Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Agreed - who`s to say you can`t do both.  In some ways a website will help force you to make tough decisions about things like your target market, value proposition, and marketing strategy, as all of those should be elements of your website design process.

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chuck fuller

I believe that doing both is a good idea.  If you do not want to do a biz plan, then write down your goals and how you attained them.  You don`t want to rush into anything, so make sure that you research your market and plan it out on paper before "going live" with anything.

Good luck

 

Without a doubt fonz, having some sort of end goals and plan in mind is crucial before you leap into building out a website - I think this discussion was more geared toward the question of whether or not you`ll want to completely wrap up your business plan with a bow before you even think of launching an online presence.

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chuck fuller

I apologize for the misunderstanding.  No you absolutely don`t want your business plan bronzed and buried in a time capsule.  It will always be a living, breathing document that you`ll change and update.  Your goals will change.  Your vision will change.  Your forecasts and assumptions will change as well as your operating procedures. 

I was simply advocating taking some time to set goals and objectives and making sure you know where you want to end up before jumping in and opening your doors.  Naturally, that`s the fun part and it`s tempting to start with that but so many entrepreneurs start with that and that`s why most startups fail and many spin their wheels for years before really taking off. 

But yes, definitely get out there and get your feet wet.  Get some experience in the market.  You`ll never succeed if you don`t rub shoulders with the people you`re wanting to sell to.  

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Ryan J StarPointe Marketing Website Development, Hosting & Marketing Consulting

Thank you everyone - very valueable. My website is now currently being constructed and will definetely force me to review market strategies. I wont be going live for a while, but having the construction of the page enables me to understand and review content strategies. Thanks again

Glad you could derive some benefit from the discussion lainhk - please be sure to update us when your site goes live!

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chuck fuller

I saw this today, and apologize if the advice is too late in coming.  My advice to you is to view the biz plan the same as you do your website... Always open and able to change as needed.  In this case, there should be no question about whether or not to continue with the site launch -(notice I avoid the word completion).  In working with so many start-up companies and the like - aversion to action is almost always the killer to prosperity.  We tend to fall into this rut of "analysis paralysis" as I like to call it.  I have a tendency to be a bit of a `go for it` type business person and have found my greatest rewards are hidden beneath the biggest (perceived) risks I`ve taken.  Experience has taught me that no blog or bit of advice will convince a person to take an action against their personal gut feeling/motivator, so I`m sure you`ve already decided what you`re comfortable with.  If it helps at all, I`ll opt to point out the obvious... Which action will provide the biggest payoff to you and your business in the long term?  Someone mentioned creating a goal list in line with your plan, that`s good advice.  If you know what your desired outcome is - go for it.

I agree with the posts of doing both at the same time.

The Business Plan is mostly a theoretical document created for you to follow. When you’ve finished the first version (before your business is actually up and running) realize that it won’t be the last version.  As mentioned earlier, it’s a “living” document 

A website is almost like a mini-business plan, but in a fast-forward environment.  The website is going to reflect much of what your business plan represents.  The website is a practical, real, physical and brings to life what you have proposed in the business plan.

I always found it comforting that I could change the mock-up of my website as I make major changes to my business plan.  Seeing the website helped to me visualize the ideas of the business plans and put them in to a real context.

Happy New Year and good luck the WWW and BP!

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Daniel the Denim Doctor

I feel comfortable that a website gets indexed, even before no business plan is established yet. We can improve things as our business go anyway. Just have your audience updated on the changes that is happening from the site.

Business plan is definitely the way to go first.





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The ever so jovial site admin of ThePendex.com, a web development firm catering to the needs of the small business owner.