Unemployment has gone up, shops are closed, and people are hesitant to spend their hard earned dollars. Or so you have been told — but is this really the case? It might shock you to find out that while people are spending less money in the “real world”, they are online shopping like never before. In fact, some people believe that the current climate might end brick-and-mortar stores for good. There has never been a better time to start your digital business. And with the wonders of modern technology, it has never been easier. Here’s how to do it.
1. Find your place in the market
Your first point of call is to step back and reflect. To ask yourself some key questions. Where do you want to be 5 years from now. What sort of lifestyle do you want to live, and what do you want to be known for? Importantly, you need to take the time to identify your passions. What do you like doing? What are you interested in? And most importantly, what are you good at? Once you have these questions answered, you can identify the area where you should be working. Then it is simply a matter of finding a need in that area, and looking to fill it. This is your business niche. This could come in the form of physical products geared towards a particular person. It could be coaching or educational packages on your area of expertise. Hell, it could even be an online service that solves a key problem in your area of specialty. The specifics don’t matter. What matters is that you identify your place in the market, and fill it.
2. Get a great platform
Once you have found your place in the market, it is time to settle on an eCommerce platform. What is an eCommerce platform? To put it simply, it is a type of website that lets people purchase your products or services — which, as I am sure you can imagine, is pretty important. Taking the time to invest in a great platform ensures that you will never have to deal with transaction issues, lost orders, incorrect shipping details, or security vulnerabilities. Which, as a fellow business owner, I know how bad they can be. While there are a number of different eCommerce platforms on the market, I have a preference for Shopify Plus. Not only is it used by thousands upon thousands of businesses across the globe, but it has amazing customer service, and is extremely intuitive. It is the perfect starting point for those who are new to this whole “Digital Business” thing.
3. Create an online presence
Great work. You have created an eCommerce site — now it is time to get people to visit. The key to drawing customers to your site is to create an online presence. In essence, you don’t want to be known as just an online store — you want to be known as an authority in the area. This means creating content to post on your website. But not just any old content. It should be informative, well-presented, and offer value to your customers. This could be in the form of long form articles, educational pieces, or even product reviews. Let me say it again — the key is to provide value. You want to get active on social media. Create business accounts on facebook, Instagram, linkedin, and even tiktok. Start sharing your content, and posting on other peoples pages. Become known as an expert in your area, and create a real online presence.
4. Double down on your email list
Last, but certainly not least, you want to build an email list. This is the most important step to turning a one-time visitor into a long-term customer. And it can be done at the click of a button. A great way to build an email list is by offering something for free in exchange for your customers email addresses. Some fantastic options include a free webinar, an educational ebook, or a coupon code that gives them 10% off. As with your content, you want to make sure it offers your customers so much value that they would be silly to turn it down. Once you have an email list, you can start sending targeted advertisements to customers, notifying people about new products, services, and upcoming sales, and even offering them exclusive offers. This is the key to building a long lasting customer base that will go to your online business before all others.
Final points
There has never been a better time to start your digital business. More people than ever are shopping online, and with the wonders of modern technology, it has never been easier to create an online site. So honestly, what are you waiting for? Follow the four key steps in this article and create the digital business you have always dreamed of.
