Starting up an online business nowadays is the simplest things ever. With a few clicks, you can get your homepage or online shop up and run and wait for that long-anticipated idea to become reality. Sounds easy, right? While setting up is surely much easier than earlier, achieving success in the overcrowded world of online business is a totally different case. The fact that today anybody can start his or her online business results in a competitive environment, where becoming the next Zuckerberg is not as easy as it sounds. We thought it might be useful to share a few insights on the top 10 factors which are crucial to getting your business into the spotlight of the online world. So, here they come:

1. Be a Maximalist

Make sure that you have set everything up correctly. It might sound obvious but as you are getting forward on your way to success, numerous problems will arise. The most important thing is to make sure that every function on your web page, or what is related to your own product/service is functioning correctly. You don’t want precious content to get ruined as it can easily affect your chances for engaging your audience. Check everything twice and make sure there are no 404 error codes flashing in your customer’s face. Do regular checks, test your new functions and ensure that everything works at its finest. Apply this approach to all aspects of your online business and you will surely not fail. Sometimes it might seem that double-checking is not crucial, however, in the long run, you will think differently. Keep everything smooth and don’t let your user experience get ruined only because it was a Monday afternoon and you were lazy.

2. Don’t Save Money on Content

Probably you have seen people putting together a great website for their own business but not really paying attention to content – or what is even worse, putting some filler content out there. You have to be conscious of your message. Either write it yourself or hire someone professional who can deliver real rockstar content. Don’t save money on this part, as cool content can once again create a drive for engagement and turn your visitors into happy customers.

It has to be unique, creative and cool while matching your own brand identity. You might think it is not rocket science, but actually, it is a totally different profession. To see your social media connections or website visitors into happy customers, deliver a strong, unique message with high-quality content. Content helps you to connect and bring your business closer to your audience.

3. Content without Design = NADA

All the things mentioned above are also true for design. Even if you get yourself really cool content but try to cut your spendings on design, you will simply lose the real potential of your business. People are tired of ugly web pages that try to convince them about how great is their product. Humans judge by outlook and first impression, so don’t you dare to put anything less out there than the most astonishing website!

Check the current trends, look design ideas and pick the one that best fits your business.

You can easily find people on the web who will help you customize a pre-purchased template, or even better, you can build one from scratch and make it truly unique. Think about design as an experience and not only a “thing” that you have to get over with. Over time, you should also re-think your existing design, so stay flexible and get a facelift for your website if needed. Recently video content is becoming more and more popular, while unique, witty designs are also helping online businesses to become leading brands. Once again, don’t forget that design is a key aspect of your user experience which should be smooth and cool – making your visitors tell everyone about how awesome is your site!

4. Be an SEO King/Queen, or Hire An Expert

You should be having your own online marketing plans ready to drive considerable traffic to your own web page. There is no real way to be successful without knowing SEO and other advertisement tools that are capable of getting you the popularity that you are after. Either spend your nights studying the latest SEO techniques or hire an expert who can get you going. You surely will not be disappointed by the result. By utilizing the power of search engine optimization, advertising yourself as much as possible, you can get one step closer to your desired success.

With all that being said, calculate with marketing expenses as it is the most important factor that can make your internet business a success. Also, in the beginning, you should prioritize your spendings and put marketing expenses at the top. By saving money on SEO, PPC or other marketing opportunities, you can easily fail on the long road to your success.

5. Social Media Rockstar

By using social media connections wisely, you can once again channel huge traffic to your own website – turning those connections into customers. For this, first of all, you need to build a strong online community who will tell everyone about your business. Handle your social media accounts on a daily basis and handle them well! Check for the latest trends and adapt them to your own marketing plan. For example, recently live streams have become a huge success. Incorporate it into your own marketing plan and advertise your own business via social media live streams. This is not only useful to get more customers and build a fan base but also to gather data, immediate feedback on your product or service and much more. Sometimes it is enough to have a funny or witty attitude to get the social buzz running but without having experience in social media marketing, it is considerably harder to build your fanbase.

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Michael Finch

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