how to start an online based business
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
A brief overview on how to start an online based business. This same overview can also work for businesses with a physical location, you will just need to add on a few more steps. If you want full guidance on starting your dream business my business startup guide is for you.
01. Niching, naming & registering
The starting point for any business is choosing what you are going to offer and niching it down to a specific target market, no business can serve “everyone” and be wildly successful. Your marketing depends on you having a target market. You can then move on with naming and registering your company, when choosing a name it is best to make your business easily identifiable rather than explaining what you do, explaining what you do comes through marketing.
02. BRAND STRATEGY & DESIGN
Branding is the difference between starting a hobby and a company. A business will always stay a hobby or sideline if it doesn’t reach the right audience. Brand strategy and design ensures that the look and feel of your business attracts the right people, is easily recognisable and increases your revenue by establishing a trustworthy presence. Key factors to look at in this process are who your ideal client is and how are you going to reach them in a sea of competitors.
03. WEBSITES & DIGITAL PRESENCE
Part of the previous step would have included finding out how your ideal client finds business they want to purchase from or work with. Having an online based business requires more than a social media platform if you want to grow to your full potential, this is where a website comes in. Your website is the online storefront for your business and is the key to converting viewers into paying clients. Your client might initially find you on instagram or tiktok but where do they go from there?
04. LAUNCH PREP
At this stage you should already have an almost complete company, you will have something to sell, a brand that looks amazing, social platforms that connect with your brand feel and a website that is ready to create conversions. All you need are the clients. Prepping your launch is key to avoid your business falling flat, as soon as you can you should start gathering followers and subscribers and building up excitement to the launch of your new business.
05. LONG TERM
Getting your business off the ground is just the beginning of an amazing adventure. From there you need to have a long term marketing plan for how you are going to retain clients and attract new ones. You will also need to look at processes within your company and how you will adjust as your business reaching its goals and expands.
CONCLUSION
Building a successful online based business is far more than just slapping a logo on a company and going through trial and error to see if your aunt will buy from you. You need to have an online presence and reach that establishes trust and brings in clients on a regular basis. This is a very brief rundown on starting a business but if you want a tailor made plan to building the business of your dreams I can help you.
