How I Would Approach a New Online Business Knowing What I Now Know
Wouldn't it be great if we had access to a crystal ball? It would tell which path were going to work and which ones to avoid.
My goal for this article is to give you just that. I will describe to you what I would do today, were I new to business online, but having the knowledge I have gained over the last several years!
Who Am I
I have written several books on various subjects and have been blogging for several years. I have also helped others get published as well as help create content strategies for other bloggers.
The following are things I wish I knew when I first started with my online business:
Focus on One Niche Only
Like many, I jumped around trying to build up various markets or niches. It's difficult enough to build up one niche, let alone trying to manage many. You won't become an authority when you are spread too thin. You may be a jack-of-all-trades but you will only know a little bit about everything. This is not the recipe for helping others, which is what it takes to make it in business today.
Don't Try to Do Everything Yourself
The reason why outsourcing is so popular is because it works. Trying to do everything on your own is a recipe for failure. There are only so many hours in the day. Even if you can devote all your hours to your online business, you have a limited number of those hours.
Outsourcing also gives you the capability of leveraging multiple people which means you will get a lot done in less time.
It's understandable that choosing the wrong people when outsourcing can cause you money and time. But you will eventually find good people. When in doubt, ask others for referrals.
Reach Out to Others
People become influential online because their sole focus is to help others. Reach out to people that can help you obtain your goals. Connect with people on forums and blogs, and offer to guest post for bloggers who are influential. When you connect, focus on being helpful and less on trying to make a buck.
Create a Plan of Action
Any business needs a plan of action which serves as a roadmap on what to do and when. It doesn't have to be set in stone and changes can be made as needed. You need to figure out what types of products and/or services you are going to offer and map out a strategy as to how to make them known. Developing your brand is the golden rule!
Focus on Helping Rather than Trying to Make Money
All I wanted to do was make money. I set up websites hoping that they would start cranking out the dough. But no one bought anything. This is because my goal of making money was not aligned with customers goals of getting help or buying the right products.
The money will come only when you make yourself or your brand a valuable resource and that usually requires going above and beyond by helping others. Instead of trying to sell products, for example, find out what kinds of problems people are having and show them how your product can help them solve those problems.
Start Freelancing Much Earlier On
Unless you're building your online business up part time, you are going to need money flowing in. Offering services, like freelance writing, can be a great way to fill the gap of not having an income from a job.
It's important to be careful not to focus completely on freelancing (or other services) unless that is the business you are trying to build. It becomes too easy to simply get more gigs which
Even if you offer services on a full-time basis, it can't hurt to build up some passive income streams.
Use the information in this article as your "crystal ball" and set up your online business correctly right from the start!
