How to start a business online from scratch

So why is it that this topic is so trendy? That’s because many small business owners are starting to solidify their online presence in this digital world that we live in today. More people each year are becoming freelancers, or entrepreneurs building their professional appearance and researching ways on how they can start a business online from scratch.

The Internet has become such a lucrative space to research different topics such as current events, favorite places to eat, a place to vacation, as well as products and services.

The Internet also allows us to network and have meaningful relationships with people all over the world. In this post, I will be discussing how to start an online business from scratch. As well as what trials and tribulations, and obstacles I had to overcome in order to be successful.

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Have good content

In my previous posts and articles, I always discuss the importance of building your online presence. Understanding how to brand yourself when someone searches for information about your products or services.

There are many components that make up good content. Some of these components are going to consist of good research made on your behalf, proper punctuation and ensuring that your content is grammatically correct.

There’s also a thing called Google ranking/indexing. So if you are using Google as your primary browser, then Google ranks content and websites based on quality. So if you are just starting out then, it’s important to have good content.

If you are not a writer, then your best alternative is to hire a content writer or technical writer that would help reflect your business in a positive way.

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Build an online presence

One of the best practices on creating an online presence is building through various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram YouTube, Tumblr Pinterest, and more. If you aren’t familiar with the social platforms I recommend getting familiar with them now.

Even though you are a business owner and may not specialize in social platforms, you at least try to understand the aspects of how you are putting these elements together for your business.

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Create a website

Having a website can be crucial to your online presence depending on what type of products or services you’re selling.

There are a ton of platforms out there that would allow you to sell these products or services, however, there are going to be some fees involved with that.

So basically you’re using their website to sell your products like Etsy, Linktree, etc and in turn, you pay a fee.

There are a lot of platforms out there where you can gain access to online help to build your website. I use WordPress because it dominates over 30% of the SEO search engine. Having some knowledge of coding can help you navigate the platform as well.

No matter what level you are as a web developer whether you are a beginner, mid-level or senior there are so many resources out there that will allow you to be successful in building your very own website.

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A website is going to allow you to share your post through different social channels as well as incorporate PDF files downloadable for your clients to take with them on the go.

Your audience is going to be able to engage in your comments section connecting them to other readers. So there is a lot of benefits to having a website that helps in creating a long-term sales funnel for you. Remember your URL links don’t just disappear out of nowhere they are shared and saved amongst many people across the world across the country all over the place so there are many opportunities there.

I started my business from scratch by utilizing this platform to help me extend my reach and gain clients. Check out my latest post on

“How I use Wealthy Affiliate to promote my business”

 

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Offer the best products or services

Another important factor in how to start a business online from scratch is ensuring that you offer the best products or services to your clients.

Realistically yes there can be someone that does it better than you and has set the bar high.  Which is why you have to frame a story behind your business.

People love stories people love to engage in conversation tied to something they can relate. We all come from different walks of life we weren’t all born with silver spoons in our mouth.

I am sure many of us had real-life struggles some more than others. It’s about how you recover from all of those challenges that are going to make you unique.

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Explore different platforms

 

Exploring different platforms is going to allow you to extend your reach in the online space.

Did you know that the average person has at least two social media profiles?  This is a great way to distribute content throughout these platforms.

There are millions and millions of users on a daily basis searching for content that will add value to their research.  If you aren’t involved in any of these platforms you are basically leaving money on the table.

 

This can be crucial especially if you are just starting out and want people to discover more about what services you offer or what your company is about.

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Invest in good software/platforms

There are several platforms that I utilize to help me with my business pains. I write my own content and I am not an English major so I use what is called Grammarly to detect any errors in punctuation and grammatical errors. Point is don’t let that stop you from writing.

>> Receive up to 75% off of Grammarly<<

For my web designs, I use Elementor which is a web builder that has drag and drop features. You will need to use some light CSS or HTML coding for a more custom design.

A website is probably one of the most expensive platforms to manage which ranges between $150 to $350 an hour. You can cut your expenses by learning how to manage it yourself. Learn how to manage your own website here:

Now for my website needs, I invest in the wealthy affiliate platform, which is an all in one that offers domains, hosting, WordPress tutorials, and more.  The Wealthy Affiliate platform helped me create an online presence as well as learned how to earn passive income from my websites.

You have access to step-by-step tutorials on how to create your first blog post and you can create a website for free.

 

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Invest in marketing

OK so investing in marketing is going to help you extend your reach to a larger scale audience. For instance, if you pay five dollars for your post to reach 600 to 1300 people that can save you time and money in the long run then it’s definitely;y worth it. Facebook has a good way of detecting the reach of your targeted audience as well as managing your marketing budget.

 

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Research your clients purchasing stage

Researching your client’s purchasing stages is going to help you identify when to reach out to that client. There will be circumstances where you won’t hear from your client months or even years later.

At that point, they are convinced that your products and services can help them. You also have to do a bit of convincing yourself to provide a guarantee. This will help with building customer loyalty and strengthening that relationship.

 

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Invite people to visit your website

When starting an online business from scratch it’s important to create that awareness to your immediate circle letting them know that you’re building something and create that excitement that they’re going to want to see the finished product.

Yes, so inviting people to visit your websites such as your friends, or family will help with gaining exposure. Let your support system know what you are trying to accomplish and share with them some of your goals. You’d be surprised by the positive feedback you will receive.

Creating that excitement pretty much triggers down to anticipation and motivation for you and others around you.

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Incorporate quality images

We are visual creatures by nature we love to see pretty things so with that being said make sure that you have good quality images on your website.

There are so many platforms that will allow you to download pictures for free like Pixabay,  Flickr and more. I personally have a subscription to Canva where I go ahead and design my own elements for my website or I just download their free images.

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Encourage one another

Encourage people to comment on your website encourage people to want to visit your website ask them questions and do a lot of how to’s,  research questions that people are asking. Find out what’s trending from the thousands if not millions of topics out there.

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Conclusion

So how to start a business online from scratch? Truly add some of this content to your research this will help you immensely. All of this is not possible if you don’t have the passion and the drive to start your business.  If you are 110% certain that this is what you want to do then you’ll succeed. Remember you put in as much as you put out.

No it’s not gonna be easy and it’s not gonna happen overnight yes it can take years to scale but once you’ve created that online presence everything else will fall into place.

“It’s never too late for you to leave a legacy behind.”

-Viviana Munoz

 

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Related Post

How I use Wealthy Affiliate to promote my business

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About me

Hi everyone my name is Viviana Munoz, and I am an executive resume and Technical writer with a diverse background in recruiting, sales, marketing, and law enforcement.

I also specialize in Technical Building, such as Web Designs and other Technical Writing.

It all started with the love and the passion I have for learning. I hold a strong academic background having ownership of a Masters in Information Technology, Bachelors in Programming, and an Associates in Accounting.

Not to mention the other learning platforms that I attended, which contributed to my skill set. I am currently in pursuit of a full stacking certificate so I can enhance my coding skills and take it to the next level.

 

Thank you for reading and I look forward to your comments.