Anyone can start an online business from scratch because the possibilities are endless. Indeed, the Internet is huge, and constantly expanding. In 2000, there were 360 ​​million Internet users. Today, 20 years later, there are nearly 5 billion, or two thirds of the world’s population. What does this imply? That you potentially have access to 5 billion customers. Developing an online business immediately seems more accessible! But getting started on the Web does not escape the implementation of a thoughtful strategy. In this article, we reveal the 3 key steps to follow to get started.

1. Lay the foundations of your business

Finding an online business idea when starting from scratch

There are many opportunities to grow an online business. The first step will therefore be to choose the type of activity that suits you. It must be in line with your skills and your desires. It is therefore essential to capitalize on your knowledge and areas of expertise!

The most popular online businesses are:

• E-commerce: the sale of physical products online.
• The sale of digital products: e-books, online training, etc.
• The sale of services or provision: Wikipedia page writing service, website design, software development, etc.
• Monetized sites or blogs: through advertising or affiliation.

You will have different ways to monetize your trade and earn money, depending on this first choice. It is therefore to be carried out with care and strategy.

Make sure your idea has potential

Of course, your business idea must also meet a market need. Thus, to create your online business from scratch, you must ensure that your business concept meets these three criteria: your skills, your interest in the subject, and market demand. It is therefore necessary to validate your idea by ensuring its economic potential.

Entrepreneurship is not a science or an art, it is a practice. Peter Drucker

There are several ways to determine if your project meets a real market need:

• The research of competitors: see if there are companies that market products or services in the chosen field. It’s a good sign! This means that there is a real need and a clientele.
• Market research: it will allow you to refine your offer and your positioning, to offer a better customer experience than your competitors.
• Customer surveys: survey your target customers directly, using questionnaires for example. It’s the best way to really know what your future customers need.

Determine your business model

A business model (or economic model) describes precisely how your company will earn money. Concretely, it is used to define what you are going to sell, to which customers, in what format, and for what profit. There are a multitude of business models, and you can combine several of them.

Here are some examples of common business models for online businesses:

• Operational services: web editors, graphic designers, webmasters, etc.
• Support (group or individual): coach, consultant, therapist, etc.
• The sale of training or support asynchronously (= independently): trainer or coach who sells an online program to be followed independently.
• The recommendation of products or service providers in exchange for remuneration: affiliation.
• The sale of digital resources or products to be used independently: Canva or Notion models, website templates, visual identity packs, etc.

It is essential to choose a regimen that suits your desires and the lifestyle you want to have. Indeed, it will have direct impacts on:

• Your income;
• Your constraints (presence, place of work, availability);
• Also, Your expenses and your investments;
• Your profitability.

2. Establish the marketing strategy of an online business from scratch

Define your offer and positioning to stand out

Your offer is how you will present and sell your services or products. It must respond to a specific problem and clearly highlight the solution that will solve it. A good proposal must be unique (i.e., different from the competition) and clear.

If you show people the problem and offer them the solution at the same time, they will buy your product.

Once the offer has been defined, it will be necessary to work to make it irresistible. The value perceived by your customers must be greater than the monetary value of your service or product. To do this, you can, for example, increase the benefits received by offering bonuses, an attractive price or even by playing on urgency/rarity.

Once your services are established, you need to refine your positioning. This is the key element of any business, to stand out from the competition. It defines who you are, what you do and how you do it. Your clear and characterized positioning will allow you to differentiate yourself and influence the way customers perceive you. You are unique and the client wants YOU. He is ready to pay whatever price it takes.

Create a strong visual identity

Once your offer has been determined and your positioning defined, you must apply yourself to creating a strong visual identity. It is an essential element in the strategy of your online business. Indeed, a strong graphic identity card will allow you to be recognized quickly by your customers.

As soon as your logo appears, people will instantly associate it with your name. Focus on matching your visual identity to your positioning, to best reflect your offers, your vision and attract your ideal client.

Beyond recognition, a worked graphic identity gives you a competitive advantage. It reinforces your credibility and reliability.

3. Develop your online presence to make yourself known

Now that you have set the outlines of your business, you need to build an effective visibility strategy to make yourself known.

Choose the right communication channels

The first step is to choose a limited number of communication channels. I advise you to choose two to start with. The first should be a communication format long enough to show your expertise (a website, a podcast, a newsletter). For the second, choose a social network that will allow you to relay your content and create a link with your audience.

Choose these channels based on where your ideal customer is:

• Instagram: for a rather young and urban target audience or for a B-to-B business that targets solopreneurs or VSEs.
• LinkedIn: for a B to C business, with an older, qualified target.
• Facebook: for a B to C business, with a younger target than on Instagram.
• Pinterest: for a B to C business, with a predominantly female target.
• Twitter: pour UN business B to C ET B to B.

Create quality content and bring value

Content creation is a powerful acquisition lever. It allows you to attract your ideal client. Your texts must be created specifically for your target audience, and answer the questions they are asking.

To do this, you can define two to three main themes (your content pillars) while keeping in mind the foundations of your online business (your offer, your positioning, your ideal client). Next, make a list of topics to discuss. You can ask your audience directly, read forums like Reddit and Quora, or use specific tools like Uber suggest or Answer the Public.

Once your topics are categorized, you need to determine you’re posting frequency. The latter will obviously depend on the communication channels you have selected: three posts per week on Instagram, one newsletter per week, four blog articles per month, etc. All you have to do is prepare your editorial schedule and create your content.

Like any business, starting an online business from scratch takes a lot of effort and hard work. But with a well-thought-out strategy, you will quickly reap the fruits of your labor. It’s your turn!