Starting an online business is not for everyone.

Most people love the IDEA of working for themselves. Lots of people want to stop being obligated to someone else. Plenty more hate the 9-5 gig.

The idea of not making money for someone else pretty much appeals to everyone.

But starting your own business takes work and initiative. If you want to find freedom, you’re going to have to be responsible.

If it were easy? Everyone would do it. Amiright?

So while starting an online business is not for everyone, if you’re willing to work for it? It might be for you. And once you get going and automate some things, it’ll get easier. I promise.

So, how do you start an online business?

Here’s some basic tips on how to get started. Whether you have a blog or product or are just trying to spin wheels and get things started, this article is going to get you going.

1. Determine Your Niche

This is crucial in getting started. Too wide of a focus is going to make your next steps fuzzy. Complicated. You need to narrow things down.

Who is your audience? Who are you most qualified to help? What are you offering and who needs what you have to offer? You need to be able to answer all of these questions specifically.

Maybe you think that you don’t want to narrow your focus too much. But I assure you you will target your audience better if you shave off the edges.

I spent years marketing to the wrong audience when starting an online business because of an interest in real estate, or because it was my full time gig and I thought I was best qualified to help people… who didn’t really want my help.

Once I shifted my audience, things changed… fast. Find your niche and make sure it is right for what you have to offer.

If you are truly helping people, you more easily monetize your business.

2. Create a Free Offer

I recently talked about this is a Facebook live I did. Free+free+free=fee. My clients come to me because they have seen the value I have to offer before they even spend a dime.

They get so much free value from me, that they begin to grasp how much f my heart and soul I pay into my clients. The live training videos gives people a sneak peek into working with me.

They know they are paying for something that is worth it because I have offered enough value at no cost for them to see what I am capable of.

Get people coming to your doorstep with a free offer. Everyone loves free stuff, and make sure it’s something your niche audience will benefit from. Help them before you sell them.

3. Build a Community

Something about being part of a group excites people. It gives your people a place to be excited together, share ideas and offer support. If you are starting an online business this is the perfect way for people to start to get to know you.

It will…

• Help build your list
• Create loyal followers
• Give you a place to educate people about yourself
• Give you a place to advertise

It also gives you a space to be a leader. Building a community around yourself sets you up for prime authority marketing positioning.

4. Become Visible and Trustworthy

If you want to start an online business, people need to see you and trust you. Don’t just build a community, but be a part of the community around you. Engage in message boards where your audience may be, join social media groups.

Get involved locally, try speaking at an event or hosting one. Let people get to know you, and get to know as many people as possible.

If you post something, respond to comments.

Answer messages and calls.

Be visible and available and establish yourself as a wealth of knowledge and trustworthiness,.

5. Launch a Product

This is easier said than done. In the beginning creating my niche product was the most challenging obstacle I faced. I knew who my audience was and I knew what I was good at, but what was I going to sell?

I can’t answer that for you, but I am damn good at guiding you to that point. If this is where you are at let me know and we can chat.

The point is if you are going to start an online business you have to have something to sell.

And don’t just make a product and put it up for sale. Create a launch. Get people excited, advertise, offer your freebie beforehand and get people engaged. Don’t just sell something, launch it!

Anyone can start an online business, but it is not for everyone. Many people try and fail. Many people invest money in the wrong things and don’t progress. I have made pretty much every mistake you can, and now I help people by sharing those mistakes and saving them some of the costly errors I made.

If you are looking to start an online business, these are some great tips to getting started.

NEED MORE SUPPORT?

The truth is, tips are valuable but will only get you so far. Go here to see how I can help you get your business off the ground and profitable.