How to Build Your First Successful Online Business

According to the Market Intelligence Agency, 9 out of 10 online businesses fail within their first year. How does this happen? Often times it’s because entrepreneurs want instant success, failing to realize that patience and a strategic digital marketing plan are extremely important. How can an entrepreneur prevent their online business from failing? The following tips can help business owners set up a digital strategy that will increase their probability of success.

Building Blocks to Online Business Success

Website

Your website is the face of your business. Your site needs to provide an excellent user experience and accurately portray your culture and brand, all while being easy to update and maintain. It’s important to find a web design company that understands ecommerce web design. Ecommerce websites are much more complex than standard sites, as shipping, taxes, automation, and product placement and functionality are all extremely important to the overall development. WordPress combined with WooCommerce makes for a powerful and robust ecommerce website – giving you the flexibility to design and develop a custom site for your specific needs. Additional website decisions include website and email hosting, and domain registration – however you can typically get all this with your website company too.

Internet Marketing

Without traffic to your website, you can’t sell products. This is where internet marketing comes in. Marketing for ecommerce websites is different than marketing for traditional brick and mortar businesses. Strategies should include a healthy mix of different tactics, including A/B testing, conversion optimization and marketing automation. It’s important to note that no matter what internet marketing activities you choose, all them should work together to create a cohesive front – ensuring your audience sees the same targeted messaging.

Offline Activities

While you may not think that your offline activities affect your digital marketing strategy, they can greatly impact your internet success. Getting involved in your local community, through sponsorships, volunteering and hosting events, can all positively affect your ecommerce prosperity. Consumers like to support businesses that are active in their community – it allows them to give back and feel good about their purchase. These activities can also generate buzz, which can then spin social media awareness, press releases, features on local news sites, guest blogging, and more.

Support

Starting a new business, especially an ecommerce business, is an exciting yet big undertaking. Surrounding yourself with positive people, including those with ecommerce experience, can help you navigate your first year in business. Ecommerce business owners should also take advantage of their web design and internet marketing company’s knowledge and experience. Agencies, like ours, work with businesses every day, helping them find success through digital marketing tactics and creative, engaging design. Use their expertise to help your own company find ecommerce success – you’ll be thankful you did as you enter your second year of business.

Tags: Digital Marketing • Ecommerce