From Dimes to Dollars

by Ben Lopez

This ended-up being a lot more content than I had planned, so I’ve decided to break it up into 2 parts.  Today I’ll be sharing the poll results and commentary from the respondents.  Part 2 on Monday will be my personal response and analysis.

I’d like to sincerely thank all those who participated, we got a very solid response with 15 replies in total.  As you can see from the pie chart above, the response was rather mixed.  I appreciate that no one selected answer D!

QUESTION: What are your initial thoughts when someone tells you they run an internet business?

• Answer A (20%, 3 votes):  I’m impressed.  This business owner is logically taking advantage of new technologies and applying them to emerging practices.  The potential for his internet business is equal to, if not greater than that of a traditional business model due to these new innovations.
• Answer B (20%, 3 votes): I do not take this person’s online business as seriously when compared to a traditional business model.  They do not have the same day-to-day responsibilities to uphold, and have somewhat limited potential.
• Answer C (60%,9 votes): I believe a business man or woman has equal potential in either business model, and I do not think of them as significantly different.
• Answer D (0%, 0 votes): These answers are rubbish!  Here’s one of my own!

Here are portions of several replies:  

(A) Randy M.:  

“Of course an online business is professional. Selling virtual goods is no different from selling physical goods. I would probably say that an online only business has somewhat more potential because it takes a smaller staff, less physical equipment, and there is more flexibility…I think internet is easier and can scale faster.”

(C)  Tony “The Chef” Marciante, TV Personality and Entrepreneur:

“Like any business, it’s up to the “proprietor” to make it professional or not. I believe that in the future, affiliate programs, internet marketing and all the wonderful web 2.0 and 3.0 technologies/strategies will be THE way products are sold. What about MLM? Why isn’t that thought of as “professional” sometimes? It’s about the PEOPLE and the METHODS used to promote the products…Getting a commission for a sale is nothing new, why are internet/information marketers looked at any differently?”

(C) Alan Moss, Marketing Expert and Executive at Artemesia Distillery:

“Of course it’s a professional thing to do. Frankly, it’s more alarming to see how late some of the big companies are at getting online operations set up alongside their normal businesses.”

(B) Ron Curry:

“I’m part of the internet generation, and I saw the dotcom bubble expand and then burst. If you look at why it burst, some of your question is answered. Most online businesses are not businesses at all, and provide no function or value. 

…it doesn’t necessarily mean those ventures are not profitable. I know a guy who just buys, sells and trades domains and makes hefty profit doing so. I suppose that’s some sort of hybrid between a traditional real estate business and brokerage. But in reality, he sits at home in his pajamas eating bowls of cereal.

So no, it’s not “professional” in the terms which I consider that word. Not by a long shot. Not even if you wear a suit sometimes. But it can be successful and even profitable.

I saw an article today that I thought was directly relevant:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/06/facebo… ” [Editor’s note: linked article details Facebook CEO’s juvenile antics]

(C) Jon Lopez, Founder of RFS Claymations and Affordable Aperture Photography:

“If you can get a business up and running on the internet, have a good clientele, and a user-friendly, popular business site, I would think that it’s equally successful.”

 (C) Julie:

“My reaction would be based on the type of business rather than virtual vs. real shingle. I recently learned that a friend has set up an internet business with the eventual goal of a brick and mortar retail shop, perhaps not the usual progression. I do consider both businesses to be professional.”

(C) Barbara Sisko:

“People are learning more and more about how someone running a reputable internet business should conduct themselves; and as long as you adhere to that principal, I think you can safely call yourself “professional.”“

(C) Dave Veldkamp: 

“It depends on how much you put into your business. Online selling, banking, trading etc are some really great businesses to have online. I would say yes it is professional.”

(B) Kevin Baker:

“When I think of an internet business, I think of someone in their boxer shorts processing orders as a middleman.  I know there are some great internet only businesses, but generally speaking I can’t take it very serious, and don’t consider it professional. “

(C) Phil Ricci, Co-Founder & Director of Business Development for Symfny:

“…I have had success in both arenas.  We have all been programed to believe certain things in our lives. Most people would never go into business for themselves, because they have been taught that having a good steady job is fundamental to being ‘successful’. 

Professional by definition is a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b : having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c :engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>.  In other words, you get paid for the work you do. I think that people get professional and acting professionally mixed up. There are many…who believe that if you do not have an office, wear a suit and tie, have meetings, mission statements and all that jazz, you are not to be taken seriously. There’s nothing wrong with that, but just not how I see the world. I think that most have lost the concept of ingenuity and have replaced it with this warped view of professionalism. I have personally watched more good ideas squashed in the corporate boardrooms of America than I care to discuss.”

-Check Back on Monday for Part 2!