Tuesday, 21 April 2020 12:35

The Pros and Cons of Starting an Internet Research Business

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The Internet provides a vast amount of information. If you can quickly and efficiently navigate through that wealth of information, and essentially find a needle in a haystack, you can create a very successful business as an Internet researcher.

Internet researchers can work with individuals or companies to gather, synthesize and present research on a variety of topics. You can work with small businesses to conduct market research to help them launch a new product.

You can gather data for someone in the health industry who is working on having an article published in a medical journal. You can also work with individuals who are researching their family ancestry or trying to locate someone they lost touch with over the years. So you can evaluate what are the pros and cons of internet research in business.

Here are some of the pros and cons of Internet research business that you should explore before taking the plunge.

The Pros of Starting an Internet Research Business

There are many reasons an Internet research business could be a good fit for you. Some of the pros and cons of internet research in business ideas include:

  • If you have a computer and Internet access, you have the equipment necessary to start an Internet research business.
  • There are no time constraints since the Internet is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Your business can be home-based or mobile.
  • You can expand your knowledge as you work.
  • You can target broadly, or specialize in specific research such as market research, genealogy research, statistical research, etc.
  • Your research speed will increase as you become more familiar with online search tools and resources.

The Cons of Starting an Internet Research Business

Like most business ideas, there can become challenges when it comes to starting an Internet research business. Some of the potential challenges include:

  • You may find it difficult to sell your services since it's something almost anyone can do.
  • You have to be able to objectively evaluate information since not all information found on the Internet is accurate.
  • You have to be especially careful to avoid plagiarism and how to cite your sources when gathering information online.
  • You need to understand the different search operators and how to use them to find what you're looking for.
  • You need to know what questions to ask your clients to get a clear understanding of what information they need.

Recommended Resources

These two resources will help you further explore this business idea:
Explore this list of 101 business ideas for even more inspiration. And make sure you also qualify your business idea as part of the planning process before starting your business.

Author:  Alyssa Gregory

Source:  https://www.thebalance.com/starting-internet-research-business-2951484

AOFIRS

World's leading professional association of Internet Research Specialists - We deliver Knowledge, Education, Training, and Certification in the field of Professional Online Research. The AOFIRS is considered a major contributor in improving Web Search Skills and recognizes Online Research work as a full-time occupation for those that use the Internet as their primary source of information.

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