{"id":906,"date":"2009-02-27T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2009-02-27T17:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2009\/02\/27\/you-dont-need-to-be-a-geek-to-start-an-online-business\/"},"modified":"2018-04-04T02:56:08","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T09:56:08","slug":"you-dont-need-to-be-a-geek-to-start-an-online-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2009\/02\/27\/you-dont-need-to-be-a-geek-to-start-an-online-business\/","title":{"rendered":"You Don’t Need to be a Geek to Start an Online Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently talked about running this business to a friend. She was interested in starting a business after getting her MBA. However, she told me that she didn\u2019t feel she had the technical skills necessary to start an online business. I get this kind of feedback a lot, so I\u2019ll make my point right now:<\/p>\n

Technical skills are not important for running an online business.<\/h3>\n

To start an online business, some basic amount of technical skills help. Such as, understanding how to host a website and write in HTML. But the amount you need to get started can be learned in about two weeks with $30 worth of books.<\/p>\n

I only spend roughly 2-5% of my working time on technical issues. Even then, the problems are usually minor, such as changing an advertising configuration. The other 98% of my time is devoted to writing articles, creating products, communicating with readers and customers and marketing my website.<\/p>\n

Running an online business is just like running any other business. It\u2019s about people, not PHP.<\/p>\n

An online business can be significantly easier than other forms of business because it is cheaper to set up and doesn\u2019t require the upkeep of a building. Far from being an obstacle, the technology actually makes an online business easier to run – even for those without technical skills.<\/p>\n

If you lack an understanding of computer science, you probably won\u2019t be able to make the next Google or Facebook. Those website\u2019s core services are technological. But starting a cigar of the month club<\/a>, flower delivery service or blog requires few computer skills.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Confuse Delivery Method With Value<\/h2>\n

My value isn\u2019t in a website. It\u2019s in the articles and books I write. This website is just a delivery medium. Reading anything I\u2019ve written on a piece of paper wouldn\u2019t change the value I\u2019m offering.<\/p>\n

Many people confuse a website, a method of delivering value, with the value itself. If you don\u2019t have a valuable product or service, your business will flop, even if you have great technical skills. But if you can deliver value, then you can always hire someone to run the website, or learn the minimum amount needed to get by.<\/p>\n

Providing Value is More Difficult<\/h2>\n

If you add up the amount I\u2019ve learned from running this website, only about 5% would be related to the technical necessities of running a blog. And I learned 90% of those within the first month, after reading a few online tutorials and some cheap books at the bookstore. The other 95% involved learning how to provide value.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019m not a blogging expert, I do understand the technology enough to do everything I want. However, even after three years of writing, I\u2019m only starting to get a grasp of how to provide genuine value. It took far more effort to calibrate<\/a> myself to the needs and qualities of the people I write to.<\/p>\n

The reason most online businesses fail isn\u2019t because they can\u2019t handle the technical details. Many of the most abysmal websites I\u2019ve visited had integrated all of the latest gadgets perfectly. The reason most online businesses fail is that the owner doesn\u2019t know how to provide real value, and they give up before learning.<\/p>\n

Separating Flash From Substance<\/h2>\n

Compare StevePavlina.com<\/a> to ZenHabits.net<\/a>. StevePavlina.com is a simple website with a basic color scheme that fits better with the mid 90s than designs today. ZenHabits.net is beautifully done (although it used to be plain). Both are wildly successful.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not arguing that website design is unimportant. Just that it is dwarfed in comparison to your ability to deliver real value. Design and technical skills may be helpful, but they aren\u2019t necessary, and they shouldn\u2019t stop anyone from starting an online business.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Let a Lack of Tech Skills Scare You<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re intelligent enough to lead a business (and many people aren\u2019t), then you\u2019re definitely intelligent enough to learn the minimum skills necessary to set up a website. After reading only 2-3 books, you should have enough skills to do almost anything you need. Compare that to the hundreds of books you may go through to help build the skills of providing real value.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever thought of running a business, I\u2019d suggest going online. The advantages of being location-independent, having access to worldwide markets, the ability to scale and requiring few start-up fees make it far easier to start an online business than many similar brick-and-mortar stores.<\/p>\n

Resources to Get Started<\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t want a lack of technical skills to block anyone from starting their own business. Here are some resources I suggest looking at if you\u2019ve always had an interest in being an entrepreneur, but were scared by the demands of technology:<\/p>\n

Make Your Site Sell<\/a> (Free) – A 1000+ guide for everything you need to know.
\nThe Unconventional Guide to Working for Yourself<\/a> <\/strong>– The guide for starting a $200 per month mini-business.
\nSite Sell It!<\/a> – I haven\u2019t used this service, but I\u2019ve heard great things.
\nHow to Build a Successful Online Business<\/a> – an article by Steve Palvina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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