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.
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.
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!
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.
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? ›- Money Matters.
- Digital Marketing and Sales.
- Real-Time Customer Service.
- Leadership and Delegation Skills.
- Time Management.
- Communication and Negotiation.
- Writing Skills.
- Problem Solving.
- 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.
- 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.
- Organize Your Web Assets. ...
- Maintain Customer Records Safely. ...
- Do you know your competition? ...
- Protect Your Brand's Online Reputation. ...
- Invest on a good internet connection. ...
- Stay On Top of the Latest Trends. ...
- Be Persistent. ...
- Know When to Call It Quits.
- Understand Who Your Customer Is. ...
- Solve Your Customer's Problems. ...
- Get Traffic to Your Website from as Many Places as Possible. ...
- Add an Easy Payment Method. ...
- Use Webmaster Tools to Determine How Your Site is Actually Working. ...
- Understand Conversion Testing. ...
- Use Tech Support.
- 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.
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.
- Step 1: Decide on your niche.
- Step 2: Choose between dropshipping or holding your own products.
- Step 3: Brainstorm a business name and register your domain name.
- Step 4: Select products to sell.
- Step 5: Create your website with an online store builder.
What are the 7 steps to starting an online business? ›
- Find Your Motivation. Before venturing into any business, take a moment or two and question your true motivation. ...
- Develop An Idea. ...
- Do Your Research. ...
- Craft A Business Plan. ...
- Determine A Corporate Identity. ...
- Build A Reliable Team. ...
- Just Keep Working.
...
Write a one-page business plan.
- Define your vision. ...
- Define your mission. ...
- Define your objectives. ...
- Outline your basic strategies. ...
- Write a simple action plan.
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? ›- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Learn and use best SEO strategies. ...
- Create and verify your Google Business profile. ...
- Make product listings and shopping actions shareable. ...
- Ask for reviews. ...
- Get social. ...
- Have your employees use branded email signatures. ...
- Create press releases. ...
- Join HARO.
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? ›- 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.
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? ›
- Deliver on your promises. ...
- Acknowledge orders and returns. ...
- Keep customers informed. ...
- Offer personalised service. ...
- Offer joined-up service across channels. ...
- Stay fresh. ...
- Sort out problems promptly. ...
- Customer complaints equal opportunity.
- Choose the Right Platforms. There is no shortage of social media sites on which to share your content. ...
- Create a Calendar. ...
- Encourage Engagement. ...
- Don't Over-Promote. ...
- Share Video. ...
- Address Problems Quickly. ...
- Build a Community. ...
- Provide Value.
- 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.
- 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.
- CRM Software.
- Accounting Software.
- Project Management Software.
- Email Marketing Software.
- Web Hosting and eCommerce.
- Payment Processing Software.
- Job Management Software.
- Choice of Products and Product Display.
- Stocks availability.
- Pricing.
- Shipping.
- Customer Care.
- Search (yes, search)
- Innovation.
- Put Up Posters and Flyers. ...
- Give Out Business Cards. ...
- Talk to People. ...
- Offer Referral Incentives to Customers. ...
- Attend Trade Shows. ...
- Offer Branded Free Stuff. ...
- Work with Bloggers. ...
- Create Useful Content.
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? ›- Ask your family and friends to invest in your business.
- Apply for a small business grant.
- Use a crowdfunding platform.
- Pitch to angel investors.
- Solicit venture capital.
- Use a credit card for a short-term cash option.
- Get a microloan.
- Bootstrap it.
- 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? ›
- Conduct market research. Market research will tell you if there's an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. ...
- Write your business plan. ...
- Fund your business. ...
- Pick your business location. ...
- Choose a business structure. ...
- Choose your business name. ...
- Register your business. ...
- Get federal and state tax IDs.
- DETERMINE IDEA. You can't start a business without a good idea. ...
- SET EXIT EXPECTATIONS. ...
- RESEARCH YOUR MARKET. ...
- BUSINESS PLANNING. ...
- BUSINESS FORMATION. ...
- PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. ...
- STAFFING. ...
- FUND RAISING.
- 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.
- 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.
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? ›- Become a Freelancer. ...
- Interior Design. ...
- Work in Real Estate. ...
- Organize Events. ...
- Catering Services. ...
- Technology Repair. ...
- Tutoring. ...
- Virtual Assistants.
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? ›- 1.Consider and analyse the relevant markets. ...
- 2.Note down your ideas and expand them. ...
- 3.Carry out competitive analysis. ...
- 4.Model your business. ...
- 5.Create/design/sketch your mockup and then test it. ...
- 6.Execute a market survey. ...
- 7.Develop your final product.
- 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.
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? ›- 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.
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? ›- 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.
- Be committed. Through commitment, you can gain motivation to pursue success. ...
- Learn from the journey. ...
- Have fun along the way. ...
- Think positively. ...
- Change your perspective. ...
- Be honest with yourself. ...
- Take away distractions. ...
- Count on yourself.
- 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.
At Horniman, we promote the '5 Keys to Success': Confidence – Perseverance – Organisation – Getting Along – Resilience.
How do I start my own business from home? ›- Come up with your business idea. ...
- Decide what you're going to sell. ...
- Write a business plan. ...
- Decide on your business's legal structure. ...
- Apply for your EIN. ...
- Set up a business bank account. ...
- Look into insurance. ...
- Set up a home office.
- 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.
- Believe that you deserve your success. ...
- Don't undervalue yourself. ...
- Celebrate your successes. ...
- Forget yesterday. ...
- Don't count on tomorrow. ...
- Forgive yourself for not being Bill Gates. ...
- Reward those who have helped you. ...
- Understand that success can change how people relate to you.