As you scroll through your social media feed, you see family and friends do live selling of clothes, plants, and other knick-knacks. They make it seem so easy that you start wondering yourself: what if you start a small business online? Don’t worry; you don’t need a degree! Let me share with you 4 things you need to know when opening an online small business:

 

  • IGNORE CURRENT DATA

You think that current data is important for you to understand business. How much demand is there for your product? How many competitions do you have? Though in some cases, it’s helpful, but at most times, it just makes you counterproductive. People start businesses just because they see the current trend but they don’t have any solid business plans when entering a very competitive market. Ignore the current data, take the road less taken, and show your innovative side!

 

  • DON'T BELIEVE YOUR CUSTOMERS. BELIEVE IN THEIR ACTIONS.

One major mistake small business owners are doing is getting the market's opinion. Doing surveys on what product they will release and solely relying on the market’s response is a mistake! Why? Because customers are LIARS. They are unpredictable as they think of themselves and not your business. Today, they may say yes but tomorrow might be a no for them. So instead of believing in your customers, understand their behavior and believe their actions instead.

 

  • SELL BASE ON VISION

Have a vision or set core values early on. This is so that you have something to go back to when difficult times come along. Once you do, you can sell based on that vision: customers who buy your products are not just mere customers, but are your evangelists. Which means they support you, your brand, and your values; they won't mind even if you price high or if, eventually, you increase your price. When you sell, they don’t just support your product, but also the values you stand for.

 

  • JOIN A SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CLASS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

In universities, they always teach the technical side of doing a small business. It sounds complicated and overwhelming. But in a social media marketing class such as Kamila’s Penguin Academy, practical things are discussed – things that business owners can apply easily even if they are just starting. As I said at the start of the article, you don’t need a degree to open your small business, but it sure helps to learn from experienced mentors.

 

Opening a small business online is an overwhelming task, but with a solid foundation you’ll have sales and profit in no time. Ignore the trends that you see listen to your heart and not your customers, sell your vision, and enroll in a social media marketing class. Running a business can be so lonely but I’d like you to assure you that they are not alone in this marathon!

 

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