10 tips for starting the online aspect of your business

It’s no secret the internet is a key tool for success in the modern business world.

If you have a shop and want to increase your customer base or are starting out and want to begin with an audience and platforms for people to find your business, then setting up a website and social media channels are important. After all, before visiting restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and any store really, many people look up its online profile before committing to go there. Here are 10 tips to starting the online aspect of your business.

Lesson 1: Quality costs

Don’t try to cut corners with your online business. For example, your website needs to look professional, load quickly, be up to date and work well. This will cost money to get right from the beginning. Otherwise, you may lose potential customers.

Lesson 2: It always takes longer than you expect

Your website will never be perfect before you launch, so don’t try to make it perfect or you will never actually launch. Start with the basics such as the location, some images and contact info – and do it well. Then you can build on this and blog posts or further elements to the design.

Lesson 3: Set customer expectations early – and stick to them

Don’t be afraid to set expectations for services and prices early. Don’t back down. People who want your products just want a clear understanding of what they are and how much they are. Then make sure you actually deliver what you say by having the products in stock when you say you will. This is the most important lesson.

Lesson 4: Make it easy for customers

Make it easy for customers to contact you and ask questions, and make sure your website is easy to navigate. Potential customers will give up looking at your website if they find it difficult to read or find what they’re looking for on your website.

Lesson 5: It doesn’t happen overnight, but it will happen

Be patient. Your website and social media accounts won’t see your goal traffic or followers overnight. People have to find you and word of mouth takes time.

Lesson 6: Online businesses are not ‘set and forget’

You need to constantly work on your website. You cannot let it look outdated. It needs regular content added and should reflect what’s happening right now. Content creation is important for rankings and engaging customers. If customers visit your website and you have not updated the content or blog in some time, they may wonder if you are still in business.

Lesson 7: Don’t be fazed by copycats

If you have a great idea, someone will always try to copy you. Just concentrate on delivering the best products, website and social media you can. Put your head down and don’t worry about the competition as it may overwhelm you. Reputation always wins out and you need to run your own race.

Lesson 8: Social media is your free marketing tool

Use as many social media platforms as possible to reach the widest audience. Check out the kind of posts other people in the business are doing for inspiration. Use hashtags and spend time on the social media platforms liking other people’s posts, commenting and engaging with others. There’s a good chance if you leave a comment for someone they will check out your page.

Lesson 9: Learn BEFORE you start up

Do the reading, learn basic internet language (SEO, Google AdWords, social media marketing, blogger outreach), what your options are for spending your marketing (social media is free!), and how to run and do basic website changes. The internet is full of support pages for these kinds of things.

Lesson 10: Don’t be scared to pivot

After you are open for business for a while, you may find you are in demand for one type of product or service and it is quickly becoming your focus and time grabber. You may have been going in another direction entirely. But don’t be afraid to pivot and change your strategy and business focus to match the demand you never guessed. The need to be adaptable and flexible can be a very lucrative resource for your business.

This story was adapted from an article that originally appeared on Flyingsolo.