6 Steps to Starting a Small Business Online

Oct 25

I started out in the dropshipping business back in 2006 - so a long time ago now.

Step 1: Establish a business that meets a need.

Most new entrepreneurs make the mistake of looking for a product first and a market second.

Begin with a market to increase your chances of success. The goal is to discover a group of individuals who are looking for a solution to a problem but aren't getting very far. This type of market research is made simple by the internet:

Conduct keyword research to locate terms that are popular but don't have a lot of competition from other sites.
Examine your possible rivals' websites and take note of what they're doing to meet demand. Then you can apply what you've learned to design a product for an already existing market – and do it better than the competitors.

For example, when I first started I was selling Wholesale Asian Beauty Cosmetics and then I moved into affiliate sales.

Step 2: Create sales copy.

There is a tried-and-true sales copy formula that guides visitors through the selling process from the minute they arrive until they complete a purchase:

A intriguing headline will pique your curiosity.
Describe the issue that your product solves.
Establish your credibility as a problem solver.
Include testimonials from customers who have utilized your product.
Discuss the product and how it will benefit the user.
Make a proposal.
Make a firm guarantee.
Make the situation urgent.
Request a sale.

Throughout your content, you should emphasize how your product or service is particularly capable of solving people's problems or improving their lives. Consider yourself a customer and ask, "What's in it for me?"

Step 3: Create and design your website.

You're ready for your small-business web design once you've determined your market and product, as well as nailed down your selling procedure. Remember to keep things as basic as possible. You have less than five seconds to capture someone's attention, or they'll be gone, never to be seen again. Here are a few pointers to bear in mind:

On a white backdrop, use one or two simple typefaces.
Make your navigation obvious and consistent across all pages.
Use images, audio, or video only if they add to your message.
Include an opt-in option to gather e-mail addresses.
Make it simple to buy, with no more than two clicks between a potential buyer and the checkout page.
Because your website serves as your online showroom, it should be user-friendly.

Step 4: Use search engines to direct qualified shoppers to your website.

Pay-per-click advertising is the simplest approach to drive visitors to a new website. It offers two benefits over waiting for organic traffic to come to you. First, PPC advertisements appear promptly on search results pages. Second, PPC advertising enable you to test alternative keywords, as well as headlines, pricing, and selling strategies. You not only gain instant traffic, but you can also employ PPC advertisements to find your best, highest-converting keywords. The keywords may then be distributed across your site in your prose and code, which will improve your ranks in organic search results.

Step 5: Make a name for yourself as an expert.

The internet is used by people to find information. If you give that information up for free to other websites, you'll get more visitors and higher search engine results. The key is to always add a link to your website with each piece of information.

Provide free expert material. Make articles, movies, or any other type of information that others will find beneficial. Distribute it via internet article directories or social media platforms.

Include "send to a friend" links on your website's important material.
Participate in industry forums and social networking platforms where your target market congregates.
Related: How to Make a Free Facebook Messenger Chatbot Without Coding

You will gain new readers. Even better, any site that publishes your work will include a link back to yours. Search engines value relevant site links and will reward you in the rankings.

Step 6: Use email marketing to convert visitors into purchases.

When you create an opt-in list, you're generating one of your internet business's most important assets. Your customers and subscribers have authorized you to send them an email. That is to say:

You're giving them something they requested.
You're forming bonds with them that will last a lifetime.
The answer is completely quantifiable.
Because email marketing is highly targeted, it is less expensive and more effective than print, television, or radio.
Anyone who visits your website and opts in to your mailing list is a hot lead. And there is no better tool for following up with those leads than email.

In summary, I would focus on a niche that you are truly interested in. Like I mentioned, I started in Asian Beauty Cosmetics and then I moved into selling Wholesale Cashmere.