Maria's Online Business Plan

Do You Have an Online Business Plan?

Your business plan has been carefully drafted, written and

re-written and is ready for implementation. You may have

spent weeks or months writing it, and it represents all of the

goals and objectives for your business. You will definitely

have a website because you know that in today’s business

world, that’s a necessity and it is mentioned somewhere in

the marketing section of your website. There is even a line

item in your start-up budget for its development and

implementation, with a corresponding expense line item

for hosting and occasional content updates.

Have you drafted your online business plan?

If you have not, then you have missed an important step in

your business planning process. An e-business plan integrates

your website and your business model and addresses website

planning, development, marketing and management. It will ensure

that your content targets the right customer type, enables you to

realize the full value of the Internet as a marketing tool, and creates

a process for informing and communicating with your customers.

For example, while listing your website with search engines will help

you reach customers who are looking for similar websites, how can

you entice them to search for your website? And what will they find

when they get there? There are more effective methods of attracting

your customers to your website than search engine listings.

Are you aware of how to use them? Studies show that regular

contact with customers helps to maintain your relationship with

them and generates referral business. Are you aware of the best

contact technologies available today? Your customers will expect

content variety and incentive to return to your website. How will you

ensure that those processes are in place and that they are completed

in a timely manner? Your e-business plan will address those issues,

as well as find the right mix of on- and off-line marketing tools, and

establish procedures for e-business management.

Palo Alto Software is the first business planning software provider

to include an e-business planning guide, The e-Business Primer,

which can be purchased either in a bundle with Business Plan Pro

software, or as a stand-alone guide. The Internet presents a wide

range of marketing and communications opportunities for every business.

Making those opportunities a reality requires careful planning, thoughtful

assessment and directed focus. The e-business Primer provides you

with the planning and decision-making tools to develop and

implement your e-business strategy as you develop your business

plan and place your business at the forefront of this exciting global

environment. The ideas, goals and strategies you will formulate with

the help of The e-Business Primer will aid you in producing a successful,

well-planned e-business or e-commerce venture.