I meet with a lot of people ready to jump into to a website business with some good, and some not so good ideas.  If you have a “killer” website idea and are ready to act, consider 7 lessons I’ve learned from first hand experience with small online startups.

Thoroughly know your website’s subject.
You have to have the chops. Be the best in what your building your site around. If you’re not the expert, find out how you can get the experts info on your site. Content is king and the king has to rule your domain.

Plan your marketing platform.
Do you have a twitter, facebook and youtube account? Today’s marketing is driven by the social media space. Your platform is the key to connect to your audience.

Test your assumptions.
What are you assuming about your idea or the marketplace that compels you to move forward? Is it possible your market is smaller than you think or don’t value what you want to provide as much as you’re hoping? Don’t build on online business from an assumption. Build one out of passion. In the end if you don’t kill it, you’re at least doing what you love and will make a living from it.

Check your expectations.
Think you’re going to have this site built and instantly make bank? Are you hiring a web agency and think you won’t have to do any heavy lifting? Expect to work…hard. Hustle is the only way you’ll build your brand and your business. Developing a site with a web agency requires a ton of time and attention on your part.

Whatever your business is, customer service is your only business.
There’s no substitute for making every one of your customers feel special.

Iterate and update your site quickly…or die.
Version one of your site won’t be perfect. Are you always making it better? Listen to your customers. Fix problems. Focus on usability instead of just being novel.

Throw away your 5 year business plan.
I strongly believe in goals, but longterm business plans won’t work for your new web business. Be reactionary to your new customers wants and needs. Change will come quickly.

BONUS: Understand the process of building a website.
You have to understand the problem, plan the solution and execute. Your web agency is your partner, but they don’t know your business. Have your business structure in place, exploit your advantages and be ready to compete.