Guest Column
No Barriers On The Net: Ecommerce Opportunities For Minorities
By Jack Brooks
Surely nothing in recent history has leveled the playing field for minority
people of all ages and ethnicities as much as electronic commerce, not only
to participate in succeeding vigorously, but also leveraging hard-fought
determination and experience in overcoming obstacles to create business
advantages over less motivated competitors. Opportunity abounds using a
computer and reliable (preferably broadband) Internet access to jump on into
an online world that is only limited by one’s creativity and imagination,
rather than by racial, social, or other limitations.
Some ecommerce Internet possibilities are:
An Online Store – The wide availability of “plug and play” turnkey ecommerce
storefronts and payment services from Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) and
content portals such as AOL, Yahoo, MSN, eBay, PayPal, etc. means that
expensive software packages or pricey consultants aren’t necessary to get
started. These and many
other Internet providers freely offer resources and education for
ecommerce “newbies” to jump right in and sell products online.
Offer A Skill Or Service – One of the most effective uses of the ‘Net is, as the name implies, networking. If you have a marketable skill or specialized knowledge you’ve developed, the Internet can be highly effective for getting the word out in your local area. Perhaps you’re an accomplished musician, offer your recordings online. You may have a skill or ability you can teach, tutor students at home. One acquaintance of mine, skilled in writing and editing, proofreads depositions for Court Reporters. Look for a niche need that you can fill and market online; they’re out there.
Auction Sales – With the rise of eBay, and other auction sale websites, you can sell individual products that you’ve liberated from the attic, or treasures discovered from scouring garage sales and thrift shops. There’s many who do well working part-time at this very thing; more than one has turned their passion for (and knowledge of) antiques into a nice side-business. Also, people who excel at this have become Trading Assistants on eBay and other auction sites, helping others (hopefully, moms also) profitably sell their items online.
New Revenue Portals – The Internet marketing arena changes daily! There is a panoply of new mini-technologies that are emerging:
Video-based websites – these offer exciting creative possibilities for the media-savvy to create, or to assist others in creating, family-friendly content for uploading. Advertisers are beginning to turn a keen eye to this emerging Web phenomenon.
Interactive Teaching or Counseling – You can make your work experience or life-skills available to help others who may be facing challenges you’ve overcome or are desiring to further a skill set in which you are proficient.
Social Networking Sites – A newly emerging situation has arisen as members struggle with posting and receiving personal and appropriate information on “Social Networking” websites. A valuable service that one experienced with these could offer to worried parents is as a “hired monitor,” carefully watching their children’s activities on these sites as well as assisting the parents with this vital task.
- Local,
State, and Federal government agencies offer many aids and incentives to
any minority person with the desire and passion to go into business-the
online world opportunity grows daily!
This is just a thumbnail overview of what’s possible using the powerful creativity and motivational insight that you’ve brought to overcoming the struggles you may have faced. As the Internet evolves and new challenges arise, applying these same attributes to meeting them offers you tremendous possibility that has no limits! - _________________________________________________
- Contact Jack Brooks at jackbrooks@websmartgroup.com
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed by HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)