Business Description
In today’s world, more and more businesses are going digital. With the advent of the internet, there has never been a time more ideal for businesses to grow their consumer base. We live in the age of affordable, and easily accessible technology, and are witness to a new era of entrepreneurship. A fully furnished office space with a legion of employees is not the only indicator of a successful business today. Here is your personal step-by-step guide to starting your own online business!
Step One: Identify Your Consumer Base and Their Needs
A common mistake amongst entrepreneurs is to put the product before the market. Do your research and isolate a market with a void or a service that is missing- and then design a product that will fill that void. The internet is a great source of research. Try visiting online forums related to your market-space, and think of innovative ways to fill in the gaps in the needs of your consumers. You can also prepare questionnaires for customers to fill to better understand what the service is still missing.
Step Two: Use Your Words as a Marketing Tool
The pen is mightier than the sword, so use your words carefully and economically. Draw potential customers in with catchy headlines, and keep them there with a well-written description of what it is you can do to help them. Be sure to use testimonials from users of your product in order to establish your credibility in the marketplace.
Step Three: Design a User-Friendly Website
Now that you have your product and the know-how to sell it, it is time to design your website. When designing a website for a small business, less is more. Keep your fonts and colour schemes simple and easily digestible, and be sure to make the buying and checkout process as seamless as possible. Be sure to read up on search engines, and explore pay-per-click advertising options to drive traffic to your website portal authentically.
Step Four: Start a Dialogue with Your Consumers
As a mouthpiece for your product, you have the ability to provide information where it is needed on the internet. Create your own specialised content to be distributed over your web portal, social media handles and opt-in email lists to reach customers and make long-term subscribers feel involved. Interact with customers and get their feedback on your product and how it can still be improved further.
Step Five: Back-End Sales and Upselling
Studies on consumer habits have demonstrated that 35-40% of consumers that have purchased a product will do so again if followed up with. Given that the initial sale is the most complicated hurdle, be sure to take advantage of back-end selling and upselling to get customers to come back by offering related products on your final sale page, or taking advantage of electronic loyalty coupons and points.
While the world of the internet is fast-paced and prone to change, these tried and tested methods are a fool-proof road to success. With the help of virtual offices, you can operate your online business from anywhere in the world. So, start your online business today, and realise your entrepreneurial dreams!
