Stating an online business is a great way to make a living on your own terms, but running an online business can be tough. There is so much competition out there that it can be difficult to make your own voice be heard and do enough to convince customers to buy from you rather than the competition. That’s why if you’re thinking of starting an online business, there are a few common mistakes you should avoid…
Not having a solid plan
If you want your online business to be a success, you really do need to have a solid plan of attack., You need to do your homework to ensure that your idea has legs and you need to create a step-by-step guide that will get you to where you want to be. This doesn’t have to be a long 15-page document, but it should include your goals, a cost analysis and a list of actions you will need to take to build your business up. You may be operating online but business is still business and you need to be prepared if you want yours to be a success.
Copying the competition
A huge mistake that many movie entrepreneurs make when setting up a business online is to focus too much on what the competition is doing and try to emulate them. Although it is useful to see what your competitors are doing in terms of pricing, marketing, design, etc., the worst thing you could possibly do is rip them off. Why? Because they are already established - no one is going to choose your brand new business over their existing one if you are offering the exact same thing - what would be the point? No, you need to create your own brand identity if you want to take your share of the market, So, although you can use your competitors’ stuff as a springboard, you should ultimately create a business that is uniquely you.
Not tracking ads
When you’re just starting out in online business, it makes sense to use ads to bring in the customers - you can use content marketing and other tools alongside, but until you gain momentum, dedicated ads are ideal. When you’re using ads to promote your business, you need to know how well their performing, which is why you should always use a high-quality ad tracker to get the lie of the land. Failing to do this could mean that you end up spending a lot of time and money on a lot of ads that simply aren’t effective when it comes to targeting your desired audience. That’s the last thing you want to happen, so be sure to track every metric possible.
Neglecting the legal side
A lot of people think that because it’s on the internet, they can do anything they want with their online business. This is most definitely not the case. There are various legal requirements that online businesses must follow depending o the country and region in which they operate. For example, in the US you must declare any and all affiliate links you post on your website and a failure to do so could see you in hot water. It is so important, if you want to avoid getting sued or even potentially imprisoned, that you find out what your legal requirements are and follow them to the letter.
Ignoring negative feedback
The internet makes it so easy for customers to give feedback on a whole host of issues and they do this with gusto. As a business owner, you need to not only accept this fact but be willing to act on it in the right way. So many online businesses have ruined their reputation by arguing with poor reviews or ignoring hem completely when they could be using them to make their company better.
Arguing on the internet is never a good look for a business and it’s fsr better to be polite and look for a fair resolution, as well as changing your practices where a real issue is identified. Of course, if you really do feel a review was unfair, you can politely and factually set the record straight, but ultimately, it pays to be seen as dealing with perceived problems kindly, fairly and fast.
Failing to produce quality content
These days online businesses are also content creators. Of you want to convince as many people as possible to buy your products and services, you need to regularly produce high-quality content whether that be in the form of a blog, social media posts, videos or all three. If you fail to do so, chances are your business simply won’t take off.
Of course, it’s not enough to just produce any old content and expect it to do the job - the content you create needs to be informative, engaging, useful, and endlessly shareable. If you can’t achieve that yourself, hiring a freelance writer could be one of the best moves you ever make, On the internet, content is king and you need to remember that if you want your business to succeed.
Creating a clunky website
Customers shop online for the convenience. If your website is clunky, hard to navigate and makes it difficult for your customers to actually make a purchase, chances are they won’t bother and they’ll look elsewhere for what they need. That’s why, as a minimum, you need to ensure that your website is clean, clear, easy to navigate and simple to make a payment on. It should also be optimized for all devices and regularly updated with all of the latest information. Again, if you can’t achieve that alone, there are plenty of freelance web designers out there who could do it for you.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you should be able to get off to a good start with your online business, and although there are never any guarantees, you should stand a much better chance of still being on business a year from now than someone who gets all these things wrong.
