You can’t interview 20 of Australia’s top online entrepreneurs and not pick up a few practical tips and tricks along the way about how to make an online business more successful. I recently did just that for my new online series, “Secrets of Aussie Online Entrepreneurs”. Here are some common mistakes they said they’d made; ones they see novice entrepreneurs make all the time.
1. Being overly protective of your idea:
The concept of only telling a chosen few about your idea is self-defeating. No one likes to think their idea is going to be stolen, but we all know that ideas are a dime a dozen – it’s the implementation that matters. And besides, it’s unlikely that just because you share an idea with someone, they’re suddenly going to dedicate the next four years of their life to making it happen. Moral of the story? Tell everyone about your idea and ask for their feedback.
2. Being too afraid to ask for feedback:
Speaking of feedback, when we have an idea we’re passionate about, we can be reluctant to ask for feedback for fear we’ll get a negative response. But negative responses are good! It means there’s room for improvement. However, if you do share your idea around, share it with people who can help you, and then ask them good questions that will help you generate some helpful ideas – questions like:
- Have you heard of this before?
- Is anyone else doing it?
- Can you try it out for me?
- Can you think of anything to add to it?
- Does it work?
- What would you do differently?
- Can you share it with some friends and ask them to try it?
- What would be the maximum you’d pay for this?
- What would be the minimum you’d pay?
- How can I make it better?
- Do you know anyone who is in this target market?
- Do you have any spare cash you’d like to invest? No? What about your mother? Your grandma? Okay. I get it. You don’t like my idea.
If you want more tips on how to become a successful online entrepreneur, watch our interviews with some of Australia’s internet superstars here.
- Episode 1: Secrets of Aussie Online Entrepreneurs: The Young Guns
About This Episode:
Discover how three of Australia’s top ‘Young Gun’ internet superstars built their businesses and turned fledgling ideas into multi-million dollar online juggernauts. Features interviews with Ruslan Kogan, Dean Ramler from Milan Direct and Jack Delosa, founder of The Entourage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0z5rBB-1hQ
- Episode 2: Social Media Mavericks
About This Episode:
Tap into the genius behind Australia’s top Social Media futurists and discover the new rules of engagement for business executives. Guests include the world’s most provocative futurist, Brian Solis, on ‘connected consumerism’; Peter Williams, CEO of Deloitte Digital, on why leaders must either get linked or become extinct, and market researcher Mark McCrindle on the top social media trends coming our way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia2L7nIGxc0
