Watch your spending, make it proportional to your business resources and your Internet sales. The Internet boom is over. From 1995 to 2000, capital was flowing into Internet in such unprecedented volumes that many websites spent far more than they brought in. Those days are over. Test Your Assumptions
First, consider whether you really need a website. You don't need a website just because people say you do. Don't fall for the standard cliches. You need to consider the real-world implications:
- Websites are a valuable new business tool: like tollfree telephone numbers, organized delivery services, and so many others, the Internet offers businesses a valuable tool for delivering and managing information in many different forms. Not all businesses need tollfree numbers, however, or delivery services. Don't assume you need a website just because everybody says every business needs one.
- Put it into realistic business context: demand that your website expenses and website benefits are realistic. Don't do it because you want to, much less because you have to; but because it offers real business benefits that exceed the real business costs.
Estimate Conservatively
When in doubt, overestimate expenses and underestimate revenues. That will always work out better than being over-optimistic.
