An online business uses the internet to attract customers, market, take payments and often deliver the product. To start one, select a niche, check the demand and the competition, then build the website, the email list and the traffic step by step.
Learn this skill in the course Digital Marketing (MC-DM).
Signs that you are not ready yet
- You want to sell “everything” to “everyone”.
- You have not checked if people search for your product.
- You expect sales to start as soon as the website is live.
- You have no budget for time, money or skills.
The roadmap in ten steps
1. Prepare the right mindset
An online business is different from a traditional shop. It does not run on autopilot. Expect to invest time, money and work before you get an income.
2. Select a niche
Focus on one market and one type of product at the start. A narrow niche is easier to reach and easier to rank for in search.
3. Check the demand and the competition
Put your niche words into a keyword tool, for example the Google Ads Keyword Planner. Record how many people search each month. Then search the words on Google and look at the sites that rank. If large, strong sites fill the first page, select a more specific niche.
4. Get a domain name and hosting
Register a domain name with a trusted registrar. Select fast, reliable hosting with a service level agreement (SLA). Then point the domain to the hosting: copy the DNS details from the host into the domain settings.
5. Set up the website
A platform such as WordPress lets you launch a site without code. Use a well-made theme and only the plugins that you need.
6. Set up an email service
Email is one of the most effective ways to market online. Use an email delivery service to collect subscribers and send to them. Many services have a free plan to start.
7. Publish useful content
Good content depends on your niche and your audience. Publish content that you think is valuable, measure the response, and improve it over months.
8. Bring traffic
Visitors do not come only because the site exists. Free traffic (search, social media, content) takes time. Paid traffic (for example Google Ads) is fast, but learn the basics first, or you lose money.
9. Join the community of your niche
Take part in forums, LinkedIn groups and Facebook groups of your niche. Ask and answer questions. Be visible and helpful, not only promotional.
10. Select how you earn, then grow
Common ways to earn are:
- Sell physical products, or digital products such as e-books, videos and apps
- Sell memberships or online courses
- Offer consulting, freelance work or talks
- Show ads, or sell the products of other companies for a commission (affiliate)
Your own products usually give the most profit, but they need more work. To grow, install Google Analytics, define what a conversion is for your business, and use A/B tests to improve pages. Check that each test result is statistically significant before you act on it.
What to do this week
- Write your niche in one sentence: who you serve and with what.
- Check the monthly searches for three words of your niche.
- Look at the first page of Google for each word, and list the competitors.
