5 Steps to Creating a Successful Online Business

There are numerous benefits to creating an online business, such as working from home and setting your own hours. But the journey to launching the business can be quite difficult – especially if you don’t know where to begin. 

Here are 5 steps to help you navigate and successfully launch an online business: 

• Find a need and fill it.
• Write copy that sells.
• Design and build and easy-to-use website.
• Create social media accounts on multiple platforms.
• Use the power of email to market your business. 

It’s not easy, but it’s doable. Let’s break down each step to learn how you can grow and maintain a successful online business.

Step 1: Find a need and fill it.

Many people start a business by creating the product first, then they look for the market second. This can create broader issues – What if there isn’t a need for your product? Or, what if other companies are already successfully filling that need? Starting with the product could potentially set your business up to fail. 

Start with the market, then create a product that will offer a solution for a problem you know exists. The internet can make this kind of research very easy: 

• Visit online forums to see what types of questions people are asking and what problems they’re trying to solve. 

• Do keyword research to find what kinds of keywords people are searching. 

• Look at the competition. How can you stand out among other companies wanting to fill the same need? What are they not offering their customers? How can you take your business one step further than your competitors?

Step 2: Write copy that sells.

To improve your chances of successfully converting visitors into customers, follow this sales copy formula: 

1. Arouse interest with a compelling headline.
2. Describe the problem your product intends to solve.
3. Add testimonials from people who have used your product.
4. Explain how your product benefits the user.
5. Make an offer.
6. Make a strong guarantee.
7. Provoke a sense of urgency.
8. Ask for the sale. 

Persuade people to buy your product by explaining how it will uniquely benefit  them and improve their lives.

Step 3: Design and build an easy-to-use website.

Your website is your business. A well-designed website is more likely to convert visitors into repeat customers. Your site builds trust and makes a lasting impression on consumers. Website design isn’t easy – especially if you don’t have any experience. People will bounce from  your page to  a competitor’s site if your website is poorly designed or is  confusing to navigate. 

Most importantly, all sales will be  made through your website. If someone is trying to decide whether or not to buy your product, and the site  consistently lags or the steps required  to buy the product are unclear, the chance that  consumers will follow through with the purchase  become slim. 

However, a functional, effective website should not feel out of reach. A well-designed website is  the most important investment an online business can make. To boost your chances of success, hire professionals to strategically design your site. TomKin Consulting LLC is even willing to create your website for just $299. Leave a lasting impression on consumers and boost your sales with a successful website.

Step 4: Create social media accounts on multiple platforms.

It’s no secret that social media has become a major component  of a business’s success – especially within the last couple of years. Consumers should be able to learn about your business on multiple mediums. You can’t rely solely on popping up in keyword searches to attract visitors to your website. Decide which social networks sites will be the most effective platforms to  reach your target market. 

• Facebook: The platform has over two billion users, in which 74% are female and 62% are male (statistics check – this doesn’t sound accurate). The most popular age range is 18-29. 

• Instagram: It has over one billion monthly active users, and its most popular age range of Instagrammers is 13-17, with 72% of people in this range actively using the platform. 60% of users say they discover new products on Instagram. 

• Snapchat: About 210 million people use Snapchat daily. 73% of people that are 18-24 years old use Snapchat. 46% of US adults visit the platform multiple times a day. 

• YouTube: YouTube is used primarily to post video content. 81% of people ages 18-25 actively use this platform, and 73% of adults watch YouTube videos. 

• TikTok: This platform has risen to fame this year. It’s currently available in over 150 markets in 75 languages. There are over 500 million monthly active users, which are 55% male and 45% female. The site is most popular with 

When you’re choosing which networks to use, ask yourself: What platforms will effectively reach my target market? Don’t use social media blindly. Create a strategic plan to maximize all the benefits social platforms provide. 

It’s also essential to keep your social platforms consistent with your website. The color scheme, font, and basic feel of your website should transfer over to your social media accounts. And you can’t build a solid social media presence on a  poorly designed website (yet another reason to invest in your  website – everything builds off of it).

Step 5: Use the power of email to market your business.

It’s easy to fall into the “no one uses email anymore” trap. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, text and Facetime have dramatically risen  to become the dominant forms of communication, especially among younger generations, but countless companies still use email as their main form of communication between coworkers. 

Email marketing is highly targeting, which makes it cheaper and more effective than print, TV or radio marketing. When customers and subscribers give you permission to send them an email, add them to an opt-in list. This creates a group of people that you know are interested in what you’re selling. By sending emails, about new product arrivals or weekly/monthly coupons, you keep your customers engaged .

What if I follow these steps, but my online business is still unsuccessful?

Look at the analytics. The bounce rate is an important indicator that shows how long consumers are staying on your site and the rate at which visitors on your website hit the back button (or bounce of the page). 

It only takes about 50 milliseconds for consumers to form an opinion about your website. If people are bouncing off your site in a matter of seconds, this means they were most likely turned off by the mere appearance of the page. Consider why consumers find your website to be untrustworthy and unworthy of their time. Is your site poorly designed? People can’t necessarily read the content on the page in a matter of seconds but look at your headings and subheads. Do they make sense? Do they draw visitors in? 

If consumers are bouncing off your site within a couple minutes, the reason most likely pertains to the quality of the content, not the design of the page. Are you answering the question you intended to answer? 

Google Analytics is a great way to figure out your website’s bounce rate. And it’s also important to note that, if you have a high bounce rate for a certain keyword, Google will most likely stop showing your site  based on that keyword after a while . Make sure (missing content).

What should I avoid when starting an online business?

• Taking too long to launch: Timing is everything. Don’t rush into launching a business without executing the necessary steps beforehand, such as the five steps discussed earlier. But don’t wait until your business idea is perfect – nothing is perfect. Your business needs time to grow, so you need to make sure you’re allowing that time. 

• Starting a business just to make quick cash: Don’t create a business with the intention to “become rich.” If you don’t care about the product you’re trying to sell, neither will consumers. It’s very likely that you will not make a profit in the first year. Develop a business idea that you’re proud of and be prepared to work hard to achieve success. 

• Offering a solution to a non-existent problem: Like we discussed previously, don’t set yourself up for failure. Before starting a business or creating a product, make sure there is a genuine need for it. Research competitors to find out what they’re lacking. What are the consumers asking for that they’re not providing? Could you provide the solution?