5 Steps To Start And Grow Your Online Business Empire

One of the questions we get asked quite often is about how to start an online business. During the pandemic, with everyone locked in for safety reasons, remote work became a great way to earn income. There is an increase in online working opportunities during the pandemic.

Businesses were forced to either expand or pivot online. In fact, individuals facing unemployment or reduced income had to seek options in online work to gain new revenue. If you don’t have the tools in your backpack of knowing how to earn online, then you are missing out.

Here are five steps to move into the online business arena.

Passion
Find out what you’re passionate about. Do you like to write? Is talking to others your thing? Or do you have a knack for I.T. based tasks? There is a space online to market those skills and profit from them.

Wordsmiths can become press release writers, transcribers, article writers, proofreaders, editors, and copywriters. Those with the gift of gab can become voice-over artistes, and even set up sessions to talk to others as a friend. I.T. aficionados can do web and graphic design, data entry tasks, online coding, and data analysis. Getting the gist now?

Even if you don’t know what your skill/talent may be, we can assist you to explore them. Check out our set of online business courses that can fine-tune your interests and skills.

Platform
Secondly, you have to explore what platform to use online to let people know about your skills and offers.

Some of our favorite places are Fiverr, UpWork and Freelancer. We’ve seen a tremendous number of our students use these freelancing sites to great benefit. Starting out with just a dream and determination to forming great online businesses.

Payment
Thirdly, know before-hand about how you will be paid through your online efforts. Our Jamaican and Caribbean students utilize Payoneer mainly. It allows people to receive funds from anywhere. You can then transfer to your local bank account, withdraw from an ATM, or use it at a Point Of Sale machine.

However if you have access and can withdraw back to an US account, you can always try other systems such as Paypal and Stripe.

Watch the video from our CEO, Alicia Lyttle, on our Digital Entrepreneur Series entitled “How To Make Money Working Online” that ties together these first three steps!

Promote
Once you are settled on your offers and where to showcase them, it’s always best to promote them. Some of the platforms, especially Fiverr, do their own promotion and the online freelancer spaces are always heavily trafficked. However, ensure you let others know you are open for business. Send out emails, WhatsApp messages, and post on Social Media to let people know.

You can decide to join online groups, such as Facebook groups, online forums, and Clubhouse rooms to expand your engagement with others in similar fields and those who may need your services.  

Position

There will come a time that you will need to pivot your business for expansion At this point, you may consider building a personal website, booking speaking and podcast engagements, and also exploring offline marketing.

Additionally, you will need to take on employees or contractors to assist you with your tasks. There is only so much you can do by yourself once the business starts to acquire consistent clientele. Outsource to those on the same freelancing sites you started on and continue to improve on your space in the market.

Note: You will take some time to pick up consistent business. That’s how it always happens. Therefore, don’t be fazed by small beginnings. Every entrepreneur and business owner before you had to start somewhere to get where they are now.

If you need more tips on starting up an online business, please do stay tuned to this blog and watch previous videos on making money online on our Youtube channel.

Need to find out more about IIJ courses? Please book an appointment with one of our agents here: fb.com/alicialyttlejamaica