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When starting a business in the traditional sense, you have to think about the source of capital, physical location, and more, all of which can require a lot of money. But with the internet, not so much.
You can start a business with almost nothing and grow it to any possible height. However, it is essential to understand that every other person is looking for the same opportunities presented by the internet, so standing out can be a problem.
But worry not, as this post highlights some practical tips on growing your online business.
Determine Your Niche
There are thousands of online businesses you can start. However, having too much on your plate as a start up can be overwhelming, so you will want to pick a niche that you feel will work best for you.
For example, an online cosmetics business can be a good fit if beauty is your thing. If you love jewellery, focus on jewellery first.
Niching up doesn\’t mean you can\’t sell anything else, you could, but it\’s best to allow one business time to stabilize before thinking of other things.
Also, you want your audience to identify you with something. Specialization helps build a reputation as a knowledgeable brand in your field, which can help boost your audience\’s confidence.
Conduct Market Research
Whether you want to run a brick and mortar store or an online business, conducting market research is a must because you want to be sure you will profit from your business.
You will want to consider what your target audience wants, how to reach them best, methods used by your competitors to reach them, prices, profit margins, and anything that can help you understand your target market.
Once you have this information, you can determine your business\’s viability or adjust your plans to fit the demands of your target market.
Get a Website
If you are running a business online, you will need a website that will act as the internet version of the brick and mortar shop. Also, having a website helps build credibility.
For example, if you sell stuff on social media, having a website for your products can help build a legit reputation.
You do not have to go big on a website when starting. With a budget of around $500, you can get a basic small business website. If you are tech-savvy, you could build one for yourself and buy a domain name and hosting services.
With your website up and running, your business is now online. However, you may need to work on your website\’s SEO to get your business in front of as many eyes as possible.
Take Advantage of Free and Cheap Online Tools
Like a brick and mortar business, you will need tools to perform some tasks. If you are in a cash crunch, free and cheap online tools can be a lifesaver.
For example, an online business will generate tons of documents you need to keep. With every transaction producing documentation, you may need a tool to help organize and merge your business\’s documents.
For example, this tool by PDFSimpli can help you merge and compress a PDF file for easier organization and help stretch your storage capacity.
Integrate Social Media
Gaining a stream of clients for a start up can be slow and demoralizing, but a slow start is normal, but it should pick up with time. Social media is one of the best places to help boost your new business\’s growth in a shorter time.
According to statistics, seven in every ten Americans are on social media. You only need to identify the platforms where your target audience is and focus on them in your marketing campaigns. You can outsource social media marketing if you are not good with it. 
