So you want to start your own online business
That’s great! It can be a very rewarding experience, but there are a few things you need to know before you get started.
In this article, we will discuss the first 7 steps you need to take to get your online business off the ground.
Step 1: Define your business idea
The first step in starting any business is defining your business idea. What are you going to sell? Who is your target market? What are your unique selling points? These are all important questions that you need to answer before moving on.
Step 2: Choose your business model
There are several ways to make money online, but not all of them will be a good fit for your personality or skill set. It’s important to choose a business model that you feel comfortable with and that you will enjoy working on.
The most popular online business models include:
- Affiliate Marketing
- Blogging
- E-Commerce (HINT: check out the Shopify UK Alternative)
- Network Marketing
- Freelancing
Step 3: Choose a domain name and hosting
Your domain name is your web address, for example, www.yourname.com. When choosing a domain name, it’s important to think about what you want your website to be about. It’s also important to choose a name that is easy to remember and spell.
You will also need to choose a web host for your website. A web host is a company that provides space on its servers for you to store your website files. In order to be found, your website needs to be hosted on a high-speed server that receives thousands of visitors each day. You can find companies that specialize in this through a quick Google search.
Step 4: Design your website
Now it’s time to design your website! Here you will need to choose a theme and colour scheme, as well as any layout elements such as text boxes or forms. Even if you don’t have any skills when it comes to web design, there are many free websites available for you to customize your own unique website without needing special training or coding skills.
Step 5: Promote your website
After you’ve designed and launched your website, it’s time to get the word out! How many visitors your site gets will depend on how well you market yourself and your business. While paid advertising is great, don’t rely on it too heavily. It can be expensive and very difficult to track results; most people recommend that you spend 75% of your time creating content for search engine optimization (SEO). What this means is writing high-quality blog posts, making videos and sharing them online with other users in order to attract more leads and customers. The more quality content you produce, the more visitors – and potential clients – you’ll draw to your website.
Step 6: Create your product or service
Most online businesses are based around a product or service. It’s important to think about what you can offer people and how this will benefit them, as well as how it is different from the competition. It’s also important to remember that your website should be focused on solving problems and addressing questions potential clients might have. Keep in mind that your solutions should be unique and original, not just something that has been rehashed already.
Step 7: Making sales
Once someone has found their way to your site, make sure you give them a friendly, easy way to make a purchase. It’s important that your website is user-friendly and even though visitors might be on their phone or tablet as they browse, make sure it looks good no matter what device they’re viewing from.
When you have finally launched your online business, there will always be room for improvement! As with any new venture, remember that you can learn as you go and that these 7 steps are just the beginning of a successful journey ahead.
