Are you thinking about using the Internet to develop a new income stream. Before you do, consider the following points:

1. The Internet is crowded. As more and more people bring their businesses online, consumers have many more choices. As a result, bringing people to your site and getting them to spend money with you requires a serious investment of time and effort. If anyone tells you that making money online is easy, don’t believe them.

2. A simple brochure site has value. If you don’t have the time, energy, or funds to build a sophisticated site with lots of bells and whistles, a simple brochure can be a sales aid. When you hand someone a business card with a Web address, they will go online to check you out. Having a clear description of your business and contact information is essenial.

3. Even a simple brochure site should look professional. If you use one of the do-it-yourself template platforms. you will still have to spend some time setting it up and getting it to function properly. Template sites are less flexible than either HTML or WordPress sites.

4. It’s not the design that sells, it’s the copy! Selling goods and services online requires some knowledge of direct response copywriting. If you don’t have experience writing benefits-oriented sales copy, get help. Keep in mind that only one in 10 page views lasts more than two minutes. (Most pages are viewed for 10 seconds or less.) Be sure to have strong headlines with benefits to the viewer. Copy includes any sales aids you might use such as audio, images, and video.

5. Build it and they will come is a fantasy. Building a site is only step one. Once your site is up and running, you have to market the site both online and off in order to build site traffic and develop relationships with potential customers. There are lots of programs for sale that will tell you how to make money online, but in order for them to work, you have to put in the effort and familiarize yourself with the technology.

6. Who you are will affect your results. People who make a lot of money online — and they do exist — have drive, ambition, and sales skills, and are good networkers and communicators. They usually love to work, are disciplined, and have a passion for what they are offering. They are also very aware of the available technologies and how best to use them. In lieu of the right skills, they can afford to hire others who can help. If you are missing some of these attributes, you can still develop profitable income streams online if you learn the basics and get some help.

7. Your relationship with money matters. Your ability to keep up-to-date records, effectively manage cash flow, detach your emotions from your finances, and understand the world of finance will contribute to your potential for financial success. If you haven’t cleaned up your money mess, it’s best to do it before starting an online venture.

FYI: I’ve been doing business online since 1995. As part of my coaching work, I am now helping small business owners and practitioners develop affordable, effective Web sites. For complete information and site pricing, visit www.SotkinWeb.com.