Starting an online business is simple but it’s not easy

You’re reading this, that means you’re genuinely interested in starting an online business. Working a job to support your real passions is fine, lots of people do it. Most of the musicians I know have a day job and some of them love it, others don’t it’s just a means to an end. 

What do you think of when I say the word ‘sales’? call-centres? Door-to-door salesman? Negotiations and a lot of hand shaking? 

In the past selling was hard, labour-intensive, work. But now, and with Web 3.0 just around the corner, everything has changed.

You and I were born and grew up in a time before the internet, we learned to operate in that world. But that world has gone, we’re on the brink of a new world and that world needs a new mindset. 

And the thing that makes selling online so different, is that most of this can be automated, running around the clock, how much time does that save? Can you see how scalable a business model like that could be?

One thing that hasn’t changed is that the most important thing in sales has always been and still is about relationships and rapport. On the internet, you can build relationships, reach customers who really want to buy what your selling without the labour intensive, pushy selling that you need in the offline world.

Most people start a business with the goal of making money, right? Why else would they do it? Let me ask you this, why do you make music? For the money? I’m guessing if that was your motivation you wouldn’t be reading this article.

I’m going to outline: 5 simple steps to creating a profitable and sustainable business online

Step 1. Learn how to Get Traffic

When I was doing market research for retail stores back in the early noughties (00s), we measured something called ‘foot traffic’. That’s the average number of people who walk past the store in a certain amount of time. The higher the traffic, the better the location. 

Think about busking; is it better to play on a busy high street or in some back alley that’s only used as a toilet by winos? 

That’s all well and good, but what if you can’t afford a place with high foot traffic and you have to resort to renting a shop in a back alley? Well, you have to find a way to get people there. It’s called advertising!

That’s exactly what the internet is like; so many people think that if you have a website, people will find you. Wake up people, this isn’t Field of Dreams (or Wayne’s World II)! 

The first thing you have to do to build a profitable online business is to learn about (or hire someone who knows about) marketing and advertising.

You’re going to need to have to invest (time and or money) in learning how to market and write copy, that’s unavoidable if you want to be successful I’m afraid. 

There are two ways you can drive traffic to your site; organically through a blog, podcast, YouTube or social media channel utilising Search Engine Optimisation (the cheap but slow way). 

The second way is through paid advertising (the faster way). 

Sound scary? Well actually running adverts online is the easy part, it really is as easy as checking boxes and entering your credit card details. 

The marketing and optimising is the part that really takes graft.

Step 2. Invest in your Digital Real Estate

Like any business, you need a premises; your real estate. 

Obviously, as an online business that doesn’t mean renting a shop or an office. It means you need a website, a social media platform, a YouTube channel, podcast or all of the above. Luckily most of them are free, and the website you can ‘rent’ for a few dollars a year. 

Again there are a lot of things you need to learn to really optimise your platforms. 

You also have to take into consideration things like branding. But these are all things you can learn to do yourself or even outsource to freelancers. You definitely don’t need an expansive marketing agency. 

Getting started with the basics is very simple when you know where to begin.

Step 3. Build your List

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as simply setting up and advert, sending people to your website, and watching the cash roll in. 

It’s possible to do business in this way, but it’s not the most effective or profitable way and it definitely isn’t the best way to grow your business and make it sustainable. 

The true goal is to attract people to your website, social media page, or YouTube channel and turn them from ‘visitor’ to ‘subscriber’. This involves asking for their contact details, usually an email address, in exchange for something that they want; a solution to a problem they have, a free product or service.

Your list of subscribers is your most important asset.

In his 2008 essay: 1,000 true fans, author and entrepreneur Kevin Kelly explains how in order to create a successful online business, all you need is 1000 customers (true fans of you and your brand) who will spend 100$ per year on your products or services to create an annual income of 100K. 

So how do you turn your subscribers into ‘true fans’?

Step 4. Provide Value

This is the most important point of all! 

If you want to create happy, loyal customers you have to build a relationship. How do you do that? Simple, you do that by providing something of value. 

How often do you buy stuff online? I’ll bet it’s pretty often. Well, you’re not the only one; worldwide we spent nearly 3.5 trillion dollars online in 2019. That’s over 16% of all retail sales, and the figure is expected to rise in 2020. 

As online purchasing becomes more commonplace, people are starting to get picky. They want to know who they’re buying from. They expect a good buying experience and want to buy from someone they see as an authority in that market.

What does this look like? Well, it means you’re approaching your business with a giving mindset, that is giving a lot of useful stuff for free with no expectation of receiving anything in return. 

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but put simply; the more people know you and trust you, the more likely they are to buy from you. 

“Fall in love with your customers, not with your product”

Tony Robbins 

Step 5. Promote your products

Now we’ve reached the fifth and final step in the process; selling. If you’re a creator or have an e-commerce business, this will mean your own products or services. And products that you passionately believe will help your customers if you’re an affiliate marketer. 

At this stage, when you have built up your brand, when you have loyal subscribers who know you and trust you. They will believe that what you are selling is the right product for them.

Let me make this clear: this isn’t about lies, manipulation or smokes and mirrors trickery, this is about serving people, building quality relationships and providing a valuable contribution.

People will respond to this and it will mean success for you and our business venture.

Why most online businesses fail

Quite simply, because they fail to follow these steps. They focus too much on sales and not enough on providing value and building quality, lasting relationships. 

Why I love the affiliate marketing business model

There are many reasons why I think that affiliate marketing is such a great business model. 

First and foremost is because, potentially, steps 2 to 5 are done for you by the companies whose products you’re promoting. 

All you need to do is learn marketing and advertising techniques and take the commissions on the other end. 

I’m sure you’ve heard it before; shops have opening hours, your job has working hours, your website never sleeps, it keeps selling for you around the clock.

Well, that’s true, but what most people don’t realise is that to sell online as an affiliate marketer (and make a profit) doesn’t mean you need a website. You don’t even need your own product to sell. It’s a great way to get started and earn money while you’re learning to sell your own products and services.

How to get started

If you’re still reading this that’s a good sign. It means you haven’t been put off and you’re serious about learning the skills you need to make an income online. 

I recommend getting started with this FREE video series that’s been responsible for helping me and THOUSANDS of other people just like you to start an online business from scratch. The training includes affiliate marketing, setting up an e-commerce business and building a lifestyle business around your passions, and that’s just scratching the surface.

It’s completely free, on the level, and NOT loaded with all the usual BS and false promises that you usually get online. Refreshing.

If you have any questions leave a comment below or reach out to me through the website. Looking forward to hearing from you.