4 Signs You're Ready to Start an Online Business
If you’ve ever wanted to start selling online, now is the time to do it! e-Commerce, which is the official name of selling stuff online, was projected to do $27 trillion in sales worldwide in 2020...and that was BEFORE the pandemic hit.
The beauty of eCommerce is that you can sell just about anything from anywhere, online. From food and skincare products to services to digital products, selling online has never been easier. But if you’re not sure you’re ready to jump fully into an online business or move to an eCommerce platform like Shopify, here are 4 signs that signal that you’re ready to take the next step.
You’ve got an MVP, also known as a minimum viable product
You’ve done all the research and quality assurance.
You have a product that solves a problem and you have a specific group of people who want that problem solved.
You’re ready to start selling your product, but not sure where to start.
This is a good sign, sis!
You have an audience
One of the areas I see online businesses struggling with is that they don’t know who they are selling to. They created products with no one specific in mind, so those products get lost in the marketplace.
If you have a blog, engaged social media followers or a youtube channel with subscribers, you have an audience that you resonate with. You have a built-in audience that is probably ready to buy any product you created specifically to address their pain points and challenges because you know them very well.
You consider yourself pretty savvy online and with technology.
You’re familiar with tools like GSuite, Microsoft, or Canva. Maybe you’ve even played around on websites like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix.
The basis for eCommerce is, of course, selling online and utilizing technology to do so. You can always learn more about specific platforms or tools (that’s why I created Shopify Prep School) but having a basic understanding of the digital world will definitely put you in a better position to start an eCommerce business.
You’re already selling online, but you’re doing it via an online marketplace like Etsy or by having people slide into your DMs
You’re tired of not owning your customers. Platforms like Etsy and Instagram are great for exposing your products to a larger audience, but you don’t own those platforms. When Facebook, Instagram, or Whatsapp go down, so does your access to your customer!
When you have your own website, you can own your customers when you use things like email marketing. You own that customer journey.
Etsy, like Amazon or eBay, is a great way to reach millions of customers, but you don’t own those customers. Etsy, Amazon, and eBay do. This is why having your own website with your own email list is important if you’re going to the next level of selling online!
It’s time to go to the next level of selling online.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to start thinking about the key elements of your store’s identity such as your brand name, domain name, logo, and your brand guidelines.
Getting your brand on point right from the start and doing it consistently will grow your sales because it will help you look the part of a well-established brand. Not only will you be selling your products to a specific audience by solving their pain points, but you will also look the part of a trustworthy brand.
I use brand guidelines in my 7 figure eCommerce business to help me maintain a consistent brand image that my current customers love and my potential customers gravitate towards.
I can help you do the same for your business!
I created a Simple Brand Guidelines Template that you can purchase and edit to fit your brand.
This 13-page document that you can edit in Google Slides is essential for any business that wants to earn trust, look professional and grow its sales.
It includes pages to include your brand statement, logos, fonts, colors, images, and more.
All in an easily editable format that you can then PDF and use as your brand bible. Ready to get started? Purchase your own copy of the Simple Brand Guidelines template today!