6 Important Steps to Launching Your Online Business.
So you’ve decided it’s time to start your own online biz.
This is ahhmazing, and congrats! Working for yourself can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding.
If you are starting from scratch, it can feel pretty overwhelming, so I have compiled a list of things that are absolutely necessary when you are starting out.
Let’s call this your Business Care Plan.
In this post, I’ll cover the first important must-haves to get your digital business off the ground and on your way!
Here are the top 6 steps, and then I will explain in more detail below.
Pick your business idea
Decide on a product or service
Name your business, purchase your domain and register your business
Get your basic tech set up ( website & email list, and how you will take payments.)
Create a killer opt-in gift (To support your email list!)
Make a content creation game plan.
LAUNCH!
(Don’t forget to publish content consistently! You will need to engage, and continue engaging with your people.)
So, let’s break these down:
1) Obviously, FIRST you will have to pick your business idea. It is CRUCIAL you research your potential prospects so that you fully understand what need or problem you will be solving.
If you solve no one’s problem, no one will show up!
2) Decide what product or service you will provide, to serve your prospective audience.
3) Next comes naming, and registering your business.
*Choose your biz name, then
*Purchase your domain name (I use Namecheap, but there are many choices out there. This is just a matter of personal preference.)
*Register your business.
4) Next you’ll need to get your tech set up. This includes how you will take payments, website & email service.
(Payments: Stripe, Paypal, Square, Transferwise, etc. Website: Wix, Squarespace, Showit, Wordpress,etc. Email Services: Mailchimp, Flodesk, ConvertKIt, ActiveCampaign, Mailerlite, etc.)
5) Then you will want to create a lead magnet or opt-in gift, so that you can begin building your email list. ( An email list is crucial for engaging with your audience, providing addition value! Then…when it comes time to promote any offers you have…boom. Here is a warm audience,ready and waiting.)
6) Next you’ll need a content game plan. What social channels will you appear on? Will you have a blog on your website? A podcast? Videos?
LAUNCH!!
Publish content consistently, and chat with your audience. This will help you better get to know them, it will create trust and familiarity...and you will learn what their needs and wants are!
+ DO NOT worry about everything being perfect before you push off. If we wait for perfection, we will never get anywhere! Get your basics set up, and GO. +
Let’s get a little more granular on each point.
-You will need the perfect business idea.
Now maybe you are already pretty solid on who you want to serve, and why. But there are still some important considerations before you get going!
-The talents and expertise you bring to the table.
-The ideal customer you’d LOVE to serve. (Often referred to as your ICA: Ideal customer avatar.)
-How are your going to make money?
Service-based -1:1 done-for-you-services
1:1 coaching/consulting, group coaching programs, etc.
Product-based: physical products, books/eBooks, video tutorials, online courses, spreadsheets, process checklists, templates, etc.
Affiliate or influencer: brand sponsorships, affiliate partnerships, brand ambassadorships, etc.
-The tech you’re going to need for ANY online business.
A website
A domain name
A way to take payments online
An email list
Now an email list is really important, and you should start building this right away. ( I made this mistake myself. I didn’t consider this a priority when I was just starting out...but it IS.)
This is the only real estate that you OWN. Posting on social is a smart exposure move as well, but you have NO control of this arena…you are at the mercy of the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest “Powers That Be”! Your email list is YOURS, and it is the most effective place to communicate and engage with your people, as well as promoting your products, services, freebies, courses...(I could go on and on, but you get the idea.)
And how do you build your email list?
The easiest (and honestly most enticing) way is to give away something amazing which your people are more than happy to exchange their email addy for! (OR, create a quiz, and they get their results in exchange for their info.)
This is called an opt-in gift, or lead magnet.
There are MANY types of opt-ins you could consider, but here are a few ideas:
*Templates
*Downloadable PDF( checklist, workbook, guide, etc)
*Copy & paste scripts
*Resource library
*A Mini-course
*Video tutorial
It doesn’t really matter which you choose, it is the CONTENT that matters. Provide REAL VALUE, for free.
** Be sure that your lead magnet on your website is CONNECTED TO YOUR EMAIL PROVIDER!! (If you are unsure of how to do this, there are some great videos on Youtube. But I get it, some of us just aren’t very Techy! IN THIS CASE it is well worth your while to hire a VA to help you. There are many very good VAs out there that will work on an hourly basis. )
-A content creation plan
Here's the thing.
People will come to your website and bring traffic with them, if you provide valuable content!
Why will people visit your site and bring you traffic?
Because you solve their problems.
Because you give free, quality content and information away.
The format really doesn't matter, the thing that does matter is that you frame your content in a way that it's helpful to others.
Create content that adds value to people's lives and they will come to your website!
BUT DON’T FORGET… you need to create content that is relatable and informative to your NICHE. Any old info won’t do. If they don’t care...they aren’t comin!!
-LAUNCH!
SO TO SUM UP, here is a basic list of what I think you need set up before you launch.
-A website with domain name connected, and email set up
-Your lead magnet showcased on your website, and make sure THIS is connected to your email provider.
-a minimum 3 pieces of content published- A blog is likely the simplest to start with for now.
-And from here on in, provide content consistently.
NB: IF YOU ARE A SERVICE BASED BUSINESS, BE SURE TO DRAW UP A CONTRACT (CLIENT SERVCE AGREEMENT) FOR USE WITH EVERY PROJECT YOU START.
This details the terms of your arrangement, and the service you are providing. It not only saves you a lot of time headaches (and potentially money!) it also helps the client. It clarifies the details of your relationship together, what is expected, your refund policy, who owns content, terms of confidentiality, etc.
If you have a website that sells digital products or memberships, you need Terms and Conditions included on your site, as well as a Privacy Policy agreement. (Usually placed in the website footer.) A T & C governs the use of your products, and a privacy policy is necessary as you will be collecting information from your clients.
AND once again…REMEMBER...If you wait until EVERYTHING IS perfect to launch, you have launched too late.
JUST GET IT OUT THERE!
Any questions or want to add to the convo? I’d love to heard from you!!