9 Prime Rules For Running A Successful Online Business - Addicted 2 Success (2023)

Here’s the bad news:Thousands of people start an online business every day. However, only a small percentage of these online businesses actually succeed.

Here’s the good news:There are certain basic rules you can follow to turn your online business into a successful one. Here are the 9 prime rules for running a successful online business.

The 9 Golden Rules For Running An Online Business

1 – Keep Your Website Design Simple and Well-Organized

People have a tendency to want to over-design their website in an effort to make it stand out or look cool. They may add flash animation, sound in the background, and load the site up with large graphics. This is a huge mistake, especially for business-oriented websites. It is much more important to make sure your design is organized in a way that visitors can easily find what they are looking for at a glance. Music blaring out is actually a pet peeve of many internet shoppers, especially if they are surfing at work as many do. You also want to make sure that the text is easy to read. Dark text on a simple light background is the safest way to go.

Apple.com is the perfect example of a well designed website. Apple.com has some of the best web designers in the world who develop their website, check them out and also other big company sites for ideas if need be.

(Video) [How to Be Successful Online]

2 – Respond To Your Visitors Promptly

When a visitor, a potential customer, emails you or fills out your contact form, it is imperative that you get back to them as soon as possible. People always take mental note of how long it takes an online business to get back to them. Even if you are on vacation, you should either have an employee answering the emails in your absence or take your laptop along and answer the emails while your out-of-town.

There is way too much competition out there now for you to let potential clients slip through the cracks because you weren’t diligent enough to follow through.

3 – Engage Your Visitors

If you can turn your visitors into active participants on your website, you will increase loyalty and sales. The simplest way to do this is to add a blog and open it up for comments from your visitors. Advertise your posts in your newsletter and ask for comments. For larger sites, you may want to add a discussion board where your visitors can create their own topics.

Set yourself up on a number of Social Media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn and conversate/share/inform your customers with high quality answers and content. Also make sure that you have a follow, Fan Page ‘Like” widget or a Pinterest badge on your website so that people can follow you through their favorite social media platform and stay in tune with your progress and updates.

(Video) [How to Be Successful Online]

Checkout Gary Vaynerchuk’s advice on growing your business using social media, Gary is an Ace! and definitely someone you should look up to in the Online Business world.

4 – Give Your Visitors a Reason To Come Back

Repeat visitors to your online business will increase sales for sure. You can give your visitors a reason to come back in many ways. For example, you can let them know that once a month you post a one-day only sale. Another example might be to write an article and let the readers know there will be a follow-up next month. Make the topic of the follow-up something that people really want to know.

Just adding quality content on a regular basis is a good way to get repeat visitors.

5 – Do Not Over-Sell To Your Visitors

No one likes a pushy salesperson in a brick and mortar business. Online business are no different in this aspect. People hate to feel like they are being overly pressured to buy something. You can point out the advantages of your product or service but try not to over-sell. Watch out for superlative spammy language too. It will usually backfire on you!

(Video) [How to be Successful Online] Bardi Toto Drake

6 – Do Not Over Optimize Your Website

You have probably heard of the term, “search engine optimization” or SEO. This is where people design their webpages with the intent of ranking higher in the search engines, particularly Google. Many online businesses push this way too far. Their sites end up being demoted or even banned from the search results because the search engines view their efforts as spam. Over optimizing pages also makes them less likeable and readable by real human beings.

7 – Do Not List Your Website In Bad Neighbourhoods

For a long time, it has been well-known that Google and other search engines look at how many links there are to a website as one important factor in determining how to rank that website in the search engine results. This has prompted online business owners to want to get as many links as they can. Sometimes they even pay for links in directories and blogs. However, in most cases, these paid links are sites that are known as bad neighborhoods by the search engines. In other words, they are spammy sites and having your website listed in them can actually hurt you, not help you!

8 – Maintain a High Quality Mailing List

Ask your visitors to sign up for your newsletter when they come to your online business site. Give them an incentive to do so such as a free report or freee-courseon a topic related to your business. Having said this, respect your visitors and their time. Be sure not to send out your newsletter too often, perhaps once a month and occasionally send a special announcement. Also, make sure to put quality content in your newsletter and give your subscribers an easy way to opt out.

9 – Remember At The End Of The Day Your Customers Are STILL Real People

A lot of people forget this, they are not treating their customers as real human beings and are not putting themselves in the customers shoes. Customer service will always be around, that’s why we need to stay good at looking after our clients. If you can’t help them with their request, get back to them and let them know that you have exhausted every avenue to find a way and maybe even refer them onto someone who can help them. Even though you may not be able to help them at that very point in time, they WILL remember you went the extra mile for them and will tell their friends via word of mouth or by social media (which would be great promotion for you), either way, you can rest your head at night knowing that you are doing everything you can to hold a good name for your business and that every one that deals with you is satisfied. Tony Hsieh has his staff at Zappos practice this commitment with their customers and he has managed to build his online retail store to a $1.2 Billion Dollar company.

(Video) Joe Rogan - TRT Makes a Big Difference!

This is how you secure yourself as the “go to guy in your industry”, and as time goes by and all these “short attention span, new comers” are so use to ONLY dealing with their customers over a keyboard and text conversation, they will be skimming over life long customers and potentially huge clients for the future.

No matter how digital the business world gets, you are and will always be DEALING WITH REAL PEOPLE. Reputation is everything, don’t forget that.

Article By Joel Brown | Addicted2Success.com

FAQs

Why are online businesses successful? ›

There are no geographical boundaries and there are no specific hours of operation -- an online business can produce revenue around the clock, even while you sleep. With a well thought-out social media plan, search-engine optimization and paid media strategies, an online business can thrive.

What skills do I need to run an online business? ›

10 Crucial Skills You Need to Start an Online Business
  • Money Matters.
  • Digital Marketing and Sales.
  • Real-Time Customer Service.
  • Leadership and Delegation Skills.
  • Time Management.
  • Communication and Negotiation.
  • Writing Skills.
  • Problem Solving.

What steps will you take to ensure that e business works in your favor as a seller? ›

Here's a step-by-step overview:
  • Determine your niche and business idea.
  • Conduct product research.
  • Learn about online business laws.
  • Conduct market research.
  • Define your target audience.
  • Source products to sell online.
  • Evaluate product viability.
  • Define your brand and image.
21 Jan 2020

What 3 things make a business successful? ›

10 Essential Things Successful Businesses Have in Common. Does Yours?
  • Willingness to take chances. Business owners who are willing to take chances tend to achieve more than those who play it safe. ...
  • Unique value. ...
  • Tenacity. ...
  • Customer-centric approach. ...
  • Good marketing. ...
  • Strong vision. ...
  • Passionate leaders. ...
  • Empowered employees.
2 Feb 2021

How do I start a successful online business? ›

8 Tips For Running A Successful Online Business
  1. Organize Your Web Assets. ...
  2. Maintain Customer Records Safely. ...
  3. Do you know your competition? ...
  4. Protect Your Brand's Online Reputation. ...
  5. Invest on a good internet connection. ...
  6. Stay On Top of the Latest Trends. ...
  7. Be Persistent. ...
  8. Know When to Call It Quits.
10 Aug 2016

How can I be successful online? ›

How to Have a Successful Online Business
  1. Understand Who Your Customer Is. ...
  2. Solve Your Customer's Problems. ...
  3. Get Traffic to Your Website from as Many Places as Possible. ...
  4. Add an Easy Payment Method. ...
  5. Use Webmaster Tools to Determine How Your Site is Actually Working. ...
  6. Understand Conversion Testing. ...
  7. Use Tech Support.

How do online business improve life? ›

The Many Advantages of Doing Online Business
  • Cheaper start-up cost. For new business owners, overhead costs can be overwhelming and it may impact your financial health negatively. ...
  • Low Marketing Cost. The internet is a cost-effective tool. ...
  • Flexibility. ...
  • International Market. ...
  • Easier and faster financial transaction.
1 Jun 2021

Is one of the most successful online business? ›

Amazon is the leading e-commerce site in the world. Many people are making a lucrative income via the Amazon affiliate program alone. For starting an Amazon niche site, you must first come across a high-selling potential product you want to promote.

What is the most important step in beginning an online business? ›

Assess the viability of your new business idea

Just because it's easier to start an online business doesn't mean no costs are involved. As with a physically based business, the first step to take with your online business is to assess your idea's feasibility.

How do I start an online business with no experience? ›

Here's a quick index to help you navigate this guide:
  1. Step 1: Decide on your niche.
  2. Step 2: Choose between dropshipping or holding your own products.
  3. Step 3: Brainstorm a business name and register your domain name.
  4. Step 4: Select products to sell.
  5. Step 5: Create your website with an online store builder.
28 Feb 2018

What are the 7 steps to starting an online business? ›

7 Steps to Start Your Online Business
  1. Find Your Motivation. Before venturing into any business, take a moment or two and question your true motivation. ...
  2. Develop An Idea. ...
  3. Do Your Research. ...
  4. Craft A Business Plan. ...
  5. Determine A Corporate Identity. ...
  6. Build A Reliable Team. ...
  7. Just Keep Working.
22 Jun 2018

What are the 6 simplest and most effective way before you start a business? ›

The key to a successful small business, especially in the startup phase, is to keep things simple and costs low.
...
Write a one-page business plan.
  • Define your vision. ...
  • Define your mission. ...
  • Define your objectives. ...
  • Outline your basic strategies. ...
  • Write a simple action plan.
19 Feb 2019

What is the most important role of e-business? ›

One of the primary benefits of e-business is its ability to cut costs. This technology eliminates the need to have a physical presence, such as a brick-and-mortar store or an office. Companies no longer have to rent a space and pay for utilities unless they want to.

What are the top 10 successful businesses? ›

Top 10 most successful businesses to start
  • Social media management. ...
  • Cleaning service. ...
  • Business consulting. ...
  • Copywriting. ...
  • Graphic design. ...
  • Real estate brokers. ...
  • Online courses. ...
  • Pet services. For those who love our furry friends, starting a pet service business may sound like a dream job.
4 Mar 2022

What are the 13 tips for successful business? ›

13 Ways to Improve the Success of Your Small Business
  • Create brand personality. ...
  • Develop a strategic business plan, organizational structure, and operational support systems. ...
  • Avoid common mistakes. ...
  • Become connected to the community. ...
  • Put your employees first. ...
  • Don't just acquire customers, retain them. ...
  • Get organized.
2 Dec 2019

What are the 6 key success factors business? ›

  • A Plan. Having a plan is the first necessity for success. ...
  • Perseverance. ...
  • Understanding that success or failure is not permanent. ...
  • Shared belief and a team spirit. ...
  • Motivation. ...
  • Clear vision of what success is. ...
  • Maximise resources available. ...
  • Clear understanding of time, money and resources.
8 Feb 2016

How can I improve my small online business? ›

How To Promote Your Small Business Online for Free
  1. Learn and use best SEO strategies. ...
  2. Create and verify your Google Business profile. ...
  3. Make product listings and shopping actions shareable. ...
  4. Ask for reviews. ...
  5. Get social. ...
  6. Have your employees use branded email signatures. ...
  7. Create press releases. ...
  8. Join HARO.
10 Sept 2021

Is online learning a success? ›

Online learning is not only more effective for students, but it is also better for the environment. Online courses consume 90% less energy and release 85% less CO2 per student than traditional in-person courses, according to the Open University in the United Kingdom.

What are the 5 tips to be successful in online learning? ›

5 Tips to Succeed in Online Learning
  • Develop a Schedule. Commit to making your online coursework part of your weekly routine. ...
  • Set Specific Goals. Create daily goals and set reminders for yourself to complete tasks within specific windows of time.
  • Get Connected. ...
  • Create a Designated Study Space. ...
  • Stay healthy.

Why is positive online Important? ›

A positive online reputation will help you to stand out from your competitors and earn more customers, who can then become repeat customers and share their positive experiences with others through online reviews, social media and even word of mouth.

How do I keep my online customers happy? ›

Ten ways to keep your online customers loyal
  1. Deliver on your promises. ...
  2. Acknowledge orders and returns. ...
  3. Keep customers informed. ...
  4. Offer personalised service. ...
  5. Offer joined-up service across channels. ...
  6. Stay fresh. ...
  7. Sort out problems promptly. ...
  8. Customer complaints equal opportunity.

How can I use social media to promote my business? ›

8 Effective Ways to Promote Your Business on Social Media
  1. Choose the Right Platforms. There is no shortage of social media sites on which to share your content. ...
  2. Create a Calendar. ...
  3. Encourage Engagement. ...
  4. Don't Over-Promote. ...
  5. Share Video. ...
  6. Address Problems Quickly. ...
  7. Build a Community. ...
  8. Provide Value.
2 Jun 2017

Which is best business in online? ›

Start an online business with these 16 ideas.
  • Launch your own clothing line.
  • Set up a dropshipping store.
  • Sell your artwork online.
  • Become a freelance writer, designer or developer.
  • Teach an online course.
  • Flip your thrift store finds.
  • Publish your own book.
  • Start a blog.
4 Mar 2022

What is the most successful business right now? ›

Most Profitable Business Ideas
  • Business Consulting. If you're an expert in your industry and have been working at it for years, you should consider consulting. ...
  • IT Support, Technology Consulting, and Repair. ...
  • Cleaning Services. ...
  • Accounting and Tax Preparation. ...
  • Auto Repair. ...
  • Real Estate. ...
  • Online courses. ...
  • Marketing and PR Services.

What are the most successful online business models? ›

Some of the more popular include:
  • CRM Software.
  • Accounting Software.
  • Project Management Software.
  • Email Marketing Software.
  • Web Hosting and eCommerce.
  • Payment Processing Software.
  • Job Management Software.
20 Apr 2022

What is the most important factor in online selling? ›

Here are the 7 most important factors in ecommerce:
  • Choice of Products and Product Display.
  • Stocks availability.
  • Pricing.
  • Shipping.
  • Customer Care.
  • Search (yes, search)
  • Innovation.
29 Mar 2021

How can I start an online business without social media? ›

Let's look at some ways you can be competitive in your industry without worrying about social media.
  1. Put Up Posters and Flyers. ...
  2. Give Out Business Cards. ...
  3. Talk to People. ...
  4. Offer Referral Incentives to Customers. ...
  5. Attend Trade Shows. ...
  6. Offer Branded Free Stuff. ...
  7. Work with Bloggers. ...
  8. Create Useful Content.
20 Oct 2022

How can I start selling online with no money? ›

Dropshipping is a popular business model for entrepreneurs looking to start a small business with no money. Simply create an online store and choose a dropshipping supplier like DSers or AliExpress. When an order is made, your ecommerce platform will forward the order information to your supplier.

How can I start a business with no money or experience? ›

How to Get Funding to Start a Business
  1. Ask your family and friends to invest in your business.
  2. Apply for a small business grant.
  3. Use a crowdfunding platform.
  4. Pitch to angel investors.
  5. Solicit venture capital.
  6. Use a credit card for a short-term cash option.
  7. Get a microloan.
  8. Bootstrap it.
7 Jan 2021

What are the 9 steps to start a business? ›

9 Steps to Help You Start a Startup
  • Start with a Great Idea. ...
  • Make a Business Plan. ...
  • Secure Funding for Your Startup. ...
  • Surround Yourself With the Right People. ...
  • Make Sure You're Following All the Legal Steps. ...
  • Establish a Location (Physical and Online) ...
  • Develop a Marketing Plan. ...
  • Build a Customer Base.

What are the 10 steps to starting a business? ›

  1. Conduct market research. Market research will tell you if there's an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. ...
  2. Write your business plan. ...
  3. Fund your business. ...
  4. Pick your business location. ...
  5. Choose a business structure. ...
  6. Choose your business name. ...
  7. Register your business. ...
  8. Get federal and state tax IDs.

What are the 8 steps to starting a business? ›

How To Start a Business In 8 Key Steps
  1. DETERMINE IDEA. You can't start a business without a good idea. ...
  2. SET EXIT EXPECTATIONS. ...
  3. RESEARCH YOUR MARKET. ...
  4. BUSINESS PLANNING. ...
  5. BUSINESS FORMATION. ...
  6. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. ...
  7. STAFFING. ...
  8. FUND RAISING.
30 Dec 2013

What are 5 important factors when starting a business? ›

Well, there are some important factors to bear in mind when launching a business.
  • A great idea. “No business can develop in the absence of a great idea. ...
  • Funding and budget. ...
  • What is your business plan? ...
  • Legal documentation. ...
  • Passion. ...
  • Find the right equipment. ...
  • Know when you need help.

What are 5 things you need to start a business? ›

Some things that should be on your to-do list include:
  • Secure financing.
  • Apply for federal/state tax ID numbers.
  • Open a business bank account, credit card, and line of credit.
  • Obtain a business license and/or permits.
  • Apply for business insurance.
  • Consider what tools and software you'll use.
15 Jul 2022

What is the most important step in starting a business? ›

One of the most important steps when starting a business is separating your business and personal finances. A business bank account lets you clearly see the income and expenses related to your business and helps you stay legally protected.

How can I work for myself? ›

Here are a few of the best self-employed jobs that you should consider if you're looking for a change in your work prospects.
  1. Become a Freelancer. ...
  2. Interior Design. ...
  3. Work in Real Estate. ...
  4. Organize Events. ...
  5. Catering Services. ...
  6. Technology Repair. ...
  7. Tutoring. ...
  8. Virtual Assistants.

How can I start my own business without my name? ›

An anonymous limited liability company is one that hides all ownership information. This is accomplished by creating an anonymous LLC in a state that allows it and then using a different person to register it. The secrecy jurisdiction keeps company information anonymous.

How do I start my own idea? ›

How to develop your Startup Idea
  1. 1.Consider and analyse the relevant markets. ...
  2. 2.Note down your ideas and expand them. ...
  3. 3.Carry out competitive analysis. ...
  4. 4.Model your business. ...
  5. 5.Create/design/sketch your mockup and then test it. ...
  6. 6.Execute a market survey. ...
  7. 7.Develop your final product.

What are the 10 benefits of e-business? ›

10 Key Benefits Of Ecommerce For Your Business
  • Low costs. A significant advantage of ecommerce is that launching an online store is much less costly than opening a physical store. ...
  • Speed & Flexibility. ...
  • Faster Buying Process. ...
  • Product Catalogue. ...
  • Wider Customer Base. ...
  • Customer Data Insights. ...
  • Scalability. ...
  • Reviews & Ratings.

What is online business called? ›

Ecommerce, also known as electronic commerce or internet commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions.

What is e-business very short answer? ›

E-Business (electronic business) is any process that a business organization conducts over a computer-mediated network. Business organizations include any for-profit, governmental, or nonprofit entity. Their processes include production-, customer-, and internal- or management-focused business processes.

What are 5 factors that help a business become successful? ›

Let's take a look at 10 of the most important.
  • Set a business goal. ...
  • Understand Your Customer Needs. ...
  • Research your competition. ...
  • Attract and retain the right talent. ...
  • Be transparent with your team. ...
  • Become a decisive leader. ...
  • Learn to be patient. ...
  • Keep business documents.
5 Oct 2021

What makes a small business successful? ›

Successful small businesses are customer-focused, which means they understand the needs of their current customer bases. Satisfied customers can drive profits through repeat business and referrals.

What are 3 characteristics of a successful business owner? ›

10 Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
  • Curiosity. Successful entrepreneurs have a distinct personality trait that sets them apart from other organizational leaders: a sense of curiosity. ...
  • Structured Experimentation. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Decisiveness. ...
  • Team Building. ...
  • Risk Tolerance. ...
  • Comfortable with Failure. ...
  • Persistence.
7 Jul 2020

What are 5 ways to be successful? ›

Tips for how to become successful
  1. Be committed. Through commitment, you can gain motivation to pursue success. ...
  2. Learn from the journey. ...
  3. Have fun along the way. ...
  4. Think positively. ...
  5. Change your perspective. ...
  6. Be honest with yourself. ...
  7. Take away distractions. ...
  8. Count on yourself.

What are the top 10 success factors? ›

Top Ten Critical Success Factors
  • Communication skills (oral and written). ...
  • Interpersonal skills. ...
  • Confidence. ...
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills. ...
  • Flexibility. ...
  • Self-motivation. ...
  • Leadership. It means different things to different people. ...
  • Teamwork. People love working with people who they work well with.
5 Oct 2009

What are the 5 key to success? ›

At Horniman, we promote the '5 Keys to Success': Confidence – Perseverance – Organisation – Getting Along – Resilience.

How do I start my own business from home? ›

How to Start a Small Business at Home
  1. Come up with your business idea. ...
  2. Decide what you're going to sell. ...
  3. Write a business plan. ...
  4. Decide on your business's legal structure. ...
  5. Apply for your EIN. ...
  6. Set up a business bank account. ...
  7. Look into insurance. ...
  8. Set up a home office.
26 Apr 2021

What should people do before starting their own business? ›

  • Identify a creative idea.
  • Write a business plan.
  • Choose a legal structure.
  • Get your business registration, licenses and tax identification.
  • Know your competition and the marketplace.
  • Finance your business.
  • Identify and secure a location.
  • Get proper insurance.

How do you manage success? ›

10 Tips for Achieving and Dealing With Success
  1. Believe that you deserve your success. ...
  2. Don't undervalue yourself. ...
  3. Celebrate your successes. ...
  4. Forget yesterday. ...
  5. Don't count on tomorrow. ...
  6. Forgive yourself for not being Bill Gates. ...
  7. Reward those who have helped you. ...
  8. Understand that success can change how people relate to you.
18 Dec 2018

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