When it comes to running a digital business, it is pretty easy compared to running a business from a physical location or being required to attend service in the flesh.
Hairdressers and plumbers work hard, but just because you can run your online store from the comfort of your PJ’s doesn’t mean that it is easy.
If you are thinking that running a business online is easy, there are some things that you need to do before you take those first steps.
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Nothing is Free Running a Digital Business
You probably have a laptop and an internet connection that you can use to work online. These are some of the biggest costs that you face when you start a business.
However, everything from this point on is not plain sailing and free. Your eCommerce website cost is one of the most important costs that you need to factor in. This can be tough if you have a shoestring budget but it is not impossible to get a decent price.
This cost is small compared to the potential profit that will come your way so make sure that you keep this in mind before you second guess the prices.
SEO is a Must for a Digital Business
There have been books and programs written on SEO as it is a very complex subject. However, the simplest way to explain it is that is the way to get your website seen on search engines.
One of the best ways to get traffic to your website is through search engine results so it matters that your site is optimized to be found. If you don’t know anything about SEO, it might be worth your while hiring an SEO expert to have a look and see how to make your site run better.
There are also courses that you can take to teach you about the basics of SEO so that you know what you are looking for and to prevent any SEO mistakes from happening.
Advertising While Running Your Digital Business
When you have a digital business, the rules of advertising are not the same as running a regular business. As a digital business, most of your ads will be online rather than running a massive TV campaign.
Of course, if you have the funds to have a TV and magazine campaign, you can do one if you desire. Advertising online is a different ballgame as there are so many different ways to advertise your business.
Research is going to be your friend here as it is important to understand the different types and how they can help your business.
Bonus —–> Learn about the tools you can use to run Google ads from Write Mix For Business.
Social Media
Having a business social media page is a great way to make a start on your business no matter what the type of business is. Facebook is a prime example as they have many local businesses using the platform to promote their services in the local area.
Having a digital business with a worldwide reach is very different. In this case, you need to cater to your potential worldwide customers. This might mean using memes, funny statuses, and thinking outside the box.
There are businesses that have been discovered after a meme they made went viral. The important thing to remember is not to be offensive for the sake of a few likes because this type of behavior can come back and bite you.
Social Media Groups
We are giving this one a section of its own because it is a weird one, but just hear us out. Facebook groups have become forums for people with charred interests to join together.
You have cross-stitching, cars, groups that cross-stitch cars. There are a number of interests. The content in these groups is user generated and it only takes a post of your products to be shared on there for it to go viral.
Some of these groups have over 100,000 members so it can be worth your while searching out groups that your customers would join. You can also start your own group and invite people to join to help get your sales up.
Having a group will allow you to find your tribe and spread the word about what you do.
Long Hours While Running a Digital Business
Just because you can run your business in your living room doesn’t mean that you will have more time on your hands. Running a digital business means you have the comfort of doing it from your home but you still need to put the hours in.
This could mean processing sales between the school runs, filing invoices as you are making dinner, and replying to emails in the early hours of the morning. There is a lot to do and you are a one-person show.
This means you have to do everything, including all of the busy work. It can be disheartening when people have a negative view of your business because it is digital.
But don’t make these views grind you into working long hours to prove them wrong.
Set Boundaries
On the back of our previous point, we would like to remind everyone that they need to take a break sometimes. You might have a lot of work to do but there are only so many hours in the day.
If you feel like things are getting too much, you might have to take a break and hire some extra staff. A virtual assistant can help out with the busy work so.
You don’t want to miss a good night’s sleep working through a night as well as a day! That’s a recipe for burnout.
Therefore, you can free up your time to focus on the core business tasks.
It is also important to schedule working hours. It can be tempting to work a lot and make a lot of money. However, what is the point if you have no free time to enjoy it?
Your Turn
These are some of the basic things that you need to understand before you launch your digital business. If you keep these things in mind, you might discover that running your own online empire can be fun and profitable.
We hope this post has inspired you to start your own digital journey. Maybe you will find out more about how it can work for you!
How are you doing running your digital business? Are you working too many hours or do you have your schedule down pat?
I’d love to know more in the comments below!
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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I can’t believe how much I learned since I’ve first seen this post! I wanted to return to it, and I finally managed to find it to say thank you! Last year when I started my online business, I’ve been reading this post and I made notes to follow. Now from nothing, I’m at 7 websites, self-employed finally! Thank you!
Hi Boss Lady, welcome to Inspire To Thrive. I’m so glad to hear you have found this post very helpful. You are most welcome. Wow, 7 websites? That is a lot of sites to maintain and grow. Kudos to you!!
Absolutely Donna, running a business is not an easy task. When it comes to running a digital business, it is pretty easy compared to running a business from a physical location or being required to attend service in the flesh. Running a digital business means you have the comfort of doing it from your home but you still need to put the hours in.
Hi Donna, that is for sure! Yes, being overworked can happen easily and take a long time to overcome. Breaks are the best thing you can do for yourself and your business. I love the automation tools Donna, always looking for more! Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Lisa
These are all important considerations in running a digital business.
Being overworked is not only a recipe for business burnout, it’s also a recipe for health breakdown.
So important to take breaks throughout the day… for exercise, eating right, mixing with family and friends… all the things that help you maintain good health while you build your business.
And as you point out… delegate some of that work to other people, as well as good software and automation tools!
-Donna