It’s the prime of the millennial era, and many modern entrepreneurs are hitting it big on the Internet. These days, businesses can thrive with just a website, some skill with search engines, and a lot of different online tools. Physical offices have become optional.
Some entrepreneurs are also their own one-person company, usually handling most of their businesses operations on their own while contracting other companies to do special tasks, like billing or accounting.
How do they do it?
Well, they have a website, some skill with search engines, and a lot of different online tools. Maybe you should start there. And if you’re looking for some of those different online tools and for some tips, you can start here.
Online Tools
E-commerce Platforms
Creating an e-commerce website is easy, fast, and simple thanks to e-commerce platforms like Shopify. These online platforms give you a selection of templates, themes, and stock photos, and they also let you upload your own images. All you have to do is mix and match to suit your brand. Most of the process will just involve clicking (or tapping on mobile) and maybe some typing for your product descriptions, names, slogans, etc.
Google Sheets
It’s usually a good idea to keep track of your inventory, sales, and/or services rendered. You can do that using Google Sheets.
Spreadsheets are an easy way to itemize and record your operations. Plus, you don’t have to worry about power outages messing up your sheet, as Google automatically saves any changes every few seconds.
Canva
Don’t have enough talent to design images for your business? Don’t worry. You’re not alone.
Thankfully, Canva is a user-friendly tool that you can use to create graphics. You can browse through Canva’s gallery of stock photos, add in a few shapes and templates, then write in a few words, if you’d like. You don’t need to contract a designer if you can do it yourself.
Tips for Success
Get Decent Internet
If your business is online, then you need your internet connection to be stable and fast. You want to respond to buyers and go through processes in a whiz, not get bogged down by lag.
Don’t let connectivity problems disrupt your cashflow. Get a WeBoost 4G booster for your home. With one, you’ll enjoy decent speed on your mobile internet.
Better yet, consider getting fiber-optic internet if you can afford it. You won’t have to worry about loading times ever again.
Harness the Power of Search Engines
The internet revolves around search engines (e.g., Google, Bing, etc.). They’re one of the main driving forces for the growth of online businesses. Without them, consumers won’t know how to find and access niche websites.
Search engines use algorithms to rank websites according to their content. The better your content, the higher your site will appear in search results, getting you more traffic and more customers. Two major ways of fitting your content into those algorithms are search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM).
Learning both SEO and SEM is crucial as an online entrepreneur. Remember those one-person companies? Most of their success is thanks to good SEO and SEM strategies.
Reach Wider Audiences through Social Media
Almost everyone uses some form of social media. That’s why platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are great places to advertise.
Like with search engines, social media feeds on good content. Purely advertorial posts usually only work within your own network. If you want a greater reach, creating content relevant to your target demographic can be better. Some platforms also allow you to boost your ads’ reach by paying small fees.
One Final Tip
Be creative. The internet is vast, and it’s constantly evolving—reinventing itself. So too must businesses in order to thrive and survive.
Today’s “guaranteed method for success” may no longer work tomorrow. Keep learning new ways to break through to your target audience. That’s what entrepreneurship is about—creativity.