How to Build a Real Online Business

Despite what the doomsayers would have you believe, there is plenty of opportunity to conduct business online.

However, there is a big difference between trying to make money online and running a business online.

The make money online pitch has unfortunately become synonymous with “get rich quick.” The mentality is that you simply create a product and make money selling it.

That’s NOT building a business. That’s trying to make a few bucks. Maybe it succeeds. More likely it fails. Either way, you don’t have a business.

If you are wanting to build a real business online, here are some things you will want to pay attention to in order to have a better shot at sustainable success.

1) Have a long-term vision.

I know marketers who jump from one product launch to the next, attempting to capitalize on whatever knowledge they have (or pretend to have.) There’s no sense of structure. It’s a “how can I make money online this month?” mentality.

You are in a much better position to succeed if you create a long-term vision and develop a strategy you are willing to see through to the end.

2) Focus

As one who has gotten easily distracted by the “bright shiny object,” I highly recommend knowing your product and focusing on marketing that one product. You can always branch out later. For now, laser-focused attention will help you sell more sooner.

3) Build a quality website

Unless your spouse is a professional web designer, don’t let them design your site. Same goes for the kid next door.

There’s no excuse to not invest in the public face of your business by having your site professional designed. Your website is your first impression for your potential customers. If your site looks amateurish, you will lose credibility and sales. Do things right and make sure your website is both attractive and functional.

4) Create original content

Regardless of what you are selling, creating content on a regular basis will make the search engines like you more. Create a blog on your site if you need to. Post content relevant to whatever your topic is. Not only is it good for keeping your site fresh, but useful content is a great way to build loyalty amongst your customer base.

5) Apply tried and true SEO strategies

If you aren’t doing things designed to help rank your site higher in the search results, you are missing out on free traffic to your site. If you don’t know what to do to make this happen, it’s worth the $500 or so each month to have someone manage this for you. We do this for our clients (for a little less of a fee) and they gladly pay us monthly to help them rank for key terms. This is especially important for local businesses.

6) Use social media

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube are all you need to invest time in. Be social, interact with customers, provide value through your posts and create community amongst your fans and followers. It’s not rocket science; it’s relationship.

7) Build an email relationship with your customers

Email is still the most reliable way to communicate direct to your customers on a regular basis. If you aren’t building a mailing list from a targeted landing page, you are missing out on more business than you may realize. Building an email list and managing that list properly is a must.

8) Drive traffic

There’s a reason that millions of dollars are spent each day on pay-per-click traffic. It’s works. But only if you know what you are doing. Don’t just go spending money on Google AdWords if you don’t have experience with it. You will end up burning through cash. Contact a professional firm to get the job done right.

There are many more things you should be aware of, but these are some of the basics that are often neglected or overlooked. As I move into the next phase of my business, I will be focusing on helping others build sustainable online businesses.

With that said, I would like to leave you with a question that will help me best serve those seeking assistance.

What is your BIGGEST struggle in having the online business of your dreams?

Please share your answer in the comments section below. And of course, feel free to comment on anything I have written in this entry. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!