Decide Daniel's Future - vote now!

[The Stealthy One]

I am at a crossroads in my life, both as a person and as an entrepreneur.

I've been going full-fledged on the Internet (specifically in paid Web hosting) since August 2004, with almost nothing to show for it. I've dabbled in other Internet businesses, with almost nothing to show for them either. I've done a few offline ventures, but due to other constraints (college, work) can't give them enough attention.

I will admit I have become somewhat depressed at what seems to be an act of throwing good money after bad. I want to be successful, to help others through some sort of service...things every entrepreneur wants. Yet, try as I might, I can't seem to succeed.

I'd like to stay in online business, but after conducting an evaluation from a financial and personal-goals-oriented perspective, what I am doing certainly is not working. I've come to a point where, for reasons of sanity, finance, and "personal developments" (I will not comment as to whether that refers to a significant other ), I need to settle on one thing, throwing myself into it.

The problem lies in the fact that I cannot decide on what I want to do.

Out of the following choices, which would you pick? Why? And why would you not pick the others? Or, if you wouldn't pick any of the choices below, what is the reason? And what would you suggest instead? I'd appreciate a poll vote, as well as any insight added to the thread via posts!

Thanks guys!

Summary

-- GWB - Paid Web hosting
-- URL Logix - Free Web hosting
-- M - local classified ads
-- HS - automated SEO services for small businesses
-- iVentures - network marketing of .ws domains / hosting
-- Half Priced Gifts.com - ecommerce
-- Easy Forex Direct - FOREX trading platform

[PsiPro]

Few questions for you first:

If I do not pick "paid Web hosting" would you be selling your current business Just kidding, I will give my opinions on each one.

GWB - paid Web hosting

As you know, my busniess. Very hard to get into becasue the market is saturated. You need to be able to offer something more unique.

I would not recommend using one of the instant web-hosting busniess websites like DirectI etc becasue you have no control. You should start with a full busniess software and all on a reseller system. Once you have the client base you can upgrade to a dedicated server. This will allow you the most control and flexibility.

URL Logix - free Web hosting

Hard to make money in this system, not to mention you need to be able to foot the bill until you start making money however you plan to do it. Because of the density of the hosting environment, beastly servers are necessary if you are going to offer full service hosting for free.

M - local online classified ads

With a good niche market and some seed items I feel this is a good idea. Don't try to compete with craigs list, it won't work. I set-up a site for a client who is running a car auction / classified ads website in Jamaica very popular website becasue he is one of two people running this type of site in the country.

HS - automated SEO services for small businesses
iVentures - network marketing of .ws domains / hosting
Half Priced Gifts.com - ecommerce

Sorry not enough knowledge on the subject to comment.

Easy Forex Direct - FOREX trading platform

I have always wanted to try the FOREX exchange however I frankly do not trust the companies that tell me how many millions I can make. I will review your site again as last time I looked I skimmed quickly over it. (Also its annoying that the primary site doesn't allow FireFox)

[The Stealthy One]

Thanks for the votes and feedback so far! I won't drop any of my own comments yet, but I will say this: keep 'em coming!!

[akula]

none of the above

these opportunities are not the result of material, non public information

therefore, they are bad investments

therefore, you should not waste time on them

[NeeJam]

I've been going full-fledged on the Internet (specifically in paid Web hosting) since August 2004, with almost nothing to show for it.

- None Of The Above. You just revealed to everyone your answer here.

[akula]

that's right - the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting diffrent results

anyway....

the fortune of startup companies is so uncertain that entrepreneur should never start the damn things based on public information

[mnt11592]

I wouldnt go with either hosting possibility. The hosting online marketplace is just to competitive. Free hosting companies do not provide much profits. SEO seems like a good opportunity, but half priced gifts seems like just another merchant website. iVentures seems like a good niche with the .ws domains. Whichever path you choose, wether its online or not, I wish you the best of luck.

[nordicnomad]

I think you should open a fruit stand.

Nice and peacful, plenty of time to moderate between helping customers...

All the fruit you could ever want...

[ChaseManset]

Start a brothel.

[harrymcwealth]

Start an off the wall auction website -- you know, the things eBay doesn't let you do. Nazi paraphernalia, dead bodies etc. Of course they don't have to be those things. But you know what I mean.

[mjohns]

None of the above, I don't mean that because I am trying to put you down or saying that these businesses are failures just you will never get successful of the back of these businesses as they are all in saturated markets and dont offer anything amazingly unique and that is why the dotcom bubble burst. I would suggest investing in the web 2.0 area if you stay in the internet business. But so far you have done everything perfect as these are businesses that are low risk, and great confidence/experience builders, and this is why many entrepreneurs start like this.

Good look daniel for the future and maybe we could do business one day.

[The Stealthy One]

Thanks for the input so far!!! I think I've decided on......
































































Oh nevermind, keep hitting me with insight and votes!

[ideas2earn]

See now as usual I think Akula is talking out of his gills. The problem you have is wanting to stay 100% in an online arena. As soon as you get back into the real world and start to market/promote any of the above ideas you stand a much better chance. This is because there are still millions of users who do not use any of the services you could be offering online and infact are not even aware they exist.

Take a site like www.alibaba.com which is essentially just a glamourised classified site but has been very successful because of offline advertising and promotion.

Saying businesses are saturated is also bollocks, and if you don't believe me look at any one of the businesses that Richard Branson started and the time at which he started it. The keys are promotion, innovation, and execution.

Ultimately if you can persuade people your product or service is better than all the others you can charge a premium and make more money. If you can;t persuade the online market because it is too competetive then find a new market and bring them to your online service.

My 2C

Oh and I voted for the gifts business because it is most like a proper business.

[jandmsolution]

I cant believe i am saying it but i think akula is right it is over over over saturated and offline marketing cost good bucks and i bet he doesnt have it.

[chanson]

stealthy!

think about how much money you have spent int he last few years ont his stuff... now think how much you have made. So lets make an analogy.

I want to buy stocks. Stock A looks good so i put 500 into it. Stock A doesnt do good and i lost my 500. I have another 500 and hey look i think stock A is comig back... but it didnt and i lsot another 500... and again... and again.

How many times will it take? Waht im sayign is if you dont know what invwestment you want to do that means none of them have convinced you 100% which most likely means thy are crap so if Stock A looks like it will perform now but hasnt the last 5 times would you put 500 into it again? not without a very big deciding factor no.

I would suggest saving any money you would put into new ventures and putting it into some investments like mutual funds or what have you. Then when you do find that somethying that is right for you then you will be financially able to pursue it!

just my 2 cents!