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Self-Counsel Press - Gerhard W. Kautz

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English

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A propos
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Description

Information research has shifted from something people did in libraries to something people do mostly on the Internet. But companies often don’t have the time or internal resources available to sift through the sheer volume of information on the Internet. Now, you can seek out information on behalf of clients, who will pay you for your research! Help large and small companies alike answer questions about industry trends, market conditions, mergers, competition, and other developments. There is very little money required to begin this type of business, as all you need to get started is a computer and Internet access! The best part is that you can work for yourself, on a full-time or part-time basis, out of your own home. Start & Run an Internet Research Business will show you how.
Introduction xi
1 The Internet Research Business and You 1
1. The Internet Research Business 1
2. How Companies Find Essential Information 2
2.1 Manufacturing industry information research needs 3
2.2 Service industry information research needs 3
2.2a Investment firms 4
2.2b Information technology companies 4
2.2c Lawyers 4
2.2d Engineering and architecture firms 4
2.2e Business and trade organizations 4
2.2f Individuals needing information 4
2.3 Government information research needs 4
3. Your Internet Research Business 5
2 Choosing Your Specialization 7
1. Why You Have to Specialize 7
2. Assess Your Skill Set 8
2.1 Computer skill 8
2.2 Communication skills 8
2.3 Investigative skills 8
2.4 Personal skill assessment 8
3. Assess Your Experience 9
3.1 Work Experience 9
3.2 Hobby and sports experience 10
CONTENTS
iv Start & run an internet research business
3.3 Educational experience 11
4. Overall Personal Assessment 11
5. Select Your Specialization 11
6. Changing Your Specialization 13
3 Your Business Model 15
1. What Is a Business Model? 15
2. The Business Opportunity 16
3. What Is Your Market? 16
4. Your Marketing Procedure 17
5. Your Sales Procedure 18
6. Your Project Work Procedure 18
7. Your Delivered Products 18
4 Your Company Structure 21
1. Why You Need a Company 21
2. Incorporated Company 22
3. Partnership 23
4. Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) 24
5. Sole Proprietorship 24
6. Recommended Company Structure 25
5 Pricing 27
1. Price Quotations 27
2. Overhead Cost Factors 28
3. Salary Expectations 30
4. Billable Time, Company Time, and Personal Time 30
5. Markup Factors 31
5.1 Specialization 31
5.2 Competition 32
5.3 Client understanding of personnel costs 32
5.4 Profit 32
6. Overall Pricing Approach 32
6 Marketing 35
1. Why You Must Market 35
2. Define Potential Clients 35
Contents v
3. Identify and Select Potential Clients 36
4. Assess Marketing Methods 37
4.1 Slogan 37
4.2 Business cards 37
4.3 Word of mouth 37
4.4 Networking 37
4.5 Business organizations 37
4.6 Website 37
4.7 Trade show participation 38
4.8 Trade show milking 38
4.9 Media advertising 38
4.10 Telephone soliciting 38
4.11 Direct-postal-mail advertising 38
4.12 Direct-email advertising 38
5. Marketing Time Line 39
6. The Marketing Plan 40
7 Marketing Material 41
1. Why You Need Marketing Material 41
2. Business Cards 41
3. Business Stationery 42
4. Website 43
4.1 Domain name 43
4.2 Web host 43
4.3 Website design 44
4.4 Content 45
4.5 Keywords 45
4.6 Search engine listing 45
5. Brochures 45
6. Marketing Letters 46
6.1 Brochure introductory letters 46
6.2 All-inclusive marketing letters 47
7. Client Response Form 48
8. Unsolicited Email 48
vi Start & run an internet research business
8 Getting the Contract 55
1. Types of Contracts 55
1.1 Contract for a specific project 55
1.2 General service contract 56
1.3 Retainer contract 56
2. Contents of Contracts 56
3. Contract Agreements 57
3.1 Verbal tasking 57
3.2 Letter contract 57
3.3 Purchase order 57
3.4 Detailed contract 58
4. Help the Client Close the Deal 58
4.1 Send the client the letter contract 58
4.2 Help the client draft the purchase order 58
4.3 Help the client draft a detailed contract 58
5. Written Proposal 58
6. Interfacing with Clients 59
9 Project Estimating 63
1. Work Breakdown Structure 63
2. Time Estimating 65
3. Labor Costs 67
4. Additional Costs 67
5. Contingency Allowance 67
6. Buy-in Considerations 68
7. Price and Delivery Quotes 68
10 Time Management 71
1. Why You Must Manage Your Time 71
2. Establish Your Work Area and Work Routine 72
3. Project Management 74
4. Gathering and Storing Information 75
5. Multitasking 75
6. Recording Websites 76
Contents vii
11 Doing the Work 77
1. Verify the Client’s Needs 77
2. Beginning the Information Search 78
3. Internet Search Engines 79
4. Free Internet Information Sites 80
5. Charging Internet Information Sites 80
6. Misinformation, Disinformation, and Half-Truths 81
7. Other Information Sources 82
8. Drafting the Report 83
12 The Business Plan 85
1. Why You Need a Business Plan 85
2. Business Opportunity 86
3. Deliverables 87
4. Company Structure 88
5. Potential Clients 88
6. Competition 89
7. Market Share of Clients 90
8. Marketing Procedure 91
9. Sales Procedure 91
10. Project Work Procedure 91
11. Working Team 92
12. Projected Revenue 92
13. Projected Expenses 93
13.1 Personnel 93
13.2 Website 93
13.3 Marketing and sales costs 93
13.4 Delivery cost 93
13.5 Office overhead costs 94
14. Profit/loss analysis 94
15. Financing 95
16. Future Expansion 95
17. Action Time Line 96
viii Start & run an internet research business
13 Administration 97
1. The Need for Administration 97
2. Keeping Time Records 98
3. Billing the Clients 99
4. Collecting Payments 101
5. File System 103
6. Keeping Cost Records 105
7. Business Accounting 105
8. Tax 106
8.1 Income Tax 106
8.2 Other taxes 106
14 Expanding Your Company 109
1. Why You Should Expand 109
2. Problems Associated with Expansion 109
3. Phases of Expansion 110
4. Subcontract Employees 111
5. Office Facilities 112
6. Hired Employees 113
7. Company Organization 114
8. Exiting the Company 115
Appendixes
A Business Plan for Military Budget Opportunity Service 117
B Letter Contract 125
C General Service Contract 127
D Proposal 129
E Website Request for Proposal 131
F Special Task Contract 133
G Retainer Contract 135
H Sample Contract 137
I Subcontractor Letter Contract 139

Sujets

Small business

Informations

Publié par	Self-Counsel Press
Date de parution	24 février 2012
Nombre de lectures	3
EAN13	9781770407367
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0032€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

START & RUN AN INTERNET RESEARCH BUSINESS
Gerhard W. Kautz
Self-Counsel Press
(a division of)
International Self-Counsel Press Ltd.
USA Canada

Copyright © 2012

International Self-Counsel Press
All rights reserved.
Introduction

I have been running an Internet research business for about ten years, since I officially retired. It has been financially rewarding, but more importantly, it has been a lot of fun. I do almost all of my work from my home office, and I do the work when I want to. In effect, I am being paid to surf the net to keep up-to-date on the technological developments in my specialty, even though I am technically out of the workplace. This in itself is a huge reward. Another reward is the knowledge that I am helping both large and small companies.
This book is intended to help you start and run an Internet research business of your own. You may not know what you want to specialize in at this time, but this book will guide you through a decision-making process that should point you in the right direction. This book covers all of the aspects required for any business, but is aimed specifically at the Internet research business. You will learn about setting up your company, pricing your services, marketing, and getting contracts. The all-important matter of how to do the work is cover-ed, as is the sometimes annoying work associated with the company administration.
Practical examples of Internet research businesses are used throughout the book to illustrate the instructions given.
1
The Internet Research Business and You

1. The Internet Research Business
The Internet research business involves finding specific information on the Internet, for a client, and getting paid to do so. It also involves arranging and presenting the information in a form that is useful to the client, thus saving him or her considerable time. Occasionally, there will be a requirement to search other sources for information as well; however, most of the information will come from the Internet.
Companies around the world depend on information to stay in business and prosper. They need information on new technology, components for manufacturing, software, markets, competition — the list is almost endless. Companies have to find and evaluate the information, but this can be time consuming and costly for them. Internet research consultants can be hired to do this work for the companies much more cost-effectively than if the companies did the work themselves.
Who are these Internet research consultants? They are often one-person operations, working from their homes, in a specific information area. These people have usually, through previous employment, acquired specialized knowledge in a particular field. More importantly, they know where to go to get more and updated information for their clients. Of course, their main source of information is the Internet, but they do not limit their investigation to just using keywords and search engines. To validate the information and obtain more details, they also look in places such as relevant online magazine articles, company product lists, company annual reports, and press releases. They will search anywhere that will provide them with the detailed information that their clients have requested. This is the type of business that this book will help you get started and run.

2. How Companies Find Essential Information
Some companies subscribe to specialist information services that keep them up-to-date on their particular information requirements, but in most situations the companies get the information themselves. Larger companies may have a dedicated research department to provide the information for them; however, this can be a heavy expense on the company and certainly not one that can be afforded by most companies. Usually the people within the company who require information are forced to find it themselves. This is a very time consuming effort because these people are not experienced information miners. They usually just punch some keywords into an Internet search engine and use what comes up.
The Internet search method is very popular, but there can be some negative consequences. For example, an inexperienced searcher stands a chance of overlooking vital information, or worse, obtaining false information. However, the big negative is the time the employee spends looking for the information. This is time that should be devoted to profitable company-assigned tasks. It can cost the company dearly, particularly if, for example, a high-priced engineer spends days searching to see how other companies solved a particular design issue. This is where a contracted information researcher can save the company money by acquiring the information cost-effectively, and freeing the company employees to do their primary job functions.
The information required by companies varies with the company and within the company. Manufacturing companies rely heavily on information to improve their products, increase their productivity, and market their products profitably. The service industry needs information for the same reasons. The government requires a wide range of information. The type of information required by these potential customers is briefly discussed in the following sections. As you read through the sections, think about how you could help in obtaining the information for them. You may also be stimulated to consider other areas for which you could provide an effective information research service.

2.1 Manufacturing industry information research needs
Manufacturing companies rely heavily on information that is usually obtained by the employees who need it. A much more cost-effective source of information for them is an Internet research consultant, hired for a specific task, or on an annual contract. These companies need information to help them to —

• design the goods they will manufacture,

• develop the goods to manufacturing state,

• establish production methods,

• find the best sources of component supply,

• identify the market they should address,

• assess the competition,

• establish prices,

• determine the best sales methods,

• determine the best distribution methods, and

• obtain customer feedback.
As an Internet research consultant with knowledge and experience in one or more of the listed activities, you may be able to save the company considerable time and money by acquiring the required information for them, verifying it, and presenting it to them in easily usable form.

2.2 Service industry information research needs
The service industry also needs information. The obvious service companies with a need for information are the information companies themselves, but these companies already have trained staff to do the research work. In effect, they are your competition, but with much higher overheads. Some of the other service industry segments that can use the services of Internet research consultants are as follows.

2.2a Investment firms
Investment firms often have their own researchers to assess the viability of individual stocks and other investments, but may require additional research service for some of their projects.

2.2b Information technology companies
Information technology companies must keep up-to-date on the latest technological developments around the world and usually need help in doing so.

2.2c Lawyers
Lawyers need information to support and defend trials, lawsuits, divorces, etc.

2.2d Engineering and architecture firms
Engineers and architects must also keep up-to-date on the latest technological developments around the world and usually need help in doing so.

2.2e Business and trade organizations
Business and trade organizations are made up of companies with something in common, such as the defense industries or forestry companies. They often do research projects for their members and they usually contract out some or all of this work.

2.2f Individuals needing information
Individuals who need information could include almost anyone. Some examples include inventors who need help in patent searches, people considering starting a business but who need more information about it, or people working on family histories.

2.3 Government information research needs
The three levels of government require considerable information, but usually rely on their own staff to obtain it. They do occasionally contract out for help in this area, but the contracting process can be long and very documentation intensive. Many small companies do not bother with pursuing government business because they cannot afford the time and effort it takes to get the work.

3. Your Internet Research Business
Now that you understand the need companies have for information, the question is, “Why should they hire you to do the work?” The answer is simple — it costs them less if you do it. However, your biggest challenge will be to convince them of this fact, and that is where this book will help you.
It will take you through a process to evaluate your personal skills, experience, and knowledge that will help you select the area of expertise you should concentrate on in your Internet research business. You will then be shown how to develop a business model for your business; that is, what you will actually do to get business and make money. From the business model you can decide on the company structure you need and calculate some preliminary pricing. Good marketing and sales skills are the keys to any successful business an