It's no secret that starting a profitable online business is tough. There are so many variables that you need to consider before even getting started. And then, once you do, there are even more factors and decisions you'll need to make along the way. But if done right, it can be an enriching experience! This post will go over nine things you should do to get your business off the ground and running successfully.

Research Your Industry

Industry research is key to success. You can't just jump into a business without knowing the ins and outs of what you're getting yourself into. So google your industry, read articles written by competitors or those that are complementary about it - do whatever you need to become an expert before diving all-in on starting up a company related to this space. This will help guide everything from your product development process (or service offering) and build connections with other businesses, mentors, and potential customers for future collaborations down the line!

Come Up With a Business Idea

This is likely the most challenging step for many people, but it's also the most important. First, you need to have an idea that you're passionate about and can see yourself working on every day. It doesn't have to be something new and revolutionary; plenty of businesses succeed by simply improving on an existing model or offering a unique spin on things. But whatever you decide to go with, make sure you put in the time to validate your idea first - this means getting feedback from potential customers and doing your research to make sure there's a market for what you want to offer.

Invest in a Reliable Computer

If you're running a business out of your home, investing in a good laptop is essential. Your computer will become the most critical tool in your arsenal and something that needs to work reliably without any issues or downtime. If you've been thinking about upgrading from an older model anyway - now might be a perfect time! MacBooks are built specifically for people who need computers when on the go but still want high-performance capabilities with significant design elements at their fingertips. Plus, they make excellent devices for working from anywhere, thanks to their sleek nature and lightweight builds! And when you ever experience any bluetooth connectivity problems, learn more and get it sorted out right away. The better connected you are, the more productive you’ll become over time. 

Create a Website and Storefront

This is where most people get hung up on when starting a business. It's not easy at all! A website can be extremely time-consuming to build. Still, fortunately, they are becoming more and more accessible every day thanks to the growing popularity of platforms like WordPress that make setting one up incredibly simple for even non-tech savvy folks. For creating an online store, you'll need something special - Shopify makes this process relatively easy in contrast though by giving anyone with no experience or tech knowledge complete control over how their storefront looks without ever having to touch any code themselves.

Set Up Merchant Accounts

If you're selling any goods or services online, then you'll need to set up a merchant account for accepting payments. These accounts make it easy and secure for customers to buy from your website without having to send you a check in the mail with their personal information written on it! Plus, they ensure that all payment transactions are processed quickly, so no one is waiting around with bated breath wondering if their money was sent successfully. You can apply with companies like Stripe or PayPal directly - both have free signup processes as well as great reputations within the industry, meaning people will trust them more when shopping at your store, which means better conversion rates overall.

Develop a Marketing Plan

Even if you have the best product or service in the world, it won't matter if no one knows about it. Creating and executing a marketing plan is essential for any business - especially when starting. This means establishing what channels you'll be using to reach your target audience, what kind of messages you'll be using, as well as how often you'll be putting out new content (or advertising). Much of this will depend on your budget constraints, but there are always low-cost options available like social media ads or email marketing which can still produce great results when done correctly!

Start Producing Content

Once you've got your store up and running, it's time to start producing content that will drive more customers towards your business. This could be blog posts, tutorials, videos - whatever works best for what you're trying to accomplish! The key here is to create precious information that people are interested in seeing/reading which means attracting the right kind of attention from all angles. People have become accustomed to being 'sold' things online, so it doesn't work as well anymore, but sharing valuable insights on a subject or industry can go much further than someone who looks at their website 24/74 times every day spamming everyone with sales pitches over and over again.

Establish Authority and Build Trust

The more people trust you, the better your chances of selling them something. This can be done by sharing helpful information regularly. Still, it also means being an authority figure in your industry so potential customers know that they should listen to what you have to say and even ask for advice if needed! Try creating a weekly newsletter or video series to notify all subscribers whenever new content is published. They'll then feel obligated to check out whatever has been added, which could lead to converting into future sales as well.

Generate Leads & Sales

Sales are dramatically increased when you can draw people in with quality content and convert them into leads for your business. This is achieved by using tools like pop-ups, lead magnets (free downloads), or even doing webinars where someone could sign up to watch one life before it's archived on-demand afterward. The more information collected about who these potential customers are, the better because this will help inform your marketing plan moving forward, which means any future ads targeted towards their demographic should be much more effective!

Bottom line

Starting and running an online business isn't as difficult as it may seem - especially if you follow these nine essential steps! Not only will they help get your business off the ground, but they'll also keep it running smoothly so you can focus on what's important - making money!