Nowadays it’s easier than it’s ever been to start a business doing something that you really love and can make money from, and even more now that the internet and social media plays such a big role in our lives meaning we can start online businesses which aren’t going to require the same level of investment and the things that an offline business would require. If you are a small business owner and want to learn how to start an LLC, we suggest checking out companies like StartMyLLC which can guide you through the whole process.

So, if you’ve ever toyed with the idea of starting your own online business, then in this post we’re going to share with you some of the simple steps that you can take to start your online business from home which will include the steps and some strategies that many people are now using to create wildly successful businesses that allow them the freedom and flexibility to work on their own terms and make money doing something they’re truly passionate about at the same time.

Many people who start an online business will start one that allows them to work around other commitments such as family, work, and even if they’re studying for a Masters degree in business management online then they can still work their business around this and directly apply what they’re learning within the degree to their business, which is a win-win.

Choose your niche:

One of the very first things you should be thinking of before starting your online business (or really any kind of new small business) is your niche. Many people will jump straight in with creating a website and going to networking events and trying all kinds of marketing only for that to fail, which is understandable, because if you don’t know what your business is, then you can’t really go around marketing it to people.

Identify your ideal client:

Once you know what your business is about, then it’s time to identify who it actually serves and helps. This is known as your ideal client, and there are many ways you can figure this out through things like client avatar exercises and market research. Perhaps you already know who your ideal client is and you just need to find a way to tailor and refine your messaging for them so that they can find you easier.

Choose your business model:

The next thing you should be looking at is your business model, and although this is an important step to get clear on, it’s also important to remember that just because you choose something to get started with, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it forever. You can change your business model and allow it to evolve as your business grows.

So, for example, if you’re a service-based business like a coach, then you could choose a one-to-one model, you could choose a digital product model, you could choose a group coaching model, or you could even choose a combination of these, but just having something to get you started will really help you get a lot clearer when it comes to things like marketing.

Choose your services:

After your business model has been decided, then it’s time to figure out which services will go into bringing that business model to life. For example, if you’re going with the group coaching model, are you going to offer one-month programs or are you going to offer monthly masterclasses or even things like 12-month masterminds that are more high end and really require a bigger commitment from people? Although you took a relevant course, you may need to continue your education as the demand evolves. Top online MPM programs and other relevant degrees may equip you with more skills and precognition necessary to adjust to the changing world.

Determine your pricing:

Obviously, as a business, you need to be making money, so your pricing is very important in this and getting clear on it from the beginning will also help your confidence grow around your pricing when people ask you for your rates. You also need to decide if you’re going to be more of a high-end price point when it comes to your services or if you’re going to be positioning yourself as affordable – or even if you’re going to be offering a range of price points. There’s certainly no right or wrong here, but this is going to be helped massively if you know who your ideal client is since this will help determine your pricing.

Get a website:

Although a website is definitely not a must in order to run a business, it’s definitely going to help you when it comes to running an online one and will really be a simple way for clients to find you and find out more about your services and how you can help them. Find a good web development company who will be able to advise you on how best to setup.

However, it’s important to mention that a website should never be a priority when starting a business, and if anyone tells you it is and that you need to spend thousands on it then you might want to check their motives for telling you this.

The most important thing when starting out is that you get some clients and then have a fancy website when you can afford it. There are plenty of amazing DIY website builders and WordPress themes that make it easier and affordable to create yourself a simple, but beautiful and effective website in very little time.

Create a marketing plan:

Without the ability to market, your business simply won’t last, and although this can be a scary and sometimes overwhelming part of starting a business, it’s really important, so creating a simple marketing plan for your business is something that you really need to be doing at the beginning. Your marketing plan can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it, but why overcomplicate anything when you don’t have to?

A marketing plan will simply list out things like the channels you’re going to be using for your marketing. For example, your blog, your social media pages, what products or services you’re going to be offering and what kind of things you’re going to use to market them, for example, written content, video, etc.

Marketing is something that gets easier once you just start and often it’s the idea of marketing that’s scary, not the actual marketing itself.

*Collaborative post

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