Business failure rates and internet marketing

4 replies
It's often said that ninety some odd percent of businesses ultimately fail. According to this site: Startup Business Failure Rate By Industry | Statistic Brain it's more like 50/50 after four years. After a decade about thirty percent are still going. I've read somewhere else that after fifteen years it's one in four.

Often times when something like this is talked about you don't really hear about the reasons. Normally it's assumed that the business either went under or the owner(s) called it quits too early to really know whether or not they would have succeeded. This is where the researchers actually did a little digging and where how all this relates to internet marketing comes in.

Of the top reasons for failure, lack of planning, lack of focus, and being unprepared for the time requirements were all included. In online marketing these seem to be the top reasons.

First: lack of planning. The new marketer becomes excited about some idea. They jump in head first, purchasing domain and hosting with whatever random software they happened to find online. After doing some initial work they come to realize that they don't really know where to take this thing.

Second: lack of focus. Shiny object syndrome. Distractions. Or simply not having a tangible goal aside from "make money". The new marketer becomes discouraged or flustered and ends up not going anywhere.

Third: "So much for getting rich quick". The new marketer overestimates their own willingness to stick it out. Or perhaps they really did think that they would have overnight success. Then reality sets in and they come to the conclusion that this is going to take some time. Or maybe they already knew that but have no way of knowing whether it's worth it. Many will (and have) quit before they even reach this point.

I'm not trying to say that an online business is the same as a brick and mortar on main street. But there are similarities in the mindset. The mistakes listed don't necessarily have to lead to failure as long as they're caught and dealt with. Until more of those who would call themselves 'marketers' can come to grips with this it's the online startups that better match the 97% or whatever failure stereotype.


(I hope this was a half decent post. I don't normally do this.)
#business #failure #internet #marketing #rates
  • Profile picture of the author blewwave
    I think the main difference between IM and Brick and Mortar is cost. With IM, you can work at home, so the cost of rent is basically your home, if you decide that is where you want your office. Second, with IM, you can sell digital products or a lot of IMers are affiliates, so they do not even carry or stock their products, so that saves on money. I have done both and IM is not necessarily easier, it is just that the stress of overhead is not near as much. But there is still major stress, trying to rank, competition, patience, etc. I can say that learning IM, and the frustration of beginning is tough on a lot of dudes and they quit because of it. Regardless, just in any sport or anything for that matter, it is mostly mental and success of business comprises of the correct attitude, planning, organization, energy, prioritizing, and a lot of other aspects.
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  • Profile picture of the author CPH007
    Be careful with the statistics of business failure rates.

    Most of the figures come from banks and when somebody closes an account! Most new businesses take the 18 months free banking upfront then go else where when they have to pay because usually the bank have upset the customer or the service isn't worth paying for.

    Of course new businesses do fail but many less than ever gets stated
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    • Profile picture of the author artflair
      Yes, many businesses are failing simply because of the lack of professionalism of the owners... Many people are getting into businesses and markets they have no idea about and what is even worse they are not willing to put any effort to learn new skills! This is a recipe for disaster but most of the people think 'We'll manage to do it somehow'. They are failing right at the start...
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      • Profile picture of the author sparrow
        Regardless of reasons for businesses going under

        Not everyone can win regardless of brick and mortar or the Internet plain fact of life

        Out of all the testing I have done you get some winners but most will fail on the internet

        You get a winner - copy everything and apply it somewhere else a flog

        You just need to be willing to stick it out and keep trying you only fail when you quite

        Ed
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