So you've decided to start a home business... well bravo for you! But before you begin, there are a few things you should know before strutting down the yellow brick road.

Rule #1 - Know your product. It seems like a simple enough statement, but there's so much to consider. You must be an expert at whatever product or service you're offering to your customers. For myself, it's original comic art. I have spent years researching and following tastes and trends in the industry. I can look at a piece of art and not only tell you what it's market price is, but how it would sell at different times of the year. Having a grasp of your services works the same way.

Rule #2 - Know your customers. Again, something that might be simple taken at face value. But getting yourself stuck in the mire of pre-conceived public notions can get you in trouble. If I thought that all of my customers were similar to the 'Comic Book Guy' on the Simpson's, I wouldn't move a single piece of inventory. Remember that your customer's tastes vary from the high end collectable to the low-end mass produced print. They are lawyers, doctors, military service members, high school kids and drop-outs.


Rule #3 - Know how to reach your target audience. By getting your message to them as directly as possible saves you the frustration of an inflated marketing budget and it allows them to reach you with minimal searching. They can't buy from someone they don't know about... right?

Rule #4 - Know you competition. Now it starts to get a bit tricky. Patton laughed at Rommel's North African defeat believing the victory was due to his reading of the German General's book on armored strategy. This is not to be taken lightly. Knowing who your competitors are and what their marketing strategies consist of can give you the upper edge. Not to say your competition is your mortal enemy, but know that profits are on the line and you want the largest slice of pie.

Rule #5 - Know your sales platform. Simplicity is the key. Are your products prominently displayed? Your prices? Your shipping details? Be aware of every intricacy of your web site. Really get intimate with your links and your mapping system. Continually navigate your site ensure simplicity and internal pathways. If your customer leaves, they very well not come back.

Of course, there are many more aspects of maintaining an online business, but these 5 rules are deigned to get you off on the right track. Good luck in your endeavors!
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