You are probably thinking, “Sure, another person telling me how to be successful online and they are probably sitting up in high rise office somewhere.” Well, guess what, that’s not me! I’m sitting (actually laying in bed) at home running my business. I want to share lessons I’ve learned over the last 16 years about how to be successful as an online business (or online service provider).
Starting An Online Business From Nothing
I started my business online from nothing. I had a personal laptop that I used to start. I eventually bought a small desk that I put in the corner of our master bedroom overlooking the outdoor neighborhood culdesac. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on the kids when they went out to play after homeschooling.
It wasn’t easy but if you are willing to put in the hard work and learn along the way you can be successful online. Let’s get started.
Build Relationships Adds To Online Business Success
One of the first things you should know about being successful in business, any type of business, is that it is all about who you know. Yes, your parents probably told you this over the years and yes, it is true. Building relationships is crucial to your online service business.
Strategic Relationships
It is important to build strategic relationships if you want to be a successful online service provider. Pick those whom you can help but who can also help you as well. Just because someone sends you a message to meet does not mean you have to take every meeting.
Do a little research on Google and LinkedIn first. Then decide if the person has the traits, qualities, and most of all is in the industry you wish to serve or gain help from. If they are then move forward in reaching out.
Make a list of people you want to form relationships with in the future. Develop an Excel worksheet database or utilize CRM software that you can easily add names and make notes. Celebrate the small wins of connecting with those you desire.
Know Your Audience
Knowing your audience or ideal client is a must. You should develop a good profile or avatar as some call it. This helps you identify the age range, sex, and groups where they hang out in online so that you may reach them with some of the efforts I will discuss in the remainder of the article.
Creating An Opt-In Offer Is A Must For Your Business
One of the most important things you can do to develop to have success as an online business is an opt-in or free offer. This is to be able to gain email subscribers which is one of the best ways to build a warm audience you will nurture.
Some great options as an online service provider for an opt-in or free offer:
- Challenge – offering a free challenge that runs 3, 5, 7, or 30 days. It is geared toward helping those trying to accomplish a goal related to a service you provide and your ideal prospective client.
- Checklist – is easy to put together, especially in Canva.
- Coupons – especially popular if you offer any products for purchase on your website.
- Free Strategy Session (in the niche you provide) – This is the easiest option. It can easily be popped into your website and attached to a calendar.
- eBooks – not as popular today but with a good title you can gain attraction and be put on Amazon.
- Guides – How To’s are ways to provide the information your ideal client is looking for
- Mini-Course, Webinar, or Workshop – offered live or recorded and put on your website.
- Planners or Workbooks – very popular right now but should be associated with your niche.
- Resource Lists – can help your prospective clients and may be attractive to them.
- Survey or Quiz – has become popular and entices many to interact with it and sign up.
Your Online Business Has To Show Up On Google Search
For any online business to be successful, especially an online business, you must show up on Google search. Let’s discuss several ways to ensure that your business will show up.
“I get over 60% of my website traffic from Google Search because of my blogs.“
tammy
Here are a few of the ways you can ensure you will show up on Google Search.
- Create your business listing on Google
- Go to your Gmail or Google Calendar – click on the right top corner (dots) and then click on Google Business Profile and set up your business. This will ensure you show up on Google.
- SEO Blogging – blogging on your website and making it SEO friendly can significantly impact your presence on Google.
- Your Website’s SEO – make sure your website’s backend is marked properly for SEO (search engine optimization).
These are only a few strategies to show up on Google. Do your own research and I’m sure you will find other ways to do this as well.
“Unlike some may think, blogs are not going anywhere. In fact, according to Demand Metric, companies with blogs attract an average of 67% more leads every month when compared to companies who don’t.”
rockcontent
Cash Flow Depends On Consistent Client Flow
To have a successful online business you must have good cash flow. Cash flow, however, is dependent on a consistent client flow. You must remember that no matter how many clients you have today you always need to continue marketing your business. You never know when you may lose a client and need a new client. Not to mention that if you add a virtual team to help you the amount of clients you can manage is innumberable.
Consistent Content Creation To Keep Your Marketing Up
Lastly, in order to have a successful online business you must keep your marketing up which means creating consistent content. What does that look like? Well, today, I’m sharing my process for creating consistent content.
- Create a weekly blog – SEO friendly, of course
- Send a weekly email – I recap my article for my subscribers with a link to the full article with any other things I think my readers will enjoy (special offers, workshops coming up, products/services that help me).
- Create a Canva template with branding colors
- Pull 5 – 7 Quotes from my blog – to add to the Canva templates I created
- Share Quotes – on social media platforms
- Post the blog on Medium – a couple of weeks after writing it. This is a great platform to share your information and gain more followers. Make certain you mark the article as “Published originally on _____” (your website/blog)
- Post the article on LinkedIn – in the form of a Newsletter. This can be weekly, every 2 weeks, or monthly.
I also create personal posts – meaning something I’m inspired by or a photo of me preparing for a workshop or client meeting, etc. and post it on my professional profile on Facebook and LinkedIn a couple of times a week.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that my Virtual Assistant also creates posts from my blogs and shares them in strategic Facebook groups as well.
That is my process in a nutshell. I hope it can help you as well.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the crucial steps to being successful as an online business. Remember you must also know who your audience is and be clear on your ideal prospective client as well as your niche.
Until Next Time and To Your Continued Success, My Friends!
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