Consider Your Interests and Skills

Just because you have an acquaintance who is doing quite well selling antique jewelry or used car parts online, that does not mean you should follow suit. The most important way for you to choose your business or service is to take a close look at your personal and professional interests and skills.

Here are some things to think about when you decide on what to sell or provide through your Web site:

1)  Do you have education in any specific field or a specialty area?

Expertise and providing information is essential for an online business or service. Even if you do not provide the exact service or product you are most familiar with, find something that it is in the same area. For example, if you were in human resources, you can consider becoming a career counselor or coach.

2) What are you favorite interests or past times?

Besides needing experience that you can share with others, you should be going into a business that you enjoy. You will be working long days and weeks, and you surely do not want to spend all this time doing something that is not enjoyable. Also, your customers or clients will know if you are or are not interested in the subject.

3) Is there a business or service you always wanted to provide, but have been putting off?

Perhaps you have always been an avid reader and dreamed about having a bookstore? Or, you have been an artist all your life and have thought about becoming a freelance illustrator or Web designer.  Now is the time to give more serious thought to such long-term interests. It may not have been possible to pursue these ideas with a brick-and-mortar store or offline, but they may be very possible through the Internet.

4) What are your personal skills?

Are you left- or right-brained? Do you have more abilities in science and math or writing and art? Do you enjoy interacting with people on a regular basis? Or, do you like working on your own with equipment or electronics? Are you a good salesperson or marketer? Or, are you best at following a salesperson’s suggestions and leads? Are you good with detail work? Or, more creative and less organized?

If you want more insights into your career direction, skills and interests, look for free personality and career tests online. These will ask you questions about yourself and then suggest different lines of work.