If you look around at successful online businesses, you will see many things that they all have in common. Maybe they have a good design, have a well-written blog, convincing sales pages, or some combination of these and other characteristics. But many successful sites an businesses share another characteristic: they know and take advantage of the power of a unique business idea. Because let\’s face it, you can have all the other pieces in place, but if your idea is inherently flawed, your business probably isn\’t going anywhere. So how do you come up with a unique business idea that is full of promise? Here are a few tips:
Keep tabs on needs YOU have that no one is filling
You might even want to start your own \”ideas\” notebook. Not every one will be a winner, of course, but you just might light on one that is full of potential for profits. Also keep an eye out for existing unique businesses, as these can be very inspiring. Don\’t be afraid to get in touch with their proprietors and ask questions about how they did it…you might be surprised at how forthcoming people can be and how willing to help.
Find a unique angle (AKA Unique Selling Point or USP) of an existing business or service
Maybe someone has a great business already, but when you think about it, if you were in charge you would do things very differently. Without copying anything that\’s proprietary of course, you could start your own business in the same field but with a different and unique angle, hopefully one that no one else has capitalized on. You may not need to reinvent the wheel, just improve on it.
Keep your mind wide open
Ideas can be fickle, and hard to conjure up on demand. But there are certain things you can do to beckon the great ones nearer to you. Set up a certain time each day that you are going to think about new business possibilities and brainstorm new ideas. Don\’t fill up your schedule so much that you have no quiet time or thinking time — often the best ideas come after a period of doing nothing, counterintuitive though it may sound.