5 Tips for Building a Successful Online Business
It’s easier to envy what others have than put in the work to get the life you want. The truth is anyone can have a successful online business by following a few basic principles.
I’ll share a step-by-step below, but those ingredients are not enough. You must have patience and persistence to persevere when results take time to unfold, and that’s where the internal work comes in. Face your limiting beliefs to find the confidence to grow and continue through uncertainty.
Without the internal work, it’s too easy to give up and go back to traditional life, even if it leaves you unfulfilled because that’s what’s dependable.
It’s a bumpy road, but it’s worth it because you are in the driver’s seat the entire time.
If you’re ready to take the leap, here are five steps to building a successful online business.
1. Capitalize on your uniqueness.
A completely original idea is rare, and imitations are sure to follow when a good one comes around. Focus your efforts on what product or service you offer and how you offer it. Can’t spot the difference? Jot down 20 of your qualities. Then, take at least five of them that you feel will best serve your business and integrate them into your brand.
2. Define what drives your business.
Develop pillars that support your business: Mine are wellness and mindset, sustainability, adventure and lifestyle, and plant-based living. Next, define your beliefs. For instance, I believe in healthy, balanced and eco-friendly living and enjoyment to every extent. Use these definitions to build out your content to keep it consistent and attract a relatable crowd.
3. Never stop learning.
Follow best business practices and read self-help books and entrepreneurial strategies to stay motivated and inspired. You don’t have to go by the book, but to break the rules, you have to know the rules. Also, check in on your fellow online peers from time to time to see what you can do differently. Do not compare your success to the perceived success of others. You can’t tell how many sales a peer makes by their number of Instagram followers.
4. Launch regularly.
If your products or services are always available at the same rate, there’s no rush to buy them. Get creative with your offerings to create urgency and build launches around them: Bundle services or products for a limited time and market the special. Or create and disclose a limited number of sales or products. The key to building a successful launch is not to be too sales-based. Educate the audience on why the product or service is valuable and relate to them by providing engaging content in between.
5. Prioritize your efforts.
Entrepreneurs wear lots of hats, but that doesn’t mean you have to do everything. Asking for help frees you up to focus on your zone of genius. If social media overwhelms you, seek some outside assistance. To learn a new skill, attend a workshop. To get personalized help in starting your online business, join my community of like-minded entrepreneurs.
Your online business is a chance to show up as your full self every day, develop your strengths and push yourself outside your comfort zone. When you do these things, the rewards are tenfold. Are you ready?