When NOT to Set Up Shop Online

So you're thinking about going online and have no idea where to start.  You've come to the right place, but before you dive in, there's something you need to ask yourself.

Do I need to go online or can I do without?

The reason why you need to know the answer to this question is simple.  Though many resources out there don't cost money, using them may cost you your time.  That's why we'll go through some of the possible reasons you may not want to open up shop online.

If your audience is small....

We're not talking 500 or even 100.  Maybe five to 20 tops.  Depending on what you're doing in real life, it may not be necessary to set up a Facebook group or a Google+ community.

This is especially true if the distance between everybody is rather small.

If your business is a small mom and pop shop with limited patrons/clients....

This isn't to say being online would have no benefits for a local business, but if said business is not on a historical land mark, only serves the local community, and only has a small amount of patrons/clients, then having an online presence may not be necessary.

Of course, there are exceptions to this, especially if the business owner wants to help other business owners start a business and improve the quality of products and/or services.

Still, if an online presence won't help your business or non-profit in any way, shape, or form, then it may not be needed.

If you just feel like it.....

It's not a bad thing to want to say something to the world, but it doesn't mean it's always a good idea.  Having a poorly kept presence for any reason can negatively impact job prospects among other things in real life.

This article isn't meant to dissuade anybody from starting a blog, a Facebook fan page, or any other venue online.  Before developing a presence online, ask yourself, "Why do I want to do it?"

Once it becomes clear that it is a good idea for you, then the next step is finding out what venue is appropriate.