You like to be in control and dream of working wherever and whenever you want, so you know it by now 100% sure: you will start your own online business. But how do you handle that? Because it often seems more difficult and more work than it is, I have drawn up a handy step-by-step plan for you. Follow these ten steps, and within no time you have your own online business.
STEP 1: DECIDE WHERE YOUR HEART IS FASTER OF FAST
For your business to be a success, it is essential that you start something that you have a passion for. There are countless ways to earn (fast) money online nowadays, but if you start something that generates a lot of money but what you do not really like, you will not last long. If you also want to be successful in the long term, you have to choose a topic and strategy in which you also want to invest time and energy in five years' time. Therefore take your time to think about where your heart is an answer for yourself questions such as: What are your hobbies? What are you good at? Which topics do you like to read about? What are you talking about?
STEP 2: MAKE YOUR IDEA CONCRETE
Once you know what kind of company you want to start, it's time to make your idea concrete. What exactly do you want to achieve? What will be your focus? Are you going to offer services or products? What will be your earnings model? How is the market and what can you add? What unique services can you offer that others do not? Are you going to operate locally, nationally or internationally? How can you put something of yourself in your products? Try to be as detailed as possible. The clearer you know what you want and how you are going to tackle it, the higher the chance of success.
STEP 3: FIND A COMPANY NAME
Thinking of a good company name can be tricky. A few tips:
- Choose a name that people can easily spell and pronounce
- Make sure your name fits with what you offer
- Think of the future: is the name also attractive and relevant if your company grows and possibly expands?
- Google the name and check if there are no companies with an almost identical name
- Check whether the domain name is still free (and create it immediately)
STEP 4: REGULATE YOUR ADMINISTRATION
When you start your own online business, there is a lot of administrative red tape involved. Not always fun, but necessary. A few things that you should not forget:
- Register with the Chamber of Commerce (you will also immediately receive your VAT number)
- Arrange possible financing
- Find out if you need permits
- Find out if you have to take out insurance and if so, which
- Set up your general terms and conditions
- Think with which payment system you are going to work (iDEAL, PayPal etc.)
- Open a business bank account
- Possibly provide a business address
STEP 5: MAKE A WEBSITE (OR LET IT CREATE)
You can not start an online business without a website. Nowadays you can easily create a website yourself, but if you have your budget available, you can also outsource it. In the article How do you start a blog? I explain step by step how you can create a website yourself via WordPress.
STEP 6: MAKE A LOGO (OR LET THERE MAKE A LOGO)
Now that you have your own company and website, you also need a logo. You can, of course, do some tinkering in Paint, but if you have no experience with design, it is perhaps better to have someone else do it. Your logo determines a large part of the image of your company, so do not underestimate the importance of having a clear and attractive logo.
STEP 7: START WITH BLOGS
Make sure your website has a blog page and regularly share articles that suit your business. This not only ensures that you are better found in Google, but you can also immediately show how much knowledge you have and you can distinguish yourself from your competitors.
STEP 8: GET STARTED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
As with a blog's presence on social media also ensures that you are more visible, you can set yourself as an expert and you can distinguish yourself from the competition. You can also use social media to inspire your target group, get in touch with your target group and put your services/products in the spotlight.
STEP 9: MAKE BUSINESS CARDS
You can always spell your URL when people ask about your company, but it is, of course, a lot easier (and more professional!) If you have a card with all the information on it. So make sure that you make or have business cards made and always carry them with you.
STEP 10: SEARCH FOR CUSTOMERS
When you blog, are present on social media and regularly hand out business cards, the chances are that you soon have your first customers.