Never before have the opportunities been more available, the tools cheaper, or the prospects of success more likely.

Whether you're a seasoned veteran looking to expand an existing online business, a casual dabbler looking for a part-time income, or an offline professional wanting to expand your market online, the following five key steps will help you reach your goals.

Key # 1: Define Your "Target"

Clearly list and explain what you want to accomplish in your web site business.

We all think about what we want to get or accomplish in life and our job.

But did you ever list it specifically in terms of money, traffic to a web site, or more sales online?

This principle and simple activity applies to an ebook, a new website, an ezine or any other business goal.

Defining a clear target will give your conscious and sub conscious mind something definite to shoot for.

Examples include: the number of subscribers to your ezine; sales per day on your website; pages written in an ebook; new advertising sources found; number of affiliates recruited and more.

Key # 2: Define the Cost"

You must "define the cost" in terms of the tools, resources, and people you need to reach your online business target, no matter what type of business you operate.

How much will it cost in time per hour, day, week and month for all of the items?

Also, how much will it cost in terms of money to operate the business, buy traffic, pay for hosting, design and more.

Sit down and map out the costs before throwing open your doors (or wallet) so you don't get hit with any nasty surprises.

Key # 3: "Make a List"

To create a real business that can be systematized, you must list off every single thing or element connected with your business, from the first idea to making daily deposits into the bank.

You may not know how they'll get done right now, but you must recognize that eventually these items must get done.

You can easily come up with a fairly comprehensive list by brainstorming just to get them down on paper.

Then, when you think you thought of everything, let someone else take a look and poke holes in your list with all kinds of additions and questions.

Key # 4: "Prioritize"

Here you must list all the elements you planned in number 3 in the exact order of how you should complete them.

Car makers must build in a planned order or the finished product won't work.

Once you sketch out your complete plan, let someone else take a look to see if you forgot a step.

In fact, they might point out that you forgot to tighten the lug nuts and the wheels fell off in the dealership!

Key # 5: "One Step At A Time"

Most people want it all and they want it now!

Unfortunately, the real world doesn't work that way.

Whether you do all the work yourself, outsource the job, or a combination of the two, everything must get done in the correct order in the correct way.

My motto reads, "Multi Tasking = Inefficiency.

Don't try to do two different jobs at the same time, you'll most likely screw up both and waste time and money doing them a second time.

Doing web site copy and email don't mix, auto responder messages and voice mail don't mix.

So pass each milestone on your roadmap and get things done properly and in sequence.

Launching an efficient and effective online business is not difficult.

It just requires careful planning, step-by-step execution, and attention to detail in order to greatly increase your chances of success.

Copyright (c) 2007 Jim Edwards