Tips for Building a Successful Online Business

1. Be Authentic

Your business is an extension of you, no matter how big or small it is at the present time. It will succeed or fail by how others perceive your brand, and ultimately how they feel about doing business with you. All aspects of your business (customer service, product creation, back office) should respect your values.

Ensure all communication and advertising is accurate and not misleading.

2. Over Deliver

Set benchmarks for yourself with your products and services, and try to exceed them, simple as that!

3. Focus on Serving, Not Selling

Remember the purpose of a customer is not to make a sale, rather the purpose of a sale is to get a customer. Make their first purchasing experience with you a great one and they'll continue to buy your products over and over again increasing the lifetime value of your customers and maximizing your revenue.

4. Meet Your Customers Where They Are

Thanks in large part to social media, the world is transitioning from a corporate-dominated, sales-based economy to a trust-based economy. In the past, dominant companies could count on “blind” brand loyalty from customers to guarantee steady profits, even if their products and post-sales service were severely lacking.

5. Build Lasting Relationships

Running a business is not only building customer relationships but also your network. It so easy to forget the people who gave you advice, introduced you to key suppliers, or simply served as a sounding board for your crazy ideas. Quite frankly, many of them wouldn’t take it personally that you are not contacting them anymore. They know that you are busy and have time-consuming obligations.