Over the years, activities on the internet took on a new turn. Different activities from socializing to closing a business deal now take place on the internet and people are beginning to realise the vast opportunities online.

Why Consider Having An Online Presence

There are some of the reasons why businesses, especially home based businesses, should consider having an online presence:

• Wider Network Of Clients and Buyers: One of the challenges faced by traditional business owners, is access to limited number of customers. Creating an online presence will make it easy for businesses to have access to a wider pool of buyers and put an end to competing with other local businesses for the same small network of clients within the community.
• Low Starting/ Expansion Cost: Unlike traditional businesses where owners spend a lot of money for space and promotional materials, online businesses need very little startup capital; the only real expenses is usually the cost to get a website up and running. Even when one invest in tools that will make running the business easier, the overall investment will still be much less expensive than maintaining a physical presence offline.
• Business Security: For a business to continue to grow and stay afloat, it needs a constant flow of customers. As pointed out earlier, traditional businesses have access to a limited number of customers who soon run out of reasons to continue to need the same products or services. Having an online presence puts you in front of a global audience. This increases the chances of getting new buyers to keep the business growing.
• Increases Earning Potential: Since the internet puts your business in front of millions of prospective buyers and the process of online selling is replicable, it becomes easy to increase your earnings by targeting specific group and replicating the selling process.
• Your Business is Open 24/7: Online presence gives you the ability to open and run your business morning, day and night without worrying about security, good customer service or any of those things traditional home business owners worry about.
• Work Away From Home: One of the things I love most about my online business is the ability to work away from home. I do not have to wait till I get home to attend to urgent issues or reply to questions and queries. The flexibility to work anywhere at any time is priceless.

Statistics have it that by 2015 the global revenue for mobile buying and services will reach $199 billion. Other research has it that 84 percent of the world's internet users now shop online and internet spending is to account for 40 percent of all retail sales by 2020; these my friends, are figures you cannot afford to ignore.

The internet presents you with a potential customers based of 875 million internet shoppers and to continue to have a successful business, you cannot ignore online business.