The last year has been a challenging one for many businesses. Brick and mortar businesses, in particular, are struggling, and entire industries have been affected by the events of the last year.
Businesses that can move their operations 100% online are doing just that. The online world is a safer place to be currently, and there is so much potential.
Being an Entrepreneur puts you in charge of your future, but it requires vision and it brings responsibilities that you might not have had before, so, it’s fair to say that starting your own business is not for everybody. However, if you are a motivated self-starter with the ability to keep your eye on the big picture of your whole business, jumping intro enrepreneurship might be a great option!
If you think that online Entrepreneurship would suit your skill set, then let’s look at 5 reasons why you should jump in right now.
1. Ecommerce for all
Running an ecommerce store is now easier than it used to be. If you had tried this 15 years ago, you might have been overwhelmed by needing a web developer to build your store. It used to be complex to handle payments and stock with the sort of online capabilities we had back then.
In recent years, ecommerce has been made truly accessible with the creation of ecommerce platforms. For DIYers, there are great services out there, such as Shopify and Etsy that allow members to create their own store with very little set up for the store owner.
For ecommerce websites that are looking for a more personalized approach or that require customized feature, WooCommerce is a great option that can be integrated directly on your website. Integrating with email automation services such as Drip.com or Mailchimp is a powerful way to ensure that you are not leaving money on the table.
Then it’s time to brand your store, add your product details and then promote.
2. You can be proud of your brand
Have you ever worked for a company that made you feel uncomfortable with who they were and what they represented? Or maybe that job didn’t feel like it had much purpose or room for growth.
According to a recent global survey by Gallup, only 15% of people feel truly engaged with their employed work.
If you care about values and customer service, then online Entrepreneurship allows you to create a brand that you would actually buy from yourself. You can feel proud about what you represent.
There are so many elements to this, from setting your own terms of service for the clients you serve, to choosing how your brand looks online and the language you use. The first step is to work with a strategist to create the pillars that will establish the brand. Then, a branding agency can help you flesh out that concept into a visual identity that will fit your business’ needs. You can work with an agency such as Mass Appeal, or search through an agency catalog such as Design Rush.
3. You can choose who you work with
Running your own online business gives you a great deal of choice. Many people start out solo, and then bring in a little help when they begin to grow.
And you don’t have to make the big leap to becoming an employer overnight. With platforms like People Per Hour, Fiverr and Freelancer, you can find remote workers without the commitment or red tape of traditional hiring.
4. You can scale in your own time
If you were so inclined, you could seek funding and build a big company.
Or, you could start small by yourself, and build in size and momentum at your own pace. You write the business plan so it’s up to you.
Starting a business in the online world can be done with few overheads and much less risk these days. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can choose your level of risk and investment.
5. You can build something for your future
In this economic climate, many of us are wondering what the future might hold.
When you are employed you could be left to ponder on that question for years to come. The only way to know your future, is to be the one in the driving seat.
Another way to look at this is as an addition to any job you currently have. A lot of small online ventures begin in people’s spare time, outside their day jobs. This further minimizes risk, to still have an employed income while you begin the first phase of building a business from the beginning.
It is fair to say that online Entrepreneurship comes with risk and responsibility. It’s not the best path for everybody.
But for those people with the drive and the vision to build something from the ground up, it could be a lifeline in an otherwise dark time. If you have an idea, and some time to work on it, then I encourage you to jump in and start creating a better future for yourself.