Look at the Internet as an opportunity to create an electronic brochure.

I'm Greg Washington, and I'm President and Founder of Patients Unlimited Marketing Consultants. We are an advertising agency that does marketing and public relations. Our current business concentration is in the Internet. We have been involved with the development and advancement of Internet businesses now for about five years.

One of the most important things that I would tell you as aspiring businesspeople is that the Internet is probably the best thing that could happen to a small business owner and operator. The reason is that it levels the playing field. As you present your services and meet your customers and clients on the Internet, they can't tell a big company from a small company.

So there is a wonderful opportunity there for those of you who are astute enough and resourceful enough to find the kind of individuals who can create a presentation of what you do and how you do it on the Internet. Look at the Internet as an opportunity to create an electronic brochure that will tell your story in a very quick way better than anything you could possibly do.

One final point that I think is very important is not to overlook the opportunity to have a Web site or an address where information on your business can be found. Not to have vital information on the Internet is a serious handicap because you're competing with other businesses--very small businesses that look very big on the Internet--and if you don't have that little special place to get information, it suggests that maybe you really do not have a successful business.