When it comes to owning an online business, the possibilities are endless.
You have the potential to work from anywhere in the world. There is the scope to make big money with less effort than in a traditional job.
Oh, and did I mention that you never have to work for anyone else ever again?
However, if you have taken the first steps to starting an online business, you would have quickly realised that it isn’t that easy.
You might be working more than you thought you would be. You might not have the flexibility that you hoped you would. Hell, you might even be working another job to make ends meet.
But let me tell you, it does not have to be this way.
In fact, if you make some smart decisions, you can have a self-sufficient online business that makes money 24/7 — and it comes down to scale.
Also see – Ways for Business Growth: Challenges vs. Solutions
1. Start Creating Content
I don’t care what your business is, your website needs to be full of good content — for two core reasons.
Firstly, having content on your website increases its visibility to search engines. In essence, the more content you have on your site, the more likely you end up on the first page of Google’s search results.
Obviously, this is pretty important if you want new customers finding your business.
Secondly, by offering up high quality content for free, you build a reputation as an authority in your niche. This is key if you want to be perceived as a trustworthy business that prioritises its customers, rather than making a quick buck.
With this in mind, the type of content you create is important.
I generally recommend one long form blog post, one short opinion piece, and one product review each week. This consistent production is the best way to build your visibility and your reputation.
2. Get onto SEO
When it comes to getting into Google’s vision, writing content is only half the battle.
The other half? SEO, baby.
What is SEO?
It stands for ‘search engine optimization’ and it directly impacts how search engines present your content. If I were to simplify it as much as possible, the better your SEO, the more hits you get.
As a result, every single part of your website needs to be written considering SEO — otherwise all your amazing content will be going to waste.
3. Build Your Social Presence
Once your website is full of great content, it is time to get active on social media.
You need to create profiles on at least the big three (Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin), and start getting active. Post content that is relevant to your area of expertise, and your desired customer base.
Slowly build a foundation of loyal customers that are interested in what you have to offer. From here, you can start holding competitions and actively engaging with your followers daily.
Over time, this will lead to significant growth — as long as you remain active.
4. Boost Your Knowledge
Let’s face it — this whole ‘online business’ thing is hard, and there is only so much you can learn from reading blog posts.
Which is where our final point enters the discussion.
You need to learn how to implement the above points in a precise and effective manner. You need to be strategic and efficient.
In short, you need to learn how to run every aspect of an online business.
And with the wonders of modern technology, it has never been easier.
There has been a huge increase in the number of online courses that focus on e-training for this exact purpose. These web courses provide everything you need to turn your business into a money making machine.
Some free online courses can be found on CourseRA related to business and finance. This is a great first point of call. There are also websites like Skillshare that have e-courses related to things like SEO and content creation.
There are even services like Shopify Compass that provide online courses designed with the sole purpose of creating a profitable online business.
There is literally no excuse not to boost your knowledge — so what are you waiting for?
Take Home Point
Taking your business to the next level doesn’t have to be hard. You just have to be smart in your approach. If you take the time to create great content, get active on social media, and spend some time online learning, you will be most of the way there.
Then all you need to do is stay consistent!