What is an internet consultant and how to become one

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 always available. If you have a background in a research-based field such as journalism or library science, you will more easily be able to market your value to potential clients. Your business can be home-based or mobile. If working from home, you also should be able to deduct expenses for your home office when filing your taxes. You can expand your knowledge as you work. You can target broadly or specialize in specific areas such as market research, genealogy research, statistical research, etc. Your researching speed will increase as you become more familiar with online search tools and resources.

You may find it difficult to sell the value of your services to clients if you are unable to convince them that your background and experience have provided you with skills that go beyond run-of-the-mill internet searches. Establishing the business likely will require extensive networking, marketing, and self-promotion to build a client base. You have to be able to objectively evaluate information since not all information found on the internet is accurate. You need to have the skills and knowledge to go beyond basic Google or Bing searches. There are billions of pages of data that popular search engines don't reach, and you need to know how to find that data to be valuable to your clients. You have to be especially careful to avoid plagiarism and know 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.