln: .second to comment!!!!!!!!! Danceing Azonto

@ your age you cannot spell dancing? your teacher should be jailed

Nice One bro, but the problem now is how do we FIND what people really Want? PLUS Who are the people who need It? EXPLAIN BETTER

JAH BLESS...

dannish247: You are reading this post because you want to either launch your online business or turbo-charge your already existing online business, which ever be the case, you are in the right post.

...

2. Solving An Unimportant Problem

Another mistake people make is solving a problem that people don’t really care about.

I hear newbie online marketers say ‘I have been selling/offering my services on my blog/website, but nobody is buying’; and they tend to conclude that internet marketing does not work or does not work for all business or that you need to have been in it for a long time before it can yield results.

But imagine if you had the cure for HIV; will HIV patients not seek you out?

Your task is to find out the problem that is a top priority for your audience and provide a solution to it. What you need is to look for more important problems to solve, not a bigger audience.

...

4. Not Being Different

One temptation is to look around to see how other businesses are offering their products/services and doing the same thing; but you’ve got to be different, always play to your strength and let your customers know the difference between you and competition.

Seek what has not been done or a better way(s) to do what has been done.

...

@OP. If only people will listen to those points!

If I get #100 for every time someone approached me to build a Facebook or Nairaland clone, I will be a VERY rich man today.

The world needs something new and you as an investor or entrepreneur need to think about something different that touches lives in new ways.

wise_many2k:

@ your age you cannot spell dancing? your teacher should be jailed

no 1 is above mistake

R2bees: whats with this Board i'm seeing on my profile

What board?

@ dannish247: well said,but do you think affiliate marketing pays in Nigeria?

Nice Post

Noted

Iceberyln: .second to comment!!!!!!!!! Dancing Azonto

so?

Very interesting topic.
Cant stress the point about passion enough. If you don't enjoy it, you'll fall flat on your face. The passion has to be palpable to provoke interest in the ever growing competitive space.

Iceberyln: .second to comment!!!!!!!!! Dancing Azonto

and you are still not rich

.I will agree with you on some points, you are correct. Other problems are with the buyers/customers, most Nigerian's don't tend to believe the reality of internet marketing. They think its impossible, and fake. Causing them not to buy from the internet. Its very difficult to get customers to buy from you online.

Sorry but this piece of write up lacks substance, I wonder how it made front page.

Do you make up to $1,000 monthly from your online biz

thirdeye: Very good post, for you that don't understand is better to keep quiet and learn. I have been sent millions of naira to build houses for people abroad without any refferal but my blog.

Your blog please?