How To Start Building An Online Business
Learning to start your own online business can be stressful at first. However, if you start by researching and learning more about operating and managing a business successfully, you will be ahead of the game.
When you get that fantastic little idea in your head that sparks the motivation to create a business, you get excited about it. And, you should. But, businesses don’t become successful overnight, and they do require effort and a solid foundation for success.
Everyone’s business is different, but there are some basic strategies that every business should follow. I have a few simple business-building tips for you to consider when starting your online business, and they are things that I did when I started this business in 2015.
Here’s how you can start building your online business:
Know Who Your Audience Is
Building a business starts with an excellent idea to help your potential customers or clients fix something they struggle with. But, who is your ideal customer or target audience? Until you know who that is, branding will be challenging.
Once you know your audience, you’ll need to do some market research and ask what problems they need help with. If you offer a solution that can support them, great. If not, you’ll need to go back to the drawing board for a while and determine your zone of genius and how you can utilize that to help. Always start with the problem that you solve and then develop the how.
Learn To Network
Networking is scary when you first start a business, but it’s not too hard to do now with the accessibility of social media. Facebook was crucial to my success when I started because I joined plenty of groups to connect with other virtual assistants and bloggers who had similar interests as I did.
One of the best platforms for networking is LinkedIn. You can create a LinkedIn profile for free and start finding businesses and influencers in your same niche right away! If you’re not ready for that yet, utilize Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with other like-minded individuals. Be sure to engage regularly with them, too!
Promote Your Business
Advertising is daunting when you first start your business, but there are ways to do it for free. Pinterest is one of the best ways to promote or advertise your business if you have blog posts to share.
Pinterest is essentially a search engine for every topic under the sun, and it’s super accessible to everyone because they have an excellent phone app that people can use on the go. You can also accomplish advertising by using Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
And creating a mailing list is crucial. Make sure that you have a useful downloadable product created for your ideal audience where you can help them with something they are currently struggling with. But you can’t just add random emails to your list, though. People need legally sign up on their own. Mailchimp has a great article on the examples of a compliant and non-compliant mailing list that’s worth the read.
Many successful companies and businesses depend on their newsletters for generating revenue through their products or affiliate marketing. The newsletter is also a great way to make passive income with the right products, services, and offers.
Building a successful online business is something that anyone with the drive and ambition can do! All you need to do is focus on the problem you’re trying to solve, your why, your overall business goals, and the quality of the work that you produce.
Want to start with some awesome branding?
Baby Got Brand has an excellent solution for that! Baby Got Brand has many different branding options to choose from, and they’re super easy to work with. I’ve worked with the owner on several brands myself and swear by her work. [I am not an affiliate, I just love supporting her!]
If you need help or want some basic guidance on starting your business, I may be able to help. On top of Pinterest management, I do offer consultation calls by request.
