How To Start An Online Business in 2021?
Everyone wants to earn a chunk of money and have a stable source of income, but that is NEVER going to happen with a 9 to 5. That's the thing about corporate slavery: they make you think you need that 'disciplined' life and sacrifice your life to work hard, to eventually earn a decent income.
Myth-buster: NOT TRUE.
With a typical job, even the one you love the most, is NOT going to get you the dream lifestyle you deserve. No, i don't want you to immediately leave your corporate job, but at least hear me out on this.
This technological shift has been MASSIVE. With just a device and an internet connection you can reach thousands of people globally, and this advantage is something that has literally fallen on your lap. You can now sell anything to a wider audience that no traditional means of marketing or selling would've gotten you through.
That being said, if the online arena is so vast and easily accessible to sellers and their ideal clients, what's stopping you from being your own boss? What's stopping you for putting a fair price on your services that will in the end benefit you and not some conglomerate?
I want to encourage you to start thinking about launching your online business, and sometimes WITH ZERO INVESTMENT. I launched mine, and I am absolutely pumped!
When I was at the beginning stages of my business, I made a rough checklist which also became my daily goal to kickstart my dream.
And today I want to share what I wrote. Here is a basic, yet very helpful checklist that will surely help you get started!
Personal Branding
The FIRST and foremost thing you need to do is give an identity to your business. This process is called personal branding. Here is what you need:
- A unique name for your business that resonates with what you do and what you offer
- An easy to remember logo
- Colour scheme and fonts collection that should be consistent throughout (this is very important- create a mood board to help you out)
- Make business card templates, letterheads and contracts
- Create a new email address and relevant social media pages
Whatever your vision for yourself is, whatever you see yourself selling in the future (any product or any service), just start by giving it a name.
Website/landing page/portfolio
Whether yours is a product-based business or merely a services business, you need a platform where you can showcase everything for potential clients. Creating a website or a landing page is super important (AND SUPER EASY). You can create one for free from either WORDPRESS or WIX. Choose the desired template and get started!
You will then have to purchase a domain.
You can also create your portfolio on Behance.net, which serves as a wonderful portfolio for people to showcase their skills. I have seen beautiful portfolios by graphic designers, photographers and people in the performing arts industry.
Pricing Plan
Draft a pricing plan for your clients. Write down whatever services you’re willing to offer and for how much. Don’t just randomly start putting numbers- research the market and see what other people from your industry are charging. You can charge more if you have more experience and there is a unique value you’re adding to each package.
NEVER under sell yourself even if you don't get clients in the start. Don't compromise on your value in the wait of something new!
Your USP
Decide on ONE exclusive value you will provide to your clients that none of your competitors are providing. This is your opportunity to identify and capitalize on it. Make that your defining feature, and make sure you’re pretty damn good at it!
Niche down if it is important. Do an exercise: write about 5 things you're super passionate about, and then shortlist 2 on the basis on the ones you just can't shut up about! Those two things need to be the ones that you want to tell people to do it right. That's going to be your niche and your prime content that people will come looking for. This is your USP that will set your competitors apart.
Testimonials
Many clients will approach you if you have authentic testimonials and referrals on your website: people that can vouch for you and what you offer. If you’ve done any work for anyone in the past, now is the time to ask them for a short testimonial.
Even if you’re just starting, a referral from your past employer will help. Collect all those and put them up on your website/portfolio.
Market Research
This should have been your first thing to do in the checklist- but i wanted to start with interesting things first. Research thoroughly on your niche; and search for content that ranks in your industry. What are your competitors doing? What content are they posting? How consistently are they posting? What hashtags are ranking? SO MANY QUESTIONS!
All answers will be found in hours of research you have to invest in your business each day.
Content Calendar
Build a content calendar to keep tabs on what content is being uploaded each day. And fill in the calendar in advance so every day when you open up your laptop, you know what is on the agenda. This saves time and is a convenient way to keep a track of postings.
Use colours to make it aesthetically pleasing, and easy to handle. I make all my calendars on Google Spreadsheet, because the document is shareable within my team and the client: editing and making changes to it is super easy.
You can also download free templates from Hubspot or Vertex42.
Start Small
Most people get carried away by offering 4-5 SO MUCH to their clients without realising how tough only managing one can be. By offering 1-2 things initially, you’re only promising what you can deliver, and you’re focusing more on each thing rather than having your toes dipped in many.
For people starting out in the digital marketing industry, don't start by offering your clients 4-5 social media platforms. Only offer platforms you’re familiar with and an expert in! I don’t offer TikTok as a platform (YET) because I don’t think I’m great at it. Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are my expert platforms so I only offer those at the moment.
Was this checklist helpful? What else can you add? Write me on my email: [email protected] and i would LOVE to hear from you! Good luck building your business, start today.