Online is where the future of business lies. Without an online presence, companies struggle to pull customers to the degree that those who engage with the internet do. The online business structure has become a booming trade, with e-shops, direct creator-to-consumer delivery with no brick-and-mortar intermediary, and websites designed to help people sell their wares. But how do you start an online business?
Systemise Your Approach
Before you take action, take stock and make a plan. No success will be waiting for you if you decide to wing it in the online business world. You need to factor in things like budget, priorities, products, and content, and have a plan for how you want to approach each. Creating and organising a comprehensive system for your business and brand are necessary to get your idea off the ground.
Creating Your Website
To get the most out of your website, ensure you pick the right platform. It’s recommended that you research what is available, and what each platform has to offer, before choosing one. The wrong platform will cost you both money and growth potential.
The most popular and versatile options are GoDaddy, SquareSpace, and WordPress.org. WordPress currently powers over 31% of websites on the internet, including small and large business sites. They’re a reliable place to start, and once your business begins to scale, these platforms are the easiest to adjust to your specifications.
In terms of website design, it’s best to go with functional, simple, and clean. It’s not necessary to pay for a professional, especially at the beginning when money is tight. But make sure it’s attractive, and works for you instead of against. The top ways to keep your website from being a liability is ensuring it has high speed, good performance, and is accessible and optimised for mobile. No one wants to spend time on a website that lags, or one that doesn’t have tappable elements.
Engage Your Consumers
This is essential for consumer retention and satisfaction. Most online businesses have a section on the website for people to contact them through, and encourage interactions. It’s the best way to open up a dialogue between you and your consumers.
During those exchanges, offer the best customer service you can, and go above and beyond whenever possible. People who have positive experiences with businesses are more likely to leave good reviews and recommend you to others, which is critical for business growth. Positive reviews from real customers also establishes your credibility. It’s wise to encourage anyone who purchases from you to leave a review, and when they do, try and keep that interaction going without overwhelming them.
However, don’t ignore your future customers for current ones. It’s necessary to find and maintain that balance between nurturing old consumers and finding new ones. Sending follow-up emails to people who have made a purchase, perhaps including an offer or discount, will contribute to their overall experience with your business, but don’t let that consume all your time. Make sure to target more audiences and spread your business as well.
Be Original
Not many entrepreneurs need to be told this, but it’s critical advice to keep in mind. Copying what other people have done will seriously affect your standing and your sales. Modelling after success is okay, but lifting your content from someone else has no positive outcome. Honesty and authenticity in your brand and business is crucial, especially as audiences are hyper-aware of poor business practices nowadays.
One surefire way to flex your creativity is in unique and compelling ad campaigns. Advertising on social media and online is the best way to be noticed, but there is a lot of competition for those spaces. Ensuring your adverts are memorable is the key to getting traction from online campaigns.
Social Media
Social media is a vast aspect of the online world, and integrating it into business is one of the first things many new companies do. It can help build your brand, your reputation, and your content levels. Creating a posting schedule and sticking to the 80/20 rule is the best way to encourage engagement with your business across all platforms.
The three chief ones to focus on, however, are the Big Three platforms: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. If your business better suits Instagram, however, it’s recommended to use that instead of Twitter.
When working with multiple media platforms, you absolutely must keep your content consistent. Having different things happening in different places will cause confusion and loss of customers. It’s easy to automate and systemise your content so it is released on schedule, and make sure it suits your brand.
