Starting an online business is an exciting venture—and in an increasingly digital age, now’s the time to strike.
If you’ve set up your brand new online business, great work! But, this is where the hard work really begins.
To get your business off the ground and keep the momentum going, there are many things you need to consider as a new online business owner.
The good news is, there are a wealth of accessible tools you can use to attract new customers and stand out from the crowd.
Let’s explore.
1. Web Hosting
As an online business owner, your website is the hub of your entire operation—so you need to get it right.
To run your website successfully, you need to choose a reliable web hosting service based on your specific business needs.
Web hosting tools essentially allow websites to exist—and a reliable provider will take the burden out of keeping yours afloat in a competitive online environment.
There are a wealth of tools out there and our essential web hosting guide will help you make the very best decision for your business.
2. Website design
Did you know? Your website’s design will have a 75% impact on your business’s credibility. That’s hard to ignore.
Website design isn’t just about looking pretty, it’s also about being informational and easy to navigate.
While website design may sound like an impossible task for a novice, there are website building tools and content management systems (CMS) out there for beginners.
The likes of Wix and WordPress make it easy to add images or videos to your website, create new pages, add content, and keep up with essential daily, weekly or monthly maintenance.
To decide which tool will be best for you, check out our full review of the best CRM solutions for 2021.
3. Logo Design
You may have an attractive and fully functional website, but without the right logo, you’re selling yourself short.
Branding is the beating heart of your business’s identity—and your logo will have a significant impact on how consumers perceive you. If your logo is instantly recognizable (for the right reasons, of course), you will gain credibility and earn more sales.
Online tools like Canva Adobe Illustrator, and FreeLogoDesign boast easy to use drag & drop functionality as well as templates and design features that will empower you to create a stunning brand image (usually) in less than an hour.
Every tool is slightly different and our logo builder review will help you choose a tool that is right for you.
4. Email Marketing
Even in the age of mobile apps and social media, email is still one of the most effective ways of connecting with your audience and building brand loyalty.
To create compelling emails that people will not only click on but also read and take a desired action (downloading an eBook, using a discount code or buying a new product, for example), you have to get your timing, as well as your content, just right.
Most of today’s email marketing tools will allow you to build and design emails with simple drag & drop features and schedule when they go out to your recipients. Many tools also automatically optimize your emails for mobile screens.
Our definitive email marketing platform review will tell you all you need to know about getting started and choosing the best business-boosting tool for you.
5. Video Conferencing
We live in a time where remote working is fast becoming the ‘new norm’. Now, it’s common practice to converse with your staff via video call or host virtual meetings with potential customers, clients or business partners.
That said, to succeed as an online business owner, you must invest in video conferencing tools that are accessible, reliable, and offer excellent customer support.
Zoom is a popular industry leader as is Microsoft Teams. While these video conferencing tools are worth considering, there are many alternatives out there that are slick, powerful, and cost effective. You can read all about them in our video conferencing tool review.
6. Online Advertising
With an endless amount of channels and touchpoints available now, there are many online advertising outlets to explore as a digital business owner.
Google Merchant Center (**link to guest post?**) is an effective tool for raising brand awareness and broadening your business reach—and getting listed in popular online directories is also a wise promotional move for any budding business owner.
There is also a choice of effective online advertising platforms that will help you get your business in front of the right customers, boost your conversions, and offer you an excellent return on investment (ROI).
7. Freelance Talent Platforms
With so much to do and such little time, sometimes you will need to outsource tasks, projects or work to a suitable professional.
Not only are skilled freelancers great for time-saving or productivity purposes, but with incredibly niche talents, will often help you maximize the success of your business’s campaigns or projects through specialized support.
Connecting with the right freelancers is easier than ever thanks to a range of smart talent platforms for every kind of task or industry imaginable. Explore our freelance talent tools guide and sign up for the platforms that you feel will benefit you. In some cases, it helps to post your work on multiple websites.
Running an online business is a challenging yet rewarding venture—and we hope this guide helps guide you to complete commercial success. Good luck!
For more business-boosting pearls of wisdom, read our full marketing terms cheat sheet.
Great content! Keep up the good work!