Every day, more and more businesses move online, and there is no more doubt that this is, in fact, the way of the future. We constantly see boundaries being broken as to what can be done online, and these days, it seems like manual labor is the only thing that can’t be transferred online.
From teaching to crafting, accounting, consulting, and everything in between, there is an online solution out there. You might be thinking it is time for you to hop on board the remote train and start your online business too. And you might just be right.
But getting an online business started isn’t as easy as you might think, and it is estimated that upwards of 80% of online startups don’t make it. Here are a few tips for starting your online business to avoid the e-graveyard and set yourself up for success from the get-go.
Set Weekly Goals
Year after year, we prove to ourselves that we can’t keep up with new year’s resolutions, so what would make goals for a fledgling business any different? Sure, you should have an end goal in mind, but having that massive target looming overhead can be overwhelming and seem unattainable.
Instead, break it down into smaller targets and wave goodbye to performance anxiety as you check off your goals one by one. Do you want to sell 100 products? Good for you. But how about first trying to sell 10? And then another 10. Soon before long, your target creeps closer, and you keep building confidence instead of being knocked down by initial slow numbers.
Remember, this is business.
Having your own online business seems like the land of milk and honey, but the road to financial freedom is paved with many stumbling blocks. You will need to approach it like a business from day one and be strict about things like timekeeping, expenses, and work ethic.
This is especially true if your online business is tied to something creative. Businesses like selling creations on Etsy or freelance writing give you a false sense of freedom, and lots of your time is spent “being creative.” You need to keep realistic working hours and set aside enough time to focus on admin, regardless of how boring that might sound.
SEO Is King
These days, it seems like everyone is a social media expert or can build you a drag-and-drop website. But driving the right kind of traffic to your website requires some skill and finesse, and you can’t just cast your net wide and hope for the best.
If you don’t know much about SEO yourself (first of all, get reading!), this is where you want to spend some money and get the right help. SEO specialists can ensure that your product or service ranks highly on Google and that other websites drive traffic to you. If someone searches, for example, DnD books or DnD Miniatures, you want your website to appear on the first page and as high as possible.
Brand Strategy
Starting an online business is a super exciting time, and we don’t judge you for wanting it off the ground as fast as possible. Often first-timers try to launch their business before having a solid brand strategy in place, wanting to get to more exciting parts first. But you must crawl before you can run [a business].
You need basics like a logo, social media accounts, a voice, and style to be in place and consistent. Take some time to figure it out and play around with many ideas but do this before you go live. Once it’s done, it’s done, and you don’t want to be messing around with the face of your business where other people can see it. You want your “look” to be runway ready to make an impactful start.
Promotions
Don’t underestimate the value of a good old fashion promotion or sale. You don’t have to wait for seasons to change or holidays to roll around before you run them, either. You can have some juicy promotions right off the bat to get people excited.
This doesn’t only apply to e-commerce, either. Writing? Give a discounted rate for larger orders. Consulting? Give a free introductory call. Selling a course? Give a discount on referrals. The options are endless. But oftentimes, a promo is what will set you apart from your competitor. People are more likely to take a deal from a newer company that no deal from a more established one. It’s simple psychology.
Adjust your perspective about the goal
You should think a little more abstract about your goal and forget about simply “selling.” Whether it’s a product or a service, your aim should not be to sell the product. Rather, your goal is to gain a customer. Customer acquisition costs are often higher than retention costs, so make your customers want to come back.
Make your service feel as personal as possible, especially while things are still small. Put effort into making the purchasing process a pleasant experience and maintain good communication with customers. Basically, “make them want you.” It isn’t enough to just be selling a good product anymore; people want to invest in the whole experience, so give them what they want.
Be Kind to Yourself
This might just be the hardest step to take. Being an online business entrepreneur is hard work and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But it is important that you show yourself a little compassion now and then too. You will make mistakes, but you need to embrace them and roll with the punches.
Try to take everything in your stride and learn from your mistakes. Getting a business off the ground takes time, and it takes even more time to make it successful. So, in the end, you need to be patient and kind to yourself to give yourself a fighting chance.
Don’t worry; it’s not all doom and gloom. Starting an online business can be one of the most exciting times in your life, and the initial growing pains should not be enough to scare you away from dreaming big!
