Every Internet business -- every business of any sort in fact -- starts in the same place.
In the future.
Most entrepreneurs think first of how they want their business to look when it's all set up. They imagine the products prepared, the marketing streams in place and the revenue flowing in while they relax and cash the checks.
Then they start thinking of how they're going to get there.
There's nothing wrong with that way of working.
It's always best to start with a vision and have clear goals and milestones that will take you there.
But there's a difference between planning for the future and preparing for the future.
A plan for the future will help make sure that things go right.
Preparing for the future means that you're ready when things go wrong. And something somewhere will always go wrong eventually.
The easiest way to be ready is to create your content well in advance. If you write your blog posts or your articles on the same day you post them then it wouldn't take more than a bad cold to throw you out of kilter. Regular users who expect to see your content will turn up to find old posts instead of fresh news.
For a day or two, it's not a disaster. But if your cold lingers or if you just feel too ill to face writing, you'll notice the drop in traffic. As an entrepreneur, not only do you not get sick pay but when you get sick, you pay.
If you have a bank of articles prepared though, it won't take more than a few minutes to upload something from the files and keep your website ticking over until you feel better.
You'll also be able to review it with fresh eyes before it goes up -- which can help to iron out the bumps -- and best of all, it means that you can take a day or two off on the spur of the moment without damaging your business.
You just have refill the bank at a later date.
That's not just preparing for the future, it's giving you the future you planned now.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
November 10, 2008 11:33 AM
This is very true. Most bloggers are one man shop. Say you get arrested and go to jail. who would mind the store? Its a terrible feeling and many have no idea how to be prepared.
November 10, 2008 11:43 AM
Awesome, it's good to remember basic steps like this when looking to the future. There's more content out there then ever and people won't waste time to move onto something new and fresh if you're old and stale.
November 10, 2008 12:12 PM
"As an entrepreneur, not only do you not get sick pay but when you get sick, you pay."
Joel, You are so right. In the course of a 40+ year career I've been through two major business collapses due to extended periods of ill health. It's no joke.
My advice to everyone who thinks it couldn't possibly happen to them - Think again!
November 10, 2008 03:17 PM
Very constructive advise, i will definitely start filling up my bank.
November 11, 2008 12:57 AM
I totally agree with David Murray, when you are doing a busines you need to be prepared in advance. You need to have resorces and people to help you when you need help.
November 11, 2008 03:35 AM
Thanks
November 19, 2008 09:16 AM
This just happened to me. One of my sites was just starting to get rolling and I got called out of town for a funeral. Was not a huge deal but it would have been great to have at least 4 or 5 articles in the "bank." Had to scramble when I was able to get some time. great advice!
November 22, 2008 12:05 PM
Hi Joel,
You are so right on all points!
You say...
"... And something somewhere will always go wrong eventually...."
You'll bet that if everything runs smoothly - or perhaps even "too smoothly", something is bound to be wrong - somewhere. Or, that the myserious "something" is just around the bend...
When you get that feeling, stop and think it through... Perhaps even a few times... You might be able to discover and correct that something bound to go wrong somewhere... in advance!
Best,
Hans Fr
TheCashPublisher.com