When I first thought about starting an online business, I felt like I was “standing outside the tent.” There seemed to be an exclusive party going on, and I couldn’t figure out how to get inside and rub elbows with those who were the most connected.Then I discovered these 9 hidden secrets about starting an online business, and they completely changed the way I thought about my work. They also completely changed how my business operated for the better!
“But I’m not an expert.” I hear this every day, and it’s simply not true. You may not be the top expert in your area of interest, but you don’t have to be. All you have to know is a little bit more than the average person or more appropriately, the average person in your target market.
Let’s say you’re starting an online business as a health and wellness coach. Do you have to be the healthiest person on the planet, and have worked with hundreds of celebrities? Of course not! You simply have to have a strong interest in the subject, and know enough to be able to talk about it for 15 minutes without stopping.
Remember that while your knowledge may seem like old hat to you, the information is brand new to someone else. You have knowledge that other people want, which means that your knowledge is of value, and people are willing to pay for it.
2. You don’t have to do it all alone
Even though you’re going to be working for yourself, it doesn’t mean you have to work by yourself. Outsourcing is a major part of online business.
When you outsource, you hire independent contractors to do the work you don’t want to do, or don’t know how to do. Anything can be outsourced, from website and logo design to PR and email marketing.
3. You don’t have to spend thousands to get started
Baby Boomers, myself included, tend to think of “starting a business” as an expensive endeavor that involves taking out tens of thousands of dollars in loans.
Things have changed, and you can now start an online business for less than the cost of a nice dinner out. All you need is a basic website to get started.
4. People who use coaches and mentors excel faster than those who don’t.
I’ve seen it happen with me, and I’ve seen it happen with my mentor – people who work with a coach or mentor when they’re first starting out are able to avoid making lots of “newbie” mistakes.
By having someone guide them and show them what to do, Boomers can get their business up and running – and making money – in a fraction of the time it would take them on their own.
5. You don’t have to be tech savvy – at all
Everything involved in starting an online business – from designing a website to sending out mass emails – can be automated by easy-to-use software. Nowadays there are “drag and drop” website builders, which allow you to create websites in a matter of minutes.
There are also great video tutorials on YouTube that show you how to do just about anything. And don’t forget about item #2 above – you can always outsource all of the “tech stuff” to someone else!
6. You don’t have to quit your job
Life isn’t “all or nothing,” and neither is online business. It’s absolutely possible to stay at your current job while slowly beginning to build a successful online business in your spare time.
As you see the business start to grow, you may want to consider making the leap to doing that full time, but you certainly don’t have to. The great thing about designing your business is that you are calling the shots, and you get to decide how involved you want to be.
7. You don’t have to be “business minded”
“I’m not a business person.” Even if you have no business experience, you can still succeed in running a successful online business. Online business is much more about passion and energy than it is about closing deals.
Most of the “selling” you’ll be doing will happen through your website. If the prospect of having to pressure people to buy makes you uncomfortable, don’t worry – you can set up your business in a way that means you’re never doing any “hard selling.”
8. You don’t have to be a great writer.
Many people get intimidated by starting an information-based business because they’re scared of a writing a blog. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to be Shakespeare. In fact, “great” writing can even be a detriment to providing solid information – many people want to be able to find answers quickly and easily, so the simpler your writing is, the better.
Don’t forget about item #2 on this list – if you don’t like to write, outsource the task to someone who does!
9. You don’t have to be that different than the competition.
“It’s all been done before.” That’s true in literature, movie making, and certainly in online business. You don’t need to be wildly different than your competitors. You simply need to have one clearly definable quality that sets you apart.
Think of your favorite restaurant, or your favorite coffee shop. What would be the one thing that would make it even better? Maybe they could stay open an hour later so you could stop by after working late. Maybe they could offer more vegetarian options.
Whatever they could do but aren’t, that is your ticket to differentiating yourself. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just find a problem your competition isn’t solving, and solve it with your business.
What kind of online business are you thinking of starting?
What questions do you have about it?
photo credit: www.kerriquirt.com
Credit - The Boomer Business Owner
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