Did you know that about 20% of small businesses fail within the first year? If you want to start a business, don’t let this statistic scare you! Instead, let it be your motivator to be part of the 80% instead.
One way to set yourself up for success is to keep initial costs low by starting an online business instead of a brick-and-mortar store. Need some guidance as you get started? We’re here to help.
Keep reading to learn how to start a small online business the right way.
Determine the Need You Can Fill
You might think that the first thing you need to do is figure out what you’re going to sell but take a step back first. Instead, figure out who you’re going to sell to and use that to help determine the product or service you should sell.
To do this, research some markets within the industry you’re interested in selling. What are people looking for? Are there any pain points you can help solve with your products or services? Is there a hole in the market that you can fill?
Check out online forums to help answer these questions so you can decide how to move forward. Once you do, you can use this information to help secure funding for your business, if needed. Check out Impact Capital for more information about this.
Create a Great Website
Once you know what you’re going to sell to your target market, you need a website to actually sell your products or services. You can either hire a web development company to do it for you, or you can use a low-cost website builder to create your own site to help save money.
Make sure your website is easy to navigate and optimized for use on mobile devices so your customers can access it even while on the go.
Write Compelling Copy
Once your website design is done, you need to fill it with compelling copy that sells. To do this, do some research on the keywords your target market is using and use the keywords in your website content.
Then, be sure to use eye-catching headlines and describe how your products or services can solve your target market’s problems. Finally, make sure there are clear calls to action throughout the website to make it easier for customers to convert.
Once you get a few sales, try to get testimonials from your customers that will complement the content on your site.
Embrace Digital Marketing
Now that your site is ready to launch, it’s time to share your new online business with the world! When starting a business from home, you’ll need to rely on digital marketing since you won’t get any foot traffic.
Create social media profiles for your business and post regularly to engage your audience. You can also try email marketing and pay-per-click ads to get more eyes on your site.
Invest in SMS marketing as well. It’s a great one-on-one way to keep in touch with your customers and update them on your special offers, notifications, and reminders. All you need is to find a reliable SMS gateway API to integrate into your software and send quick bulk messages to your customers to create a special bond with them.
Now You Know How to Start a Small Online Business
After reading through these tips, you know how to start a small online business that’s set up for success. By following these steps to starting a business, you’re setting a great foundation that you can build on while the sales continue to roll in.
Looking for more advice for your online business? Browse through our other articles before you go.
