Many people dream of starting a home based business - today, there is nothing stopping you but you. Anyone with a web connection, a plan, and the drive and talent to follow it through can be a successful entrepreneur.

One of the most difficult portions of getting started is that there are a few basic things you need to accomplish prior to commencement.

1. You need to write a business plan. Just like an airplane needs a flight plan to reach its destination, so too does a business need a plan to accomplish its goals and become successful. This is especially important when dealing with online based businesses. Your plan needs to include market research, a look at the competition and what they're doing and an outline of our anticipated clients and your financial goals.

Most importantly, your business plan needs to know where your traffic will be coming from. This is a special piece that all web-based businesses must add.

Every business needs a store to visit and online is no different. In order to sell your wares, you'll need a storefront in the form of a website. a. your business home page is all about you, your business and the services offered. It is a portal or doorway to what you are selling and it's like decorating a window with all of your sales and products. b. You'll need something to keep customers on your site: a squeeze page, survey, or fun poll, maybe, free downloads, good pictures, reviews, an online community - you get the idea. Offers of goodies will make your webpage memorable and act as an incentive to return. c. Forums will allow customers to interact with you and each other. They can ask questions, get answers and state opinions. You can offer them a discount coupon, offer a free report in exchange for signing up for your mailing list. You'll want some kind of feedback mechanism so that you can get to know your customers.

3. Write a sales plan. A sales plan can be very complex, taking into account every step to success or simple like an online sales letter outlining what you sell. Most people when starting go with the simpler sales page; however, which ever you decide, you need to get the piece right, so make sure you do some research before you start building.

4. Test you system. Ask for feedback about what's good and what's not on your sales page. Look at it critically yourself. The biggest sales stopper for new online businesses is sales copy with problem. It could be as simple as the copy is boring. It doesn't grab the reader or give them an incentive to read past the headline. Have your friends and relatives read and test the sales copy, then tweak it and have them do it again. After you think it's the best it can be and you have a stable system, test it from time to time and every time you make a change just to make sure it continues to work.

5. Build profits. Now that your business is online, up and running, build your product line. Focus on back-end products which are the ones that are not on the front page. Sell your current customers more stuff once they trust you. This is a warm market and really where your profits come from. New customers are cold; they hesitate, wonder if you will deliver a quality product for their money. Give them free stuff with their initial purchase so that they get to know you and your credibility grows.

6. Revisit all these steps periodically. The Internet is changing so rapidly, it's hard to keep up with it. More than traditional businesses, you need to keep checking progress and revisiting goals to ensure your business is doing what it should be doing.

This sounds like a lot of work, but look at it this way: you won't be buying suits, commuting to work, or going to lunch with people you only tolerate. No more business meetings! No more voice mail! And no more answering to the boss who knows less than you! In the end, it's all worth it.

Learn tips for marketing an online business, or how to start a home based internet business. Visit the website marketing tips blog at http://www.nitromarketing.com/blog