Starting an online business can be lucrative when you go about it the right way. You’ll be surprised how many websites you visit have a small team behind the scenes. This is no easy feat. However, every good manager knows how to delegate and how to wear many different hats. If you can’t hire someone to do it then you have to do it yourself and surround yourself with the best tools you can get. Once you have a solid product, it’s time to market your company. The beauty of online business is that everyone has a level playing field. If you have the right infrastructure online and a solid product with an audience then you will grow.
Create a great website
Your website is often the first impression people have of your business. It should run quickly and be easy to navigate. If your website is too slow or too complicated, it can force a potential customer to go elsewhere. This is important to have done from the beginning. It doesn’t even need to be super fancy and could be a pro WordPress site. However, make sure that your images are all great quality. You don’t want to scare off potential customers by having them click away. Your website will be the first impression people have of you. Make sure that it looks polished, clean, and that it has plenty of white space. You don’t want to have so much copy that it creates a wall of text. It should also be attractive and portray the image you want for your brand. Think about who your audience is and what feel you want them to take away from you. If your business was a person what would they look like? Font, tone in copy, and images all help create a mood and become part of your branding. Sending the right vibe with your website can encourage the right people to keep browsing and stay on the website.
Utilize social media
Social media is a free way for you
to reach out to all of your friends and followers. It is silly not to utilize
it to the best of your ability. Make sure you post regularly. When you post,
have a healthy mix of promotional posts and entertaining/informative posts to
keep people interested. Don’t span and post multiple times every day or people
might unfriend you. Make sure you have links to your social media accounts on
your website.
Go where your audience is. If your business is being marketed towards teens
then you would be wasting money with facebook ads targeting them directly. Go
to Instagram, Tik Tok, and research online habits. The same applies if your
business is targeting their parents or grandparents. Where do they spend their
time online? Make sure that every online decision you make creatively is based
on strategy.
Create original content
If you want people to pay attention to your site, you need to give them something that would interest them in the form of original content. The content can be a blog, a video, or pictures. Post them on your website and on social media. The more original and entertaining the content it, the more likely people will share it. In some cases, it may even go viral. When this happens, it will greatly boost your seo ranking, bringing more people to you.
You don’t need to go viral however for your seo ranking to go up. You need to work smart and learn about your website. What tags do you use in your posts? Who are you targeting? What are your keywords? These are all very important when creating a google strategy.
Promote in person
You online business can still benefit from in-person marketing. Have business cards made for people you meet who might benefit from your business. You should also wear merchandise, such as hats and tee shirts, with your logo on it. People may be interested and give you the opportunity to talk to them about your company. Always act responsibly when representing your brand in public. If you act inappropriately, it can discourage people from buying from you. Add a business card or your socials to packaging if you have a physical product. This is an easy way to remind people to follow you. They already have your product! This way they can help your online business grow.
A new online business is exciting. It’s even more exciting when you work hard to help it blow up. If you use these tips and put in the effort, you will see your business grow.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.
