Doing Business Online
SHERICE JACOB

What motivates you to remain focused on growing your business/website?
More than anything, I love helping people do things that they never thought possible. For many business owners, just getting a website up and running is a very challenging, time-consuming task.

Making the decision to doing business online can seem overwhelming at first, but by researching the best options for your needs and budget, you can make it happen.

In my business, I try to make the entire process flow as smoothly and simply as possible. I'm always glad to answer questions and educate my clients on the best ways to make the most out of their website.

The way I look at it, they've invested their money and hopes in me, and my goal is to repay that investment tenfold.

What has been your greatest challenge as a business leader, and how did you overcome it?
My greatest challenge for doing business online has to be differentiating myself from other web designers out there. There are people who conduct their business simply in their spare time, after school and such, but oftentimes when the site is done, so is the service.

To differentiate myself, I focused on much more than a customer/sale relationship. I look at my clients as good friends and always treat them as such. I'm always happy to break down technical terms, walk them through adding a product to their online inventory, or help them brainstorm ideas for new marketing campaigns.

In the end, clients always know they can count on me, and I like that.

Describe the most important activity(ies) you do regularly, that you attribute to the success of your site?
I do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions, whether to myself, to existing clients, or to other business owners.

I'm not one to sit back and rest on my laurels after a job well done. I continually ask myself, "What can I improve on? Is there anything I'm missing? How can I make this better?"

As a result, my website grows with the needs and wants of my clientele, and even though I know you can't please all the people all the time, I feel I do a pretty good job making the most of the feedback I get!

Do you own other internet businesses? If so, what product or service does it offer?
Even though my mind is forever churning out new ideas for doing business online, I often find that my time to devote to them is limited. (I'm much too busy and too enthralled in helping other people succeed anyway!)

However, I do also own www.mascotartist.com - a site which provides custom mascot characters and illustrations for company logos and branding purposes. I work with an exceptionally talented team of artists and have worked with clients all over the world.

What is your greatest accomplishment relating to your site?
To have finally "taken the plunge" in doing business online, despite all the nay-sayers who are always whispering in your ear "there's too much competition...the market is saturated...you can't compete with prices from [insert country name here].

If I had listened to that nonsense, I never would have had the grand opportunity to help others succeed...and that, I feel, is what being a leader is all about!

How would you recommend others get started on creating a website?
Well, as a web designer myself, this answer might be somewhat biased! :) Seriously though, my honest advice is to do your own research and hire a professional web designer.

Don't base your decision on price alone, but don't be taken advantage of either. Price is a factor, yes, but also look at the quality of work in the portfolio, the type of services offered and the responsiveness of the designer. If you have to pay a little more to get a broader range of services or better quality, do so. In the long run, you don't want to be left hanging with a partially-completed site developed by someone you can never reach after you've paid them!

I know that a lot of people have been burned by "bad" designers who didn't deliver what they promised. Naturally your reaction would be to go with one of those "quickie" template site builders where you control everything yourself. In cases like these, while I applaud anyone's effort to go at it themselves, I should stress again that while these page builder-type sites are a good starting place, the credibility of your business will grow exponentially when you have a professionally, custom-designed site.

What advice would you offer to others wanting to generate income on the Internet?
I would advise you to make the extra effort on customer service. When doing business online, delivering quality customer service can be a really challenging area since there will always be customers who, for whatever reason, are not satisfied with your product or service.

Instead of just giving up, find out from them what you can do to improve your service. Be honest, and be thick-skinned, because chances are, they'll really let you have it if you've disappointed them!

Be willing to accept praise and criticism with equal grace and understanding. Really strive to over-deliver, and don't fall into the tempting trap of doing "just enough" to make your customers happy. Doing business online successfully, you should strive to make your customers ELATED to do business with you!

Describe your favorite leadership tool?
One of my favorite quotes is "Success comes when preparation meets opportunity". As for books, I highly recommend Jay Abraham's "Getting everything you can out of all you've got" and David Schwartz's "The Magic of Thinking Big".

After reading these books, you'll realize that you are destined for great things. Get out there and make something of yourself!

Any last "Words of Wisdom"?
Never accept failure or mediocrity as having "the last word" in your business or in your life.

When you prime yourself for success, nothing can stop you!

We're constantly seeking highly effective tools and resources that assist in doing business online. Share your own helpful hints and tips here.

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