{"id":13740,"date":"2023-01-17T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T10:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=13740"},"modified":"2024-04-08T18:11:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T17:11:16","slug":"how-to-start-an-online-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/how-to-start-an-online-business\/","title":{"rendered":"A step by step guide on starting your own online business in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oberlo.co.uk\/blog\/online-shopping-statistics\">According to Oberlo<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>,<\/strong> more than two-thirds (63%) of customers begin their shopping journey online with up to 50% of customers globally preferring to shop on their mobile phones rather than physically in a store.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This means that no matter where the customer eventually makes their purchase, they will begin their research using the internet. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a business owner, being online is the best thing you can do. With smartphones accompanying us everywhere we go, the opportunity to shop on the net is greater than ever. People can shop on the bus, queuing for a coffee, or as soon as they wake up in the morning. There\u2019s no time a customer can\u2019t make a purchase &#8211; except perhaps in the middle of an exam or at the top of a mountain.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The great news is that anyone can start an online business. You don\u2019t even need an office to get going; <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/remote-work-resources\/\">remote working<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is becoming increasingly popular. All you need is a computer. The internet has created a wealth of opportunity, and anyone with a good idea or product and the willingness to put in the hard work can use it to their advantage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thought of starting an online business as your full-time endeavour might be daunting, but this step-by-step guide is designed to inform, enlighten, and educate. It\u2019s time to start your very own online business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Business trends to know when starting an online business<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The great thing about eCommerce is that it\u2019s easy to detect patterns and trends. Every online activity is tracked and traced &#8211; as spooky as that might sound. And knowing the current trends is important if you want to start an online business, especially if you are forming a private limited company through a<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/formation-and-company-secretarial-agents\/company-formation-agents-and-secretarial-agents\">registered agent<\/a>.<\/strong> You can identify what people like and want to see more of. Below are some of the current trends to give you some<strong> <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/small-business-ideas\/\">online business ideas<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13744 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image4-2.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a yellow armchair and a floor mat ready for upload online. \" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image4-2.jpg 1020w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image4-2-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image4-2-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image4-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ikea.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ikea.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Augmented reality (AR)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will the glasses suit you? Will the sofa fit in the corner? Will the makeup match your skin tone? AR is quickly becoming popular in retail, and its growth doesn\u2019t seem to be slowing down. It gives shoppers the chance to get a lifelike idea of how a product will look, without leaving the comfort of their own homes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Artificial Intelligence <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Yep, following the Black Mirror tone, AI is becoming increasingly popular for the retail experience. <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/the-rise-of-chatbots\/\">Chatbots<\/a> are being used to communicate with existing and potential customers, and self-checkouts are being used in <a href=\"https:\/\/mydukaan.io\/blog\/how-to-start-your-own-clothing-store\/\">online clothing stores<\/a> as well as supermarkets.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Mobile shopping<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mobile shopping is a current online trend that more and more companies are using. How does it work? It can be used to combine the online and in-store shopping experience, creating a smoother customer relationship. Many brands do it well by using an app to create rewards and show customers how to use certain products.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/advanced-sustainability-strategies-for-your-small-business\/\">Sustainability<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s cool to care about the environment. But let&#8217;s face it. Capitalism and \u202f<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/advanced-sustainability-strategies-for-your-small-business\/\">sustainability\u202fstrategies<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>don\u2019t often go hand in hand. This applies particularly to online shopping, with wasteful packaging contributing to landfill and damaging our planet. Those looking to start an online business will need to think about being eco-friendly and using <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/packhelp.co.uk\/sustainable-packaging\/\">biodegradable packaging<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to Start an Online Business in the UK<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting a business<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can feel overwhelming at first. This ultimate guide takes you from the very beginning to the very end. So, where do you start?\u202f <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Market-Research.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s right; the first step in starting an eCommerce store is conducting market research. There\u2019s no point selling something for which there\u2019s simply no demand &#8211; or which is the same as another business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13753\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image13.jpg\" alt=\"The Ultimate Guide On How to Start An Online Business-284\" width=\"837\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image13.jpg 837w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image13-300x242.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image13-640x516.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image13-768x619.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sapioresearch.com\/tutorials\/why-would-a-company-do-market-research\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sapioresearch.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what exactly is market research in the context of online businesses? Put simply, and it\u2019s an organised effort to gather information about target markets and customers. You aim to know about them, starting with who they are. Here are the top three steps of conducting market research.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. Find a niche.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding your niche is key in starting an online business. But how do you do it? Leadership team coach, Jeff Boss, says you can do it in just <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/article\/250494\">four steps<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>1. Identify the talents and skills you have: <\/b>This means being realistic and putting any judgements aside. Don\u2019t lie to yourself. Learn how to separate the things you want to be good at, from the things you actually are good at. It\u2019s important to be as honest and transparent as possible here, as your answers will shape the rest of the process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Out of the above talents and skills, what do you enjoy doing most?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to do something you love. Starting an online business is a lot of work, so pick something that you care about and can see yourself working on every day. Otherwise, what\u2019s the point?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Of those talents and skills you enjoy, what do people need?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business is all about establishing a need. Amazon established that people needed next day delivery and &#8211; huzzah! &#8211; Prime was born. Your \u201cniche\u201d should never be so \u201cniche\u201d that people don\u2019t need it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>4. From the above needs, what will people pay big money for?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, you want to make money from your online business. So, think about scalability. If one person will buy your product, will twenty? A hundred? How much will they pay? Aim for big money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<style>\r\n\t\t\t@media (min-width: 768px) {\r\n\t\t\t\t.bottom-cta .bottom-cta-img {\r\n\t\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\r\n\t\t\t\t\twidth: 50%;\r\n\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t.bottom-cta .bottom-cta-img img {\r\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t.bottom-cta {\r\n\t\t\t\tbackground: #001138;\r\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 30px;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t.bottom-cta .bottom-cta-copy {\r\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 0 30px;\r\n\t\t\t\toverflow: hidden;\r\n\t\t\t\tcolor: #fff;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t.bottom-cta .bottom-cta-copy .btn-primary {\r\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t<\/style>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"bottom-cta  CID-cta-2FdM5dTp IID-cta-69d107fb065f1\"\r\n\t\t\tdata-dl-custom-type=\"cta\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom-cta-img\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/hero-retal.jpg\" alt=\"Call to action banner\">\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom-cta-copy\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;\">Discover the benefits of cloud communications for retail<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"text-center\" style=\"display: block;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"rc-cta-shortcode btn btn-primary btn-lg\" data-dl-element=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\" style=\"margin-top: 16px; font-weight: bold;\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/industry-solutions\/retail-business-cloud-phone-systems.html\" target=\"_blank\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-dl-additional-info=\"Discover the benefits of cloud communications for retail\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-dl-name=\"Discover the benefits of cloud communications for retail | Learn more\">Learn more<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\n<h4><em><strong>b. Finding a product.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know your niche, what are you going to sell? An online business needs a product. Whether that\u2019s funky t-shirts, hiking gear, or <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/contact-centre\/products.html\">contact centre products<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>,<\/strong> you need to ensure that your offerings are good quality and appeal to a mass market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several different strategies for online business owners. Some might already have a product. In fact, your online business might result from a product you already know you want to sell. For example, an artist might want to start an eCommerce website to sell their art. In which case, you already know your product.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13762 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-22.jpg\" alt=\"A painter working on a painting outdoors before selling it online\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-22.jpg 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-22-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-22-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-22-768x512.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-22-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/yn7R3DLA-ik\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsplash.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Others might already know the area they\u2019re interested in, but they don\u2019t yet have their product. Take Eric Bandholz, for instance. He created the blog <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beardbrand.com\">Beardbrand<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to discuss business ventures. But, as time passed, he began to weave beards into the equation, and eventually created a successful eCommerce business selling beard grooming products. Did he know his product when he started the blog? Probably not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, you might have no idea what you want to sell. Here\u2019s where your market research comes in handy. Searching for keywords, for example, can help to assess what people are regularly searching for. This means that you can sell a product which is in high demand. Go one further by checking out what\u2019s trending on online marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. Tools like <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.junglescout.com\">JungleScout<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help with this, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding your product is important, but it might not necessarily be the be-all and end-all. You can always adapt your product over time. The key is to get going and research along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>c. Finding an audience<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your audience is your customers. The best thing an online business owner can do is to know their customers. While it\u2019s important to all business owners, it\u2019s crucial online. You don\u2019t communicate face-to-face, so it can be easy to feel disconnected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a good marketing strategy and online presence will help to sell your products, you don\u2019t get the chance to persuade your customers in-store. So, you need to know what they\u2019re looking for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding an audience seems tricky, but the internet is clever. It knows how to get the facts. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Linkedin, for example, are great ways to monitor activity and detect who is paying attention to your brand. Asos does this well. You can also conduct user surveys and use Google Analytics or email lists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13746 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image6-1.png\" alt=\"A screenshot of the ASOS Instagram page\" width=\"1122\" height=\"1216\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image6-1.png 1122w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image6-1-277x300.png 277w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image6-1-640x694.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image6-1-768x832.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1122px) 100vw, 1122px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@alejandrajauregui_65248\/asos-strong-presence-in-fashion-and-social-media-dfccd819afe3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medium.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, check out your leading competitors\u2019 customers and ask them questions. The more you know, the better your business will be.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Competitive analysis.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitive analysis is all about understanding your competitors and assessing their strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, you can:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify gaps in the market<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop new products and services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uncover market trends<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Market and sell more effectively<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set more competitive pricing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn the mistakes to avoid for your own website<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First things first, you need to determine who your competitors are. These can be divided into two types:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct competitors: these are businesses that offer products or services that might be considered a substitute for yours. They also operate in the same geographic area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indirect competitors: these provide different products to yours, but could satisfy the same customer need or solve the same problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13759\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image19.png\" alt=\"The Ultimate Guide On How to Start An Online Business-413\" width=\"1433\" height=\"799\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image19.png 1433w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image19-300x167.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image19-640x357.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image19-768x428.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image19-250x140.png 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1433px) 100vw, 1433px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graph from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sherpablog.marketingsherpa.com\/marketing\/competition-types-to-watch\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketingsherpa.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confused? Let\u2019s say your online business is going to sell coffee. A direct competitor would be the leading brands: Nespresso, Starbucks, Costa, etc. An indirect competitor might sell mineral water. You want to focus on your direct competitors instead of the indirect ones. How?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. Study the competition and carve out how your voice will be different.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need a different voice. There\u2019s no point starting an online business that sounds the same as your leading competitors. The key is to show some hustle, stand out, and offer customers something similar, but slightly better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentalbliss.com\">Dental Bliss<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>.<\/strong> They established that many people hate going to the dentist because it feels cold, clinical, and anxiety-inducing. So, they changed the tone and created a luxury, spa-like dental experience. Patients can enjoy refreshments while they\u2019re waiting and wear noise-cancelling headphones to eradicate the noise of dental tools. It\u2019s a unique dental experience. They found their voice and stood out from the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13757 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image17.png\" alt=\"A screen grab of an appointment booking page of a dental centre\" width=\"1999\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image17.png 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image17-300x41.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image17-640x86.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image17-768x104.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image17-1536x207.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentalbliss.com\/about-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dentalbliss.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This takes us back to that word again; \u2018niche\u2019. Being different often means being specific. It means thinking outside the box. Offering a service that no one else does.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a new business, people will be sceptical. They know that Nespresso is trustworthy and reliable, so they\u2019ll pick Nespresso over you every time if your services are the same. How can you be different from Nespresso? Funky flavours? A different target audience? Sustainability? The possibilities are endless when you identify what the market is missing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Build your brand.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well\u201d &#8211; <\/span><\/i><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/builtbytophat.com\/5-quotes-branding-can-learn\/\"><i>Jeff Bezos, Amazon<\/i><\/a><i>.\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every online business has a brand. The better the brand, the better the business. All small business owners will press the importance of building a brand. It\u2019s not something that happens by magic. It will take longer than you expect, and shouldn\u2019t be rushed. Here are six steps when building a brand:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Pick your focus and personality: <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After doing your market research and studying the competition, it\u2019s time to start thinking about your focus. Whether you\u2019re giving business advice through <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/what-is-a-webinar\/#ring-uk\">webinars<\/a> or selling hats, you need a personality. A business voice. Are you fun and young? Serious and strategic? Millennial? You need to know this before you move onto the next steps.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Choose your business name<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the name is important. It needs to be memorable. Short and sweet is usually best. Having meaning gives it an extra layer of purpose. Also, think about the domain name when choosing a legal moniker. Check out <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/allbusiness\/2016\/10\/23\/12-tips-for-naming-your-startup-business\/?sh=566a8c8904e3\">these tips<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Forbes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Write your slogan<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEvery little helps\u201d, \u201cBecause you\u2019re worth it\u201d, \u201cJust do it\u201d. Every business owner can learn from Tesco, L\u2019Oreal, and Nike because their slogans are iconic and memorable. Yours should be, too. Pick something that stands out and rolls off the tongue.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Choose the look of your brand<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All brands stick to a colour scheme. Take the leading British supermarkets. Tesco is red and blue. Asda is green. Sainsbury&#8217;s is orange. Check out your leading competitors and make sure you pick a different colour scheme, so you don\u2019t confuse customers. Your font should be consistent across brand messaging, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Design your logo<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every brand needs a great logo. Pick something that stands out, is easy to read, and draws attention to your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Apply your branding across your business<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s time to be consistent. Your branding needs to go everywhere. It should all match. This means putting it on your website, any leaflets, on email campaigns, and so on. Get your name out there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13748\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image8.png\" alt=\"The Ultimate Guide On How to Start An Online Business-125\" width=\"1999\" height=\"838\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image8.png 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image8-300x126.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image8-640x268.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image8-768x322.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image8-1536x644.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/arkafrica.com\/article\/uk-supermarket-brands\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arkafrica.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Create a business plan.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s face it; Jeff Bezos didn\u2019t wing it. All businesses start with a good plan. Creating a sturdy, fool-proof business plan is a great skill. You will need all the tools and equipment available, from financial software to <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgdlondon.com\/collections\/new-in\/products\/project-planner\">journals<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>,<\/strong> to advisors. But how do you create a business plan?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. Look for investors to finance your business start-up\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you might be able to start your online business with just your computer, a little financial leverage always helps. Even online, startup costs can rack up quickly. Looking for investors can be a great way to start up your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, the chances of receiving a call from a generous benefactor are pretty slim. You need to know how to attract investors yourself. You can do so by using:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Government-backed business grants and loans: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are disbursed to small business start-ups and existing businesses by the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/apply-start-up-loan\"> UK government<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the various county councils. Different county councils such as<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.gov.uk\/business\/business-loans-and-funding\"> Kent<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/economy\/business-support\/current-business-support-projects\/\"> Devon<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.warwickshire.gov.uk\/homepage\/360\/finance-loans-and-grants\"> Warwick<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have business and start-up financing programs targeting diverse sectors based on their economic goals.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Online fundraising platforms:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowdfunder.co.uk\/\"><strong>Crowdfunder<\/strong> <\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiegogo.com\">Indiegogo<\/a><\/strong><b><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Email: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reach out to an investor through a simple email<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Hosting events: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">concerts, talks, and even events such as online courses and webinars will raise your profile<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Blog: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it\u2019s all about navigating traffic<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><strong>Social media:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">posting regularly will attract attention<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Accelerator programs:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">these often have open invitations for applications from serious entrepreneurs\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><em><strong>b. Register your business with the relevant UK authorities <\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your firm, whether big or small, must be registered in order to remain compliant with the relevant laws.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before registering your business,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you need to know about online business laws. There are a lot of them. Some of the things you\u2019ll need to know about include: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taxes- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your business registered with the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/hm-revenue-customs\"> HMRC<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to enable you to pay taxes?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shipping restrictions-<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the shipping restrictions for the goods you will be shipping as per the health and safety laws? What information do you need to disclose to the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/national-clearance-hub-for-goods-entering-leaving-or-transiting-the-eu\"> National Clearance Hub<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when shipping goods in and out of the United Kingdom?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business insurance- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What insurance covers do you require for your businesses and the type of goods you will be shipping?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trademarks and copyrights- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your product patented and could you be selling a product patented by someone else unknowingly?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inventory- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What rules on inventory production and storage are you required to be compliant with?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payment gateways-<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your business registered with the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psr.org.uk\/\"> Payment systems Regulator<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to allow them to regulate your payments?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age restrictions-<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the age restrictions for the kind of products you will be selling to customers?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Licenses and permits- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/licence-finder\"> permits<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> do you require from the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.local.gov.uk\/our-support\/guidance-and-resources\/communications-support\/digital-councils\/social-media\/go-further\/a-z-councils-online\"> local council<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and relevant regulatory bodies in order to be allowed to trade?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brush up on the facts and make sure you aren\u2019t breaking any laws when you start selling. It\u2019s not worth risking your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13750 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image10.jpg\" alt=\"Business documents including a tax return form\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1335\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image10.jpg 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image10-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image10-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image10-768x513.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image10-1536x1026.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/5616whx5NdQ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from Unsplash.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>c. Test your ideas.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good business plan always involves testing ideas. This phase is key to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">starting a successful online business<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as you don\u2019t want to invest a lot of money and time into a product without assessing whether it\u2019s something that people are interested in.\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In their book, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.co.uk\/books\/about\/Testing_Business_Ideas.html?id=8smxDwAAQBAJ&amp;source=kp_book_description&amp;redir_esc=y\"><i>Testing Business Ideas: A Field Guide for Rapid Experimentatio<\/i>n<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>,<\/strong> Alexander Osterwalder and David J. Bland established that 7 out of 10 new products fail to deliver on expectations. Their book gives helpful advice for new business owners and contains a library of hands-on techniques for rapidly testing new business ideas. It aims to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase the success of any venture and decrease the risk of wasting time, money, and resources on bad ideas;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Close the knowledge gap between strategy and experimentation\/validation; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify and test your key business assumptions with the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a new online business owner, it\u2019s a valuable read that will teach you more about the importance of testing your ideas and the best methods to use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13751 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image11.jpg\" alt=\" A graphical illustration of how to test business ideas Image from\u202fAmazon.com \" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Testing-Business-Ideas-David-Bland\/dp\/1119551447\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Start sourcing materials to create your products.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selling can be difficult, and <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/empathetic-selling-how-to-prospect-during-a-pandemic\/#ring-uk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">empathetic selling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is more important now than ever. But how do you get the products to sell?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s time to source your products. Put simply, this the process by which a business attains a product to sell. There are a variety of methods by which sellers source their products, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Wholesale: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to sell products in large quantities at low prices (i.e. most retail stores and supermarkets).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Dropshipping<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: the seller accepts customer orders but does not keep goods sold in stock.<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><strong>Print on demand<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">individual copies or small numbers of a product are printed to order, typically using digital technology (this is often how prints work via art sites such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Etsy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Custom manufactured:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a unique product is designed or engineered to order for a single customer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three primary sourcing options to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>DIY products or services: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this is the option for those creating their own products. I.e., an artist setting up an online business to promote and sell their own creations. You don\u2019t need to product source because you\u2019re creating the products yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Work with a manufacturer or wholesaler:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this is the most popular option for most successful online businesses. It means you\u2019re hiring a partner to develop your products. It involves creating a business relationship with your supplier.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Hire a drop shipper:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this allows you to purchase from a vendor and sell their products on your store. The vendor charges you for the product, but ships on your behalf. It\u2019s a great option for a simple process. However, it means that you\u2019ll have more competition as you aren\u2019t selling original or unique products. Customers can always buy them elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you\u2019re looking to work with a manufacturer, wholesaler, or drop shipper, how do you find suppliers?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. How to find suppliers.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding suppliers for your online business isn\u2019t as difficult as it may seem. You have the internet at your disposal, after all. But, more specifically, here are the most efficient ways to find suppliers:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Directories<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: there are lots of free online directories that function to help businesses connect. <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thomasnet.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thomasnet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great domestic directory, whereas <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiamart.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indiamart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is popular for overseas suppliers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Google: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this one hardly needs explaining. However, many suppliers haven\u2019t kept up with Google algorithms, meaning you\u2019ll have to search wisely. Try using a variety of search terms and familiarise yourself with Google shortcuts. There may be some great suppliers hiding on page two of your Google search, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><strong>Local library:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">going to your local library might seem old-fashioned, but many pay monthly subscription fees for online business and manufacturer directories that you normally wouldn&#8217;t have access to &#8211; certainly not for free. So, it\u2019s worth checking.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Referrals:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you\u2019d ask for a recommendation for a hairdresser or lawyer. Business is no different. Like everything in life, the best leads will come from referrals. So, go to networking events, connect online, and make business connections. People are often willing to share their contacts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><em><strong>b. Setting up a shipping plan.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13754 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image14.png\" alt=\"A shipping page of an eCommerce-enabled website\" width=\"665\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image14.png 665w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image14-300x91.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image14-640x194.png 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sellercentral.amazon.com\/forums\/t\/difference-between-shipment-shipment-plans\/427304\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sellercentral.amazon.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know where your products are coming from, you\u2019ll need to think about shipping. Yikes. It can feel complex. From packaging to postage costs and visits to the post office, shipping is often one of the most complex areas of online business. How can you make it simpler?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A shipping plan is important in ensuring that your business runs smoothly. It reduces the risk of items being sent to the wrong place or running out of time to ship. Confused about costs? Here are some of the options:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Free shipping:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> everyone loves free shipping. From Amazon Prime to Asos next day delivery, free delivery gives customers the incentive to buy and makes the purchase feel less risky. Not all businesses want to use free shipping, but there\u2019s an easy way. Just include shipping prices in your product prices. Simply find out the delivery cost and add it on.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Exact shipping costs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">calculate the shipping costs depending on size and weight using the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalmail.com\/price-finder\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Royal Mail price finder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and then display the cost to your customers at checkout. This can be an effective way to reduce costs for new businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Flat rate shipping:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most bigger businesses offer the same price of shipping for any item, no matter the size. Delivery of a coat will be the same as a t-shirt or accessory. Calculating a flat rate can be difficult, and you don\u2019t want to lose money. So, consider your average shipping cost and make sure you meet a happy medium.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shipping is an important part of your business, and it can determine whether a customer purchases from you again. Fast, cheap, and simple shipping is the key to <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/customer-retention-strategies-your-guide-to-the-art-of-keeping-your-customers-coming-back\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">customer retention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so don\u2019t underestimate your shipping strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. <b>Register your business on an ecommerce platform<\/b><b>. <\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An eCommerce platform is a software application that allows online businesses to manage their website, marketing, sales, and operations. All online business owners will need to find an eCommerce platform for their products. Here are some of the most popular eCommerce platforms to choose from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. Shopify.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13761 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image21.png\" alt=\"A screen grab of the \u2018Market your business\u2019 page on Shopify. \" width=\"1999\" height=\"1018\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image21.png 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image21-300x153.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image21-640x326.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image21-768x391.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image21-1536x782.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopify.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arguably, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopify.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the best platform at selling. It\u2019s great for dropshipping and relying on social media marketing. It\u2019s easy to get set up, and you can get selling extremely quickly. It can be great for scaling your business, and they have a large community of independent developers and experts ready to help you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some people criticise Shopify for the costs. It has a minimal amount of free designs and templates, meaning that it can be difficult to create an original looking store. It also doesn\u2019t do the best for SEO performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify has a mobile app which means you can keep an eye on sales on the go. Here\u2019s what customers on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.shopify.mobile&amp;gl=GB&amp;showAllReviews=true\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Play<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> store had to say about it:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Absolutely Love the Shopify app, does exactly what I need it to do, and does it well &#8211;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Travis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I chose Shopify for my business and wasn\u2019t sure if I was going to like it after being with another carrier for years. Still, honestly, the mobile functionality was the tiebreaker for me! I can do so much from my phone, allowing me to keep up with trends<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Roberta I.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fantastic App. You always know how your business is doing at your fingertips &#8211; <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tori.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>b. Magento.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13743 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image3-3.png\" alt=\"A screengrab of the eCommerce page on Magento\" width=\"1999\" height=\"835\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image3-3.png 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image3-3-300x125.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image3-3-640x267.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image3-3-768x321.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image3-3-1536x642.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/magento.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magento.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magento.com\">Magento<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is used by large brands like Nike and Procter &amp; Gamble. It\u2019s a great choice if you have plenty of money to spend, as coding is included in the package. Unlike Shopify, Magento allows for lots of creativity in web design. You can play around for hours, creating the store that you want.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also creates a community around buying, with a marketplace and one-click selling apps available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what are the drawbacks? While Magento offers a free basic service, the themes can become pretty pricey, and you need developer skills to get the full benefits of the platform. Its app also has some mixed <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.magapp.main&amp;gl=GB&amp;showAllReviews=true\">reviews<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Really useful. Highly recommended &#8211; <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kuldeep S.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Really Good App! Highly recommended. 5+<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Lana E.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doesn&#8217;t seem to work at all on Android? <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Misha S.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>c. Wix.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13760 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image20.png\" alt=\"A screen grab of the \u2018create your page\u2019 page on Wix\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1037\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image20.png 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image20-300x156.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image20-640x332.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image20-768x398.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image20-1536x797.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wix.com\/ecommerce\/website\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wix.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You probably know of Wix as a website builder. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wix.com\/mystunningwebsites\/ecom-onlinestore?utm_medium=paid_referral&amp;experiment_id=cake_73516631%5E88\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wix Ecommerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is rapidly growing and is becoming one of the leading competitors. It has tonnes of free designs and themes, making it a popular choice for those starting on a tight budget (a whopping 72 in comparison to ten on Shopify).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it was previously a straightforward platform, it now offers multi-channel integration, abandoned cart recovery, dropship, and print on demand capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Shopify, however, Wix eCommerce isn\u2019t great for SEO. While improvements have been made, it still doesn\u2019t help businesses to perform as well as possible. There is also a bit of a storage issue, as the storage space is 20GB which may not be big enough for some businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.wix.android&amp;gl=GB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">customers had to say about it<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The app is excellent, but it lacks many important features, such as making tasks or linking elements to other apps. Add more things to the free plan &#8211; <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pritam S.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was so smooth. Really loved it. Wix is perfect; you don&#8217;t need to learn coding to make it happen. It is quite intimidating in the beginning, but it gets easier and easier. The concept is perfect <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Agrima G.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experience with this app is so bad for me. I can&#8217;t upload anything after two posts. I can&#8217;t have any help or access. Sorry but it needs development<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Sowmya A.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong><em>d. BigCommerce.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13749 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image9.png\" alt=\"A screengrab of the \u2018build your business page\u2019 on Big commerce\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1077\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image9.png 1999w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image9-300x162.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image9-640x345.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image9-768x414.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image9-1536x828.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcommerce.co.uk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bigcommerce.co.uk<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BigCommerce is another leading eCommerce platform and often voted the one with the overall best performance. It has a robust search engine, making it ideal for bigger businesses. It\u2019s also great for businesses that are a little more niche, as it allows for specific searching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcommerce.co.uk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BigCommerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because you don\u2019t need to know how to code, unlike Magento. However, if you are tech-savvy and want to do some fiddling, the option to tweak the HTML and CSS is available. It\u2019s also pretty cheap for the entry plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what\u2019s the catch? BigCommerce can become expensive when you want to sell at a high volume. The entry plan also lacks some key features, such as 1-click selling and cart abandonment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.bigcommerce.mobile&amp;gl=GB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reviews<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> said about the app:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great app. The only downside is you can&#8217;t easily search the products to change inventory levels. Hopefully, they fix this issue<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Jeffrey M.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So far, my switch from Shopify to BC has been great. Support is A1&#8230; The app, though&#8230; Well, it notifies you when you get orders, and they&#8217;re pretty straight forward&#8230;Other than that, the app is pretty basic<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Carlos S.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;m grateful they dropped an app for this platform. Great for managing orders, accounts, products, and you get your charts right in front of you!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Tom L<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Create your marketing plan.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBusiness has only two functions \u2014 marketing and innovation\u201d <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/2006\/06\/30\/jack-trout-on-marketing-cx_jt_0703drucker.html?sh=5f5a077c555c\">Peter Drucker<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing is all about\u202f<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/11-captivating-ways-to-engage-customers-through-your-404-pages\/#ring-uk\">engaging customers<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>.<\/strong> This means it\u2019s potentially the most important part of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">starting any successful business<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Without a marketing plan, no one will find your products.\u202f <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, products don\u2019t sell themselves, no matter how great they are. You can\u2019t leave sales up to chance. You need to explore avenues that may include content marketing, affiliate marketing, and other examples of digital marketing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing is all about giving people a nudge in the right direction. People are searching for products like yours &#8211; so a good marketing strategy gets your products at the top of the search page. It\u2019s why Amazon always comes up as the first option when you search for a product. Amazon does marketing well, and by doing so, it has become the leading marketplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s a mini-guide on creating a marketing plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. Optimising web-page.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All smart business owners optimise their web-page. This is the process of using tools, advanced strategies, and experiments to improve the performance of your website. Thus further driving more traffic, increasing conversions, and growing revenue. Essentially, it means getting more eyes on your pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, how do you optimise a web-page? These are the top basic steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Analyse your website data: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you can\u2019t start optimising until you know more about the way people are behaving on your web-page. How have they got there? How long are they spending on it? What are they clicking on? Knowing this helps to tailor your method and use data-based findings to see tangible results. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Conduct thorough keyword research:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">everyone\u2019s always talking about keywords. But the fact is that they really help. SEO relies heavily on keyword research. Use tools like \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/keyword\">Backlinko&#8217;s keyword tool<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0to help find keywords related to your business niche.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Create top-quality content:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attract people to your page by writing interesting, educational, and engaging pieces of content. The longer the post, the better it performs, too. This will help with your rankings and direct more traffic to your page.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Optimise for on-page SEO:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> SEO is all about knowing where to put the right words. Think about headlines, subheadings, URL slugs, and meta tags, and sprinkle your keywords throughout. Don\u2019t keyword-stuff else people will quickly grow tired of your content.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Optimise for off-site SEO: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">off-site SEO refers to all your other pages that aren\u2019t your web-pages, such as your social media profiles, guest blogs, and influencer marketing. These can improve your site\u2019s SEO, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><strong>Optimise the website for mobile:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">everyone\u2019s using a phone these days. People want to be able to see a web-page clearly when using a phone, instead of having to zoom in and out on a page that has clearly only been built for a computer. Make it as user-friendly as possible to drive mobile sales.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Speed up the pages:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no one wants to use a slow, clunky website. A lead will quickly get bored and click back instead of going onto the page. Ensure that your pages are as quick as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Get quality backlinks:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when a high-quality site links back to yours, Google sees that as a sign of your credibility, and ranks you higher. The more relevant and authoritative backlinks you have, the better you rank. So, make some worthy contacts and try to get them to feature you in a post. It\u2019s tit for tat &#8211; if you can show that you\u2019ve backlinked them, they may do the same for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><em><strong>b. Quick guide to email marketing.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><strong><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/breaking-dependence-email-retail\/\">Is email dead<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>?<\/strong> Some think it could be heading that way. With inboxes quickly getting clogged up, most emails only get a quick skim read.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13756 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image16.png\" alt=\"Data from Marketing Sherpa on the various medium\u2019s of marketing such as email, TV and their reach based on respondents.\" width=\"603\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image16.png 603w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image16-300x266.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 603px) 100vw, 603px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graph from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketingsherpa.com\/article\/case-study\/customer-communication-by-channel\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marketingsherpa.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, at least <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/optinmonster.com\/is-email-marketing-dead-heres-what-the-statistics-show\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">99% of consumers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> check their email daily, which means that it isn\u2019t time to arrange the funeral just yet. A successful email campaign can easily boost your business and generate more sales. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s a quick guide to email marketing:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Create a targeted list.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who is your email going to? Any great email campaign starts with an email list full of qualified leads that are interested in what you have to offer. This might be people who have engaged with your site but haven\u2019t made a purchase, have asked questions, or have signed up to your newsletter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Know your audience.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A great email campaign works for its audience. Gather data from Google Analytics and your social media pages to understand your target market. This means you can create an email campaign that appeals to the right people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Create great opt-ins.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously, you need people to sign up to receive your great email campaign. How? Create great opt-ins. Experiment with different types of opt-in forms on different parts of your site, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Welcome gates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: these appear as soon as people arrive on your site.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Lightbox popups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: these can appear on any page and temporarily blank out the rest of the content to focus on the opt-in. They have great conversion rates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Exit-intent popups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: these appear when people are about to leave the site.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Plan follow-ups.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow-ups are the meat of the campaign. You need to create a schedule for your emails. But don\u2019t overwhelm your subscribers by emailing too often. You\u2019ll need to get some good planning software. There\u2019s a great variety of choice, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/asana.com\/?noredirect&amp;utm_expid=.fVAHSgvXTTqlbeZhKBu2uw.0&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fasana.com%2Ftemplates%2Ffor%2Fmarketing%2Fcampaign-management\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asana<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchimp.com\/?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;ds_rl=1276838&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WNDzBX-LLsGpTM_TNGayTCMUUKJrF_6I8xJWHIZGUjxJvUwCTfomrsFRoCWo8QAvD_BwE\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mailchimp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Craft your subject line.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hey you! Have you received emails like this before?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Email campaigns with enticing subject lines always work best. Some might use your name or try to draw you in with a question or bold statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The subject line is important because it\u2019s the first thing your recipient will see. It determines whether they open the email or delete it immediately. If the subject line is boring or bland, chances are they won\u2019t open it. So, take the time to plan fun, exciting, and intriguing subject lines to get people clicking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13758 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image18.png\" alt=\"A screen grab of a good copy email subject for email marketing\" width=\"1474\" height=\"78\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image18.png 1474w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image18-300x16.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image18-640x34.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image18-768x41.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1474px) 100vw, 1474px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13742 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image2-3.png\" alt=\"A screen grab of a good copy email subject for email marketing\" width=\"1552\" height=\"70\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image2-3.png 1552w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image2-3-300x14.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image2-3-640x29.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image2-3-768x35.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image2-3-1536x69.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1552px) 100vw, 1552px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13752 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image12.png\" alt=\"A screen grab of a good copy email subject for email marketing\" width=\"1558\" height=\"76\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image12.png 1558w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image12-300x15.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image12-640x31.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image12-768x37.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image12-1536x75.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1558px) 100vw, 1558px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Write great copy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The quality of your email copy is important. It should be well written, clear, and informative. Typos and grammatical errors undermine your business. If you\u2019re not confident in your writing skills, try <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelanceuk.com\/become\/guide-hiring-freelancers.shtml\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hiring a freelancer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>c. Social media marketing.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/social-media-best-practices-businesses\/#ring-uk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is where it\u2019s at &#8211; especially if your target audience is young. Millennials are the social media generation, with most having Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For an even younger target audience, you might want to try using Snapchat and TikTok. But how do you use social media for marketing?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s pretty straightforward. Create short-form visual content &#8211; especially on Instagram. Post regular and often. Use hashtags. Gifs and memes perform well, especially when they\u2019re funny. Make sure your social media content matches your brand. Selling fun products and blogging with a tongue-in-cheek style? Have some jokes on your social pages, too. Selling fitness gear? Keep your page motivational.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should also reach out to influencers. The clothing brand, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lucyandyak.com\/pages\/pr-and-collaborations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lucy and Yak<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is a great example of a small business that started online and regularly collaborated with like-minded ethical influencers. They host yoga videos, painting groups, and other organisations on their Instagram page, all wearing their classic branded dungarees. This creates a buzz around their products through a community of influencers, artists, and creatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13747 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image7.jpg\" alt=\"Influencers in Dungaree pants posing for a photo\" width=\"1565\" height=\"1999\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image7.jpg 1565w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image7-235x300.jpg 235w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image7-640x817.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image7-768x981.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image7-1203x1536.jpg 1203w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1565px) 100vw, 1565px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lucyandyak.com\/blogs\/news\/lucy-yak-slumber-party-come-and-model-for-us\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LucyandYak.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>8. Roll-out your online store.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, it\u2019s finally time to roll-out your online store. This is a big moment, and you want it to go well. While there are plenty of things to consider, don\u2019t forget that you can continue tweaking even after you\u2019ve rolled-out your online store. The key is to get things moving and start making sales.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><strong>a. Some tips when launching.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few tips and things to check over before the big launch:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Add your chosen sales channels: <\/b>don\u2019t forget that you can add other channels to your chosen eCommerce platform. This might be Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Pinterest, etc.<\/li>\n<li><b>Review your checkout experience:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you don\u2019t want customers to get to your online store and get <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-customer-journey-mistakes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blocked from making a purchase<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> somewhere. Double-check everything beforehand, and make sure it all runs smoothly. This includes checking discount codes work, shipping rates are calculated, and an email notification is sent to confirm the purchase as well as ensuring customers can buy with a credit card, e-wallet, and any other way they may desire.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Add a custom domain: <\/b>creating a custom domain takes seconds, but it really makes a difference. It simply makes your business easier to find. Normally, it\u2019s the name of the site (Facebook) followed by .com (Facebook.com).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Optimise all images:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">there we have it again: optimisation. What do optimising images mean? It\u2019s simple &#8211; it just means that they work with your site and load quickly. Keep them small, choose the right file type, and don\u2019t forget about thumbnails.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>9. Scaling your business.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGrowth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/grow-for-growing-companies\/23-inspiring-quotes-for-growing-your-business-in-2016-8e21c8ed9ef2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">James Cash Penney<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, founder JCPenney.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13755 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image15.png\" alt=\"Graphs showing how to track if your business is on the right growth track\" width=\"1256\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image15.png 1256w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image15-300x127.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image15-640x271.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-start-an-online-business-image15-768x325.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1256px) 100vw, 1256px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graph from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smartbusinessmodeler.com\/the-magic-of-the-scalable-business-model-growth-vs-scaling\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">smartbusinessmodeler.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All business owners want to make the most out of their business and see it become as successful as possible. A <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/best-crm-software-for-small-businesses-and-startups\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">small business<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> might not always stay small. After you\u2019ve seen some success for your online business, it might be time to think about scaling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scaling an online business can be difficult. Business owners often find that after they have decided to start an online business, it gets limited success fairly swiftly. But becoming bigger is harder. You\u2019ll start to compete with bigger brands and people expect more sophisticated services. A small business might get away with a mistake with shipping, but a big business will be criticised &#8211; and fast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scaling an online business is all about planning and setting goals. For example, you should:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think about what you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">want<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to become, not what you are<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you\u2019re ready for growth. Is your business performing well enough?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn from competitors who have recently grown in a way that you aspire to<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hire highly <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/business-benefits-highly-engaged-employees\/#ring-uk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">engaged employees<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who want the business to succeed as much as you do<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seek the advice of experts when needed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve already created a small business that\u2019s doing well, scaling shouldn\u2019t be too difficult. However, you will need to anticipate hurdles and have a great plan in place to predict any shortcomings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wanting to start an online business is admirable. You\u2019ve seen that the internet holds thousands of opportunities, and you are using the tools available to create a business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While starting an online business can have its challenges, it\u2019s all about planning, perseverance, and positivity. Many people have done it before. Why can\u2019t you? By following this guide and keeping your eye on the ball, you will undoubtedly see results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicate seamlessly in your business with the RingCentral all-in-one business communication plan specially<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/solutions\/startups.html\"> created for business start-ups<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;\">Get details on the security and trust built into RingCentral products and services.<\/span><span class=\"text-center\" style=\"display: block;\" data-dtm-element=\"button\" data-dtm-context=\"bottom-cta\" data-dtm-additional-info=\"Get the guide\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\" style=\"margin-top: 16px; font-weight: bold;\" title=\"Read the eBook\" href=\"https:\/\/netstorage.ringcentral.com\/uk\/documents\/cloud_communications_and_collaboration.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-dtm-name=\"Bottom CTA\">Download the white paper<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to Oberlo, more than two-thirds (63%) of customers begin their shopping journey online with up to 50% of customers globally preferring to shop on their mobile phones rather than &hellip; <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/how-to-start-an-online-business\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;A step by step guide on starting your own online business in the UK&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":244,"featured_media":16815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-content-hub.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to start and register your online business start-up | RingCentral UK Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to start a small business in the UK? Read through for a comprehensive step to step guide on how to start and register your own online business\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/how-to-start-an-online-business\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"RingCentral Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"32 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to start and register your online business start-up | RingCentral UK Blog","description":"Looking to start a small business in the UK? 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