HOW TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS ONLINE

If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.

INTRO

Today on the blog I have a collaborative guest post with an interesting discussion and general overview of what it takes to start your own online business. It seems like everyone has an idea or two about what they'd like to do to earn an income from home, but sometimes it takes a little bit of a push to take it to the next stage.

Today might just provide another paving stone in the path to doing something you love - whether it's starting a blog, starting a business, or just dipping your toes in the water.

HOW TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS ONLINE

Starting an online business can be exciting. You're provided with unlimited potential and have the freedom and flexibility to be your own boss. However, it does require a strategy, which involves building a plan, setting up a website, creating content and figuring out your payment processor.

If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.

BUILDING A BUSINESS PLAN 

When you're creating a business plan, it can be as simple or complex as you'd like. It gives you a chance to research and write down the strategy you're going to use to solve a specific problem, whether that's in e-commerce, freelancing, consulting, or another type of niche. Let's say you're interested in selling pet supplies and have chosen the e-commerce option. You'll need to determine the types of pets and products you're going to target, a marketing strategy, company description and organizational structure, which can help identify your suppliers and any employees you may need to hire. Lastly, you'll need to decide on a budget, funding for your business, and how you're going to send money online to your suppliers.

SETTING UP YOUR WEBSITE

The next step is to set up your website by choosing a domain name and registering it. You may also need to select a service to host your website. If you decide to tackle this step on your own, you can utilize a popular content management system such as Blogger or WordPress, which can make setting up your website easier. Otherwise, you could also hire an expert to complete this task to help ensure your site looks professional. It's essential to have a website that looks trustworthy if you want to have people spend money on your products or services. Your site should also be optimized for mobile devices and PCs, be easy to navigate, and look like it belongs in your specific industry.

If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.

CREATING CONTENT

Adding content to your site is another essential step. It's important to include a description of your products and services and have a blog. Including a blog allows you to match potential customers with your services or products. Covering topics associated with your niche provides value for your customers and gets your webpages listed in search engines. Implementing search engine optimization and adding valuable content is crucial if you want to begin receiving customers. Using a professional to complete this task may be best as they understand how to achieve this aspect of your marketing quicker and more efficiently.

FIGURING OUT YOUR PAYMENT PROCESSOR

You'll also need a way for individuals to send money online to your business. Figuring out the type of payment processor you require will likely depend on the type of business you are operating and the features you'd like to provide. Allowing customers to utilize a credit or debit card can make it easier for them to complete a transaction. Stripe, PayPal, and several other payment processing solutions are available online for businesses that need to accept customers' payments.

Writing down a strategy for this endeavor will make it easier to complete. If you're not sure how to finish a step correctly, hiring a professional can be beneficial.

If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Do you think about starting an online business and working from home? Have you thought about starting a blog and earning some money from it as it grows? There's so many options available to us in this day and age, so why not jump in and make a start?

RELATED POSTS


If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.

If you've been thinking about starting a business from home, or creating a blog and earning some extra cash, here's some tips on getting started.
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21 comments

  1. Great post, Leanne. I have an Etsy shop and of course my blog but recently I've been thinking that maybe I should set up my own website to have both in one spot. Couldn't hurt, right?

    Janet’s Smiles

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    1. I think that's a great idea, Janet. I would love to see your blog and your shop in one place!

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    2. I'm with Donna - I think having it all accessible from one spot is a great idea - and it means that you have your readers seeing your shop and your customers becoming readers - so it's a win/win! Maybe my post will inspire you to take the leap x

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  2. Hi, Leanne - This post offers excellent practical information to questions that many of us have. Figuring out how to handle the exchange of money electonrically can be especially nerve-wracking. Thank you for sharing these straight-forward solutions.

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    1. Hi Donna - I think most of us who blog wonder what we'd could do to take it to the next level - and yes dealing with the money side of it is always a bit stressful. It's interesting to see what options are out there and how easy they are to use once you've done a bit of homework.

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  3. This is great information to those who want to start their own business Leanne, with practical tips and suggestions. Blogging is one way to use technology and make it work out, if that's the way people want to do it. You made it sound quite easy to do, so many thanks for sharing! I have pinned this to my boards.

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    1. Hi Deb - you might need to start thinking about it when you take your book writing to the next level - that's when the blog becomes your business site and when you have to set up the background stuff - it's not that far in the future with the way you're going.

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  4. Lot of interesting information in this post, Leanne.
    If one has an aptitude for business -- which I must admit, I don't have at all -- online is a good avenue that is worth exploring, especially during these times.
    Today I was hearing on the BBC on how the famous guitar manufacturers Gibson has seen its sales shoot up during the pandemic, especially after they moved online.

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    1. Hi Pradeep - I think COVID has shown us how much can be done from home if we put the right plan in place. Working online from your own office is such a lovely idea for a lot of us and I like the tips here on how to tackle the practical side of it once you know what sort of business you'd like to set up online.

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  5. Hi Leanne, Your post reminds me how when we do something we love, the rest often falls into place. Even making money from an online business.

    This post is very timely since more and more people are working from home this year. You make many great points. “Writing down a strategy...” always important. And, definitely many benefits to hiring a professional. I have pinned this informative post.

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    1. Hi Erica - yes, having a plan and an outline of what needs to be done to get a little home business up and running is definitely a great help. Even making a little bit of an income from blogging means we have to put things in place to make it come together smoothly. The financial side of it is the trickiest part - paying or being paid from an international basis needs to be thought through and set up properly.

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  6. I do sometimes think about monetizing my blog or even writing a book but I am not sure I want to make the sacrifices that would require. I don't want to have to sell stuff - whether it is items I am paid a commission for on my website or even having to self-promote to sell a book. I am going to bookmark this page in case I ever decide to make the leap. Thanks for the good advice.

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    1. Hi Laurie - I think we all baulk at the idea of doing something seriously with our blogs, or with a book, or an item we might like to sell. Once we get a bit of incentive behind us, tips like today's help put the practicalities into place. There's no point having a great idea and then not knowing how to execute it. Glad you're bookmarking this because it shows you're still thinking about taking things to the next level - and I'll be cheering you on.

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  7. I was hit up by email about working with a company that provides bloggers with articles that suit their niche of the blogging world. When I asked what was in it for me...$$...the rep who contacted me said I would benefit by having their quality articles posted on my blog and bringing new traffic and readers to Once Upon a Time. They would even publish the articles for me, so I wouldn't have to even read them or schedule them. They would just appear on my blog. I found this very odd. Why would I turn my blog over to someone else?
    I have monetized my blog but have yet to see much pay off from doing so. But I didn't get into blogging to make money (good thing). Have always read that having something to give away to readers is a great way to build an audience of loyal readers. An ebook or guide or something but I haven't explored that. Not sure I have anything I could offer!!

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    1. Hi Leslie - I think we all have a desire to make a little income from our blogging. I certainly wouldn't be giving a third party access to my blog, but sharing collaborations is a win/win because it allows the knowledge of others to get shared with an audience that can reap some great tips from the experts.

      I found this collaboration really helpful because it has some practical tips about the initial start-up needs and it was nice to know that I had some of it in place already for when I decide to take things to the next level.

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  8. Some great practical tips here. I haven't monetised my blog (and don't intend to) but these tips apply to my type of business too ie books. I have a production plan but I don't have a business plan and as my word of the year was about getting real, it's probably something that I need to do.

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    1. Hi Jo - it's hard to put the practical with the creative, but you can't have one without the other - and I think you're getting there - those books of yours seem to be gathering momentum!

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  9. Thanks Leanne. Our JULIE has chosen your post to be featured in the next Blogger's Pit Stop. We delight in promoting bloggers and of course for anyone monetising their blog this is essentially FREE advertising :)
    Kathleen

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    1. Thanks Kathleen - that's lovely to hear - I hope it helps others feel motivated to take the next step with doing something they love.

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  10. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing! I've had my own online business (in various capacities) for over 10 years now. My husband also has a successful online business in addition to his day job. As do my kids! We all use different platforms: Mine is website based, hubby's is EBay based and the kids conduct successful micro-enterprises on Instagram.
    My online business is going through a bit of a renovation so this post is timely.
    Cheers
    Thanks for the introduction Leanne!

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    1. Hi Leanne - your family is always doing something great and I find it really interesting that you're all using different platforms - it seems that each generation has a preference to what they feel comfortable using.

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.