Starting an online business and generating side income is a dream for many, but very few manage to take action and make this dream a reality. To attract visitors and get them to buy from your website, you will need a strategy. I will go through a proven strategy that I follow myself, which would help you start and grow a successful small business.
Create a website that sells and use search engines to attract traffic. Follow the below step-by-step process to build your website, increase your income and reach out to your customers and subscribers.
STEP 1: FIND A PROBLEM AND HELP RESOLVE IT
Most people start an online business without knowing that there’s a need for their product or service. Instead, start with a market (or niche) and look for potential customers.
To get started, visit online forums to see what people are asking about. Doing keyword research will help you find the right ones.
Take note of what their competitors are doing to fill the demand. This research is a crucial step that decides the success or failure of your online business. Doing so will help you create a product that’s better than the competition.
STEP 2: SELL YOUR SOLUTION THROUGH SALES COPY
A successful sales copy strategy takes visitors through the sales process from the moment they enter the store. A well-written and compelling headline will draw them in and make them want to buy.
List the main features of your product or service that solve a particular problem. Then, create a compelling offer that will convince the user to buy.
The purpose of your copy is to convince the customer that your product or service can solve their specific problems.
STEP 3: BUILD AND GROW YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS WEBSITE
Before you start designing and building your website, make sure that everything is in order.
One of the most important factors that you have to consider is how long it takes to get someone’s attention. Slight variations in font size, navigation style, and e-mail address are some of the factors that will help boost your sales copy.
STEP 4 : DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS WEBSITE
Pay-per-click advertising is a great way to get traffic to your website. It works by showing up first on the search pages when someone clicks on it. It allows you to test different strategies and techniques.
Not only does it get immediate traffic, but it also helps you rank high in organic search results. By distributing the right keywords throughout your site, you can improve your site’s search engine rankings.
STEP 5 : GROW YOUR WEBSITE TO BE THE TRUSTED AUTHORITY IN YOUR NICHE
Establishing an expert reputation will help you stand out from the crowd. By providing free information, you’ll be able to attract more traffic and improve your search engine rankings.
Give away free content. Posts that contain useful content, can be shared through social media platforms and article directories. You can also send links to these sites through email marketing.
Even better, every site that posts content that’s related to yours will get a link back to you.
STEP 6 : BE GENUINE AND HELP CUSTOMERS VIA EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS
One of the most valuable assets of email marketing is having an opt-in list. By creating one, you’re giving people permission to receive marketing emails.
The response that you get from email marketing is highly targeted and measurable. It’s cheaper than traditional media such as TV and radio.
STEP 7 : EXPLODE YOUR REVENUE THROUGH SALES AND UPSELLS
One of the most effective ways to increase your income is by upselling and back-end sales. According to a study, over 36 percent of people who purchased from you will buy again, if they are subscribed to your website.
Use loyalty coupons to give your customers something that’s already been purchased.
The principles of starting and growing a successful online business still apply even if they’ve already been around for a year. If you’re just starting out, follow the above steps in sequence, and see if there’s a step that you still need to improve.