Generally, an online entrepreneur is a person or company that uses the Internet as a platform for selling products and services. These entrepreneurs use the Internet to access potential purchasers from around the world. Depending upon the product or service sold by the entrepreneur, either the sale, delivery, or both may happen online. Using the Internet as a store opens access to customers throughout the world.
The online entrepreneur may begin selling items through third-party Web sites in order to determine if there is a market for the product the entrepreneur wishes to sell. Certain Web sites allow individual sellers to create a mini Web site within the online marketplace to publish information about the seller’s products. The online marketplace allows a purchaser to search for products within the marketplace that match the terms for the purchaser’s preferences. This marketplace brings together buyers and sellers.
Other entrepreneurs come up with a service that they want to offer to a niche market. These entrepreneurs develop a set of products or services that meet the needs of a small group of people. The entrepreneur then uses affiliate marketing programs, blogs, social networking, and other Internet tools to drive possible purchasers to the products. Once the appropriate people find the products, they in turn expose other interested parties to the same products.
Using the Internet as a store location allows an online entrepreneur to reach many more interested parties than a physical location might permit. Physical location stores are generally limited to people within a certain geographical location. The Internet exposes a much larger group of people to the same goods within the store. Exposure to a larger group of people usually means a larger number of sales.
Some entrepreneurs are using the Internet and all of its tools to provide services. The services vary based upon the skill set of the online entrepreneur. An online entrepreneur may help others manage their computers by accessing the computer from a different location to correct errors or install software. Some people are teaching classes on the Internet. They use a combination of videos and chat tools to educate interested parties on specific subjects.
Each person who chooses to use the Internet as a storefront must determine the best ways to use the Internet and its resources to market products. Some people use a blog to introduce their products to interested parties and to show a variety of ways each product might be used. Others use social networking or video sites to provide information to prospective purchasers.