Top Tools For Internet Entrepreneurs

If you're taking your first steps onto the Internet you need the right tools. Start with the basics. Most people go into Internet business because they want to escape their 9-5 existence. If you want to be fully portable you need a laptop, headphones and a portable printer/scanner. Other physical items you'll need include a physical dictionary and thesaurus and the ability to connect to the Internet. Google Documents will provide you with a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program (All free) while google mail does a good job of processing your email. You'll also need to have your wits about you. There can be a steep learning curve on the Internet and there are a lot of expensive scams around.
Sit back in a a comfy chair, with a pillow for your head and a large mug for your coffee - what more could an entrepreneur need? Here are some other services which make a difference.
1. A hosting account (or two) with unlimited domains. You will need an account with an Internet service provider (ISP) who provides unlimited domains. This means each time you have a new idea to try out you'll pay only the cost of the new domain name (usually $10 or so) to put up a couple of web pages and test the reaction. Try Bluehost.
2. Research: The foundation of every online business should be research. There's no point in dominating a market that doesn't exist. Google's external keyword tool is a good place to start and find out whether people want what you want to provide. Other useful tools are the Simple Market Research e-book from ideatimeonline.com, the Market Samurai program, which has too many facilities to list, and the WorldWide Brands database of dropshippers and wholesalers.
3. Monitoring: Once you have a website of any kind you need to see how it's performing. Are you making sales? If not perhaps it's because you have no visitors. If you are making sales how can you make more? Google analytics can help with this as can the amazingly addictive Woopra which shows your website traffic in real time. Market Samurai is also useful in tracking how your website and blog are performing for assorted keywords across various search engines.
4. Customer relations. Internet marketing is just like any other kind. You need to communicate with customers. Ring central can provide a low cost toll free number which you can redirect to other numbers according to rules you set up. Woopra monitors real time traffic but also gives you the ability to talk to your customers by interrupting them as they surf and inviting them to chat. If you are in the consultancy business you may find a service like gotowebinar useful. You'll be able to broadcast your desktop to anyone who connects to the service. When it comes to regular communication aweber can be used to create auto-responders or email newsletters to send to customers/clients.
5. Business administration. Every business needs to keep records, whether on or off the web. A great service called shoeboxed will digitze all your paper receipts and make them available to you on the net, and its approved by the tax authorities. This is great for use with a virtual assistant who can send all your paperwork off to shoeboxed, then you can retrieve it via the web from you secluded island location!