Jul 21 2008
Internet Business Consulting Idea Scrapped
Over the past one month I’ve been obsessed by a new business idea to do Internet business consulting. For those of you who have heard the plan, you know it is actually not a business, but an income generation and distribution scheme for anyone who want to learn to do business on the Internet.
Maybe I was a bit too ambitious, thinking to help people earn more income to cope with the rising living costs. I thought of not only helping them to earn, but also equipping them the ability to earn by arranging training for them. I was even thinking of charitable giving to contribute to the society. Suddenly I became so drowned in all these seemingly “noble” purposes.
The business is a kind of affiliate marketing scheme with twist, where the members refer clients and earn money. If you know the business plan, you should know the profits are to be shared by members and given to charitable organizations. I myself maybe the owner, but I’m still one of the members who earn like all other members.
Most people to whom I shared the scheme agreed to join. Some were excited about it. Some said they would consider. But recently I met up with someone who is looking for an opportunity in Internet marketing who criticized the idea even before I went into the meat of the business.
I admit I had a really terrible presentation that night, and I failed to recognize that he came looking for a certain kind of business and with a certain motive. In summary, I just failed to communicate. On the other hand, I guess he may have judged too fast and misunderstood a few things.
But anyway he did lead me to an important discovery that now I decide to scrap the plan for now. Somehow my eyes have been blinded to see this. And I must thank him for the revelation.
While it maybe easy for the affiliate members to earn money - just refer clients, I as the coordinator will work like hell having to do the selling and manage the myriad of projects and clients. But do all these efforts justify my time and resources?
It will not be too much a problem if it is a standard product or service with minimum customer support. But a consulting business is time, labor and brain-intensive. I will be wasting much time having to coordinate among clients, web developers and SEO experts. Moreover, I would have to bear great responsibilities especially in making sure the clients are able to sell and earn money on the Internet.
The “business” actually seeks to serve the needs of the members by distributing income generated from the clients. While the income generation part of the idea maybe quite interesting, the source of income may not be sustainable. Internet business consulting service may be a wrong service chosen for the purpose. It is a wrong mean to an end.
Having decided to drop the plan, I’m now quite disillusioned and have to face the members whom I had so convincingly talked into believing in Internet consulting. Sorry my dear members. Please contact me for alternative arrangement if you are still keen.
Throughout my years doing Internet businesses, I have been resisting the idea of doing web sites and Internet marketing for others. I’ve been wondering for those “experts” who know how to market for others, why don’t they market for themselves? And for those “consultants” who teach people how to earn money online, why not earn for themselves?
But how come now I myself fall into the trap and become one of them? 
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I love the last para of your post, it is more than true. I guess because you really like to help those people out there, you have a good intention for sure, which I admire! For the long term plan, starting your own online business sounds more promising, challenging and the way to go. For short term, it could be one way for you to continue sustaining yourself - just my humble opinion.
Thanks Pin. You are right. Own online business is the way to go. But if one day I can find a suitable product or service that is not time-consuming like consulting business, I wish I could go ahead with the original income generation project.
[...] The business plan has been scrapped and I no longer have many projects for you. But you are still welcome to join as partner web [...]