Starting an online business can be fun, rewarding, and potentially lucrative. However, there are many challenges and potential pitfalls along the way. Today I’ll be sharing 15 common mistakes you should avoid to give your fledgling online business the best possible chance of success.
Mistakes to Avoid When Starting an Online Business
I currently have a few different online businesses on the go and have dabbled with several others in the past. I’ve made many mistakes but have thankfully learned a lot from them. I’m happy to share my experience with you so you can avoid making some of the same mistakes.
1. Not Defining Your Customer Clearly Enough
One of the biggest rules of business – possibly the biggest rule – is to know your customer. Who are they? What are their problems, needs, and preferences? What motivates them? What scares them? What makes them happy?
Without knowing these things about your customers, you’ll probably have a hard job persuading them to buy from you. And if you don’t know who your customers are at all, how can you tailor your products and marketing strategies to appeal to them?
Understand your target audience – otherwise, you’re effectively shooting in the dark. Create an ideal customer avatar (mine’s called Jamie), and get to know them. As well as basic demographics such as age, gender, and location, consider their interests, behaviors, wants, and needs.
2. Not Having a Clear Business Plan
One of my teachers at school loved to say “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” And while I did (and still do) find that statement incredibly annoying, it’s just as true for business as it is for writing a boring homework essay.
Without a clear plan, your business lacks direction and you risk being derailed by shiny object syndrome or other unforeseen obstacles. A defined strategy allows you to set goals and objectives for your business and ensure that you’re constantly working toward achieving them.
It also helps you stay focused and make smart decisions. Try to break your plan down into stages, with realistic and measurable goals, and be sure to track your progress. It’s up to you how to do this, but I find spreadsheets super helpful – I couldn’t run my businesses without them!
Are you ready to live a remote lifestyle?
Take the quiz and see if we can help.
Our Creator Kickstarter Coaching Program will be accepting a maximum of 10 people to start…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Goats On The Road…