Online Business Ideas: How to Start Profitable Online Business in Africa Using the Right Business Tools Kits and Scale it Up

Start A Profitable Online Business Of Your Choice Using The Right Tools Kit And Scale it Up

Online Business Trending 

Wake up question that pop up in my inbox early this morning. Where to start my online business journey? An anonymous quest from one of the people following up with my business activities online.

 "I really don't know where to start my online business journey from". And this really could be a mind distorting things; however read on, I am going to provide solution herein. Once in life I'd ask this same question and the answer I got is start anyhow, start anywhere, just start somewhere and you know what I get startled.

This same question post to me today, If I'd answered start from anywhere or start anyhow as most people will say. I tell you, it will be as if I don't care and really want you to fail. In simple note, a journey of a thousand mile begins with a step. The very first step required to take in path to doing online business really must pin point at a very specific junction, place or step to begin or to start from. Note this very first step matters a lot. It one of the success determinant in online business journey. It something to be taken serious. Therefore I will take my time to answer this question providing best approach.

Online business! What does it mean?

I would have assume you understand the meaning but not until we both have a general view and conceive the meaning to be any kind of business or a transaction in the commercial world that involves sharing of data entities like information across the internet in a way of enabling commerce. Online business can simply mean e-business, which is carrying out business with the help of the internet. 

I will not fail to broaden our understanding that commerce embodies the exchange of goods "products" and services between businesses, groups and individuals as it is the vital role played in business activities as it is done from onset offline and the now online driven through the means of web technology unfolding in area of electronics commerce. 

Having this picture we can begin to see the direction at which the business world is going now and nearby future will be online (Internet).

Insight to the global online business world

Change is inevitable, that is why I can't over emphasis what we already know that the traditional way of doing business online/offline is also changing rapidly despite we have limited business owners, which implies the number of people looking for jobs out there outnumber the available jobs. 

The number of entrepreneur out there is low as with the number of people willing to embark on entrepreneurship journey. This means the business world is in need of more entrepreneurs, more jobs creator, and creative online business startups of which you are a potential one. And I hope you are aspiring to become a successful  entrepreneur? 

Sure, I believe this could have been what provoke this question respect to subject matter.  In most case, its either you are setting out to start, grow or own a business of your choice! Good thing to do; I bid you welcome to this platform. Starting an online business of your own is becoming more simplified and visible by the help of internet technology. 

A good look into the future business world trending will reveals that technology is playing a vital role in area of making the act of doing business online and offline easier.

Advise to starting an online business

Starting an online business is nothing hard following basic steps as you will find herein this resource “Bizonsol”: as compare to growing and taking ownership of the business. Business generally I tell you is so friendly but does not tolerate laziness. It is for forward thinkers and its’ always the best thing to do. The best way to solve income inequalities. Its is also the best way to eradicate poverty. 

I have to nail this facts into your brain that its’ really not an easy task to do business' really it is not a get rich quick thing. But, if you are determined that you want to be your own boss, if you so kin about doing online business and you are the very hardworking type who want to rule his/her world and you really want to embark on live long project that you can create a succession plan that fits into and can be hand over to generation coming in your lineage, I bid you to learn attentively, assimilate, and implement (DIY) what you learn as you read herein this resource. 

You will find solutions as to how and where to start your online business journey.

Preamble to start up online business and role of Internet in business world

Coming back, I tell you things are changing rapidly in all facet of live due to unfolding technology world. The way businesses are done is quickly changing with trends. And for this reason the world of business growth and development shows that by now and nearby future most business transaction will be done on the internet. 

Liken to what you really need to know that the internet has made the business world a level play ground globally. However, you required to have this handy; A digitize tools like computer, mobile phone, a subscriber line, efficient internet service, email address for communique and with the enablers software, platform and services, anyone can start an online business, scale it to earn income and put some cash into his/her pocket.

It is not a rocket science; neither does it require a big technical knowhow nor coding knowledge to start a business online or do transactions online. It does not call for you having strong programming skills to create a business website, engage in social media platform or whatever digital tool of the trade you want to use to power drive your business operations in area of awareness, marketing, advertising etc. Its only required common sense and little background education in computer and internet. The internet has provided aspiring entrepreneurs with a medium whereby anyone who want to start and grow a business online can work at own pace. 

Results will be determined respect to your business ambitions, how much time you put to work and doing what matters. In like manner, technology through internet has made it possible for software programmers to developed digital tools (PaaS) that utilize online presence as a marketing platform. This software like apps are interactive program which enable buyers and sellers from small medium or big company and brands to market their goods(products) and services online as other related business functions that can be done online.

Part played by existing internet entrepreneurs and online business owners

In good notions, many existing internet entrepreneur players and big brands out there e.g. Microsoft, IBM, Forbes, Google to mention but few also have done great job in providing products and services that make it easy for you to start your internet business with little or no money even with small start-up capital. The products and service are enablers that meet the ideal needs to carry out one task or the other' and this are done through their been creative in solving problems. 

For example, Google sites, WordPress, Blogspot among others is a typical example where you can set up a blog or website for your online business free, text run your idea and later scale it through paid services. Jumia, Oberlo, Shopify, Konga, ebay, Alibaba, Amazon are many others are third party site where you can buy and sell goods. It may require you share little percentage in sales return with the service they render, It is good deal.

Google trends, Google keywords planner, LongTailPro and many others is also another example to make research on trending keywords and key phrase. Microsoft create OS which makes your computer functional to carryout related computing activities. Android develop functional programs that enhance mobile technology and many others like Apples etc. 

There are free software as service (SaaS) and apps like ali -express, Oberlo among other ones out there where you can dive into mini importation business, directly outsource products from suppliers, merchants or manufacturer online. Buy from aboard, import it through shipping company and sell in you native country.  

Facebook offers online shop, market place, so also Google and Shopify is another good example too among others where you can advertise as seller or own an online shop where buyers can get links to your product. All this aforementioned is to give you little insight in what is obtainable. 

With all this enablers like platforms, software, apps, websites, links, services etc. that the internet technology offers. an aspiring entrepreneur can easily follow some basic steps outline on how to start an online business by using any of this tools and facilities offer by internet system technology to come up with an idea after a business model and start own online business in Africa and be successful. To cut the whole story short, this resource is curated to give direct approach into how and where to start a profitable online business of your own in Africa  .

Functional online business models

There are lots of functional and profitable online business model in existence and I am sure many are yet to unfold. However, I will want to say this that in which ever way you want to go you are not coming to invent a new wheel, rather you are coming to do better what already has been done. 

Though, I can't undermine the power of inventors, its likely you are one, and it could have been one of the best things to do' come out with new invention but still; I advise you to safe your energy and time if really you want to dive into the online business world fast and achieve meaningful success in good time.

Rather, brainstorm on the business ideas that already existing and proven to be functional and profitable. Come up with better solutions in area of a products or services that meet trending demands of current and nearby future world in a particular business model and a specific niche. Online business in its facets, are some you can start with little or no capital. Some are capital driven. Others required you have a basic skill and knowledge or technical know-how.

I am going to list some few examples here to give view into kinds of online business model trending in other to provoke your insight and enhance your ideas to think on and come out with your own business findings. Note, all of this business models has one great thing in common and this is that they all gear in the direction of solving a particular problem or meeting a specific needs. Here are few list of business models and their intricacies below

Online drop shipping

A kind of retail fulfillment that doesn't require the business operator (a store owner) to stock products it sells/ Rather, items are purchased from third party  and has it shipped directly to customers and so no direct physical interaction with products. In this type of online business model, you will not be required to have that huge some of capital to keep huge inventory in stock. Neither does it required you own a store front for goods or warehouse for your products nor manufacture products is required. This aspect of where products/goods are stock is basically for the drop shipping company.

The merchants house their products and keep inventory. Meaning you have handy a perfect strategic tool that has carter for the inventory part of keeping goods. You could imagine the cost implication of running a warehouse system. If you are to keep inventory of products as a startup or small business owner' cut the story short, you dare not. Your role in this business is having a good understanding of how to market products in your chosen choice niche.

However, you need to have tools to aids the process. Owning a website or a blog site is one of the basic tools. An online store like Shopify etc. is a good take, a woo commerce site is not bad either will do fine. A good understanding of surfing the internet, clicks, copy and paste and other relevant skills also is required. In simple note, you are to upload products you pick for sale on your website or other selling online store platforms such as Jumia, Konga, eBay, Shopify or Amazon. And go on to run advertisement or create promotions on the products. 

Users visiting your website are likely to love what you have shown case on your site. Make click and buy. Thereafter your customers buy the product, you will now go ahead to purchase the product from the drop shipper/ merchant at a lower price. How?

A step involve is to forward your customers order to the third party company i.e. the drop shipper / call them the merchant including other relevant filed in data like name, address, telephone numbers etc. And it now the drop shipping company  role to deliver the product to your customer in good timing. This strategy involves little or no risk. You also have the privilege to deal on a wide range of products though I advise it is good to be niche focused. 

Other business operations and risk  involve may be quality of product, time of delivery, tracking to make sure it is delivered, building a reputation for your business, advertising among others. In all, drop shipping business requires you are able to locate reputable drop shipper as customers in order for you to be able to handle blames likely for low quality products, handling returns or late delivery. As you grow this business you can expand your scope by also using a private label to differentiate your brand and in likely manner you can checkmate high competition. You can start a business following this proven blueprint.

Affiliate marketing

This implies a performance base kind of marketing business that required whoever the affiliate business operator is to through own marketing effort bring customers or visitors to a particular business and by so doing the affiliate is rewarded. Affiliate marketing business has long been in existence and its profitable. The scope involve is commissioned base marketing. 

The concept is based on promoting existing products from other people through affiliate network you want to and you receive bonus on sales generated through your courtesy marketing. This is cool business to earn passive income. Get money while you rest. Many are in category of having huge sum of products to sell. In this case sales promoters are required to enhance sales. To engage promoters money is involve. Incentive will be put into this kind of affiliate programs to enable active participation. 

Affiliate marketing concept is based on generated revenue sharing. In likely manner, participant may need not to worry about keeping products inventory and neither do they required shipping products. Product tracking is enabled through link back to every participating website account of affiliate program. Through whatever link that generates sales is a coupon code tagged from affiliate partner and the customers for easy tracking and the checkout will equally be done at affiliate partners shopping cart. 

At the complete cycle of purchase, necessary documentations are made. A commission is awarded accordingly. Depends on terms and agreement respect to percentage share allocated and it depends on the affiliate company. Share can range from 2% and above. It sometime depends on the niche you operating from, some may give 50% and above. The success attribute to this model business depends on your marketing and advertising effectiveness to pull sales. As sales is really the determinant. You can click herein to have in depth of how affiliate marketing is done and if you wish to participate in it.

Blogging

Blog is word shorten from "weblog". This is an online journal. Call it an informational website in design that display information in formats of reverse chronological order in which latest post appear first follow by the immediate previous. This gives room for individual writer or group writers to share view on a subject. 

Blogging is the act of creating contents in your area of expertise to enlighten others. It may also be what you have good information and what you so passionate about.  If it is in direction of what people are searching for online good you may easily scale and earn money on it. It may even be particular skills that you have in depth knowledge about. In this manner you can create contents about it, do content marketing online or perform affiliate marketing with it. And you can make money as time goes on if you monetize it.

Blogging also require some basic skills, you can click here to learn what the intricacies of blogging is. To go about blogging, few options exist. Join a forum where you can start small. Locate an existing platform free site e.g. blogspot, wordpress, wix etc where you can start blog by nesting your domain free. Or you can embark on self-hosted blog site with low price and start your blog using bluehost. There are pros and con to either of the option you take. Read about how to start an effective blog from scratch and scale it. Be informed blog is not only limited to creating contents/writing.

Blogging also deals with posting photo, video, podcasting, links, news casting to mention but few. Depending on the niche you are exploring. Facts remain it’s good to be niche focused to enhance expertise. Whatever you desire to blog about should be content rich and standout facts. And if your content is unique and rear to found on other site online, very good for you as that means your blog will easily draw traffic. 

Blog require you have time to create contents regularly in order to retain readers. However, the fact that you are not a good writer should not be a. challenge in this context. There are content writers out there you can hire in places like Upwork, Freelance etc. Consistence in anything you are doing matters. Regular update of your post is also required. Monetizing your blogs can be done in many ways. This include affiliating, promoting brands, Google Ad sense has always been one of the best ways, advertising, joining ad-networks and many others. Explore intricacies of effective blogging, how you can start and scale.

Online video creation

Often called video production; and it is a process of creating video contents. In this case the video contents should be suitable for consumption by users on YouTube. Video production is synonymous to making film though this process solely involves recording or capturing video contents of moving images or videography and audio digitally instead of on film stocks.  And thereafter capturing it, you subject it to editing by filtering unwanted and selecting the wanted by means of video editing software to combining the relevant clips through process called video editing into a finished product that relay vital information, message alike or that tell a story or advertise a specific product or it could be on how to DIY of a specific task. 

Any way it comes should be as good for the consumption of online searcher and it should appear in common format like mpeg, mp4 for moving picture, audio video interleave  (avi), DivX, Window Media  Video etc. which are type of video display format in vogue.

Capturing and editing video required some skills. You can learn where necessary if it’s your passion to embark on this. There are places online you can go to learn this. Coming back, YouTube known for its uniqueness currently is one of the most popular online platform housing various video contents for its go to billion users. If you can create useful video contents that people want to watch, then it is also a perfect platform to earn money simply by creating a channel and uploading your contents for view. 

Simple way you can go about this is target a particular niche, create a video content that is targeted at some particular audience who searching for to see. Create your YouTube personal account with user name, your email and password. Thereafter locate the tab for uploading video and upload. You can as well enable your channel for Google to include ads with your video and this can enable you to generate income as many time people click on ads while they stream your videos. You can enable traffics to your channel by also reaching out through Facebook ads, twitter ads etc. And by so doing generate traction of followers.

Information products

In simple note, this can simple mean digital informational product. It can be describe as an article often presented in digital format relaying vital information like data structured in a way to instruct, guide or educate reader in context of meeting a predefined knowledge base ideas in a purposeful way. An information product is another cool way of making money online aside affiliate marketing. It may be done in various way which include audio, video and books that are informational and very rich content as good for consumer consumption. 

You can find various samples out their online. The creator of any information product in either of audiovisual, books or whatever the format adopted will package it into a digital format that will be suitable to be power drive online. After packaging same, the creator will now look into the very best platform to use to present the product online for sale. 

The product is then upload into either a website of the creator server and its always the best option to have a personal website. One can also create a page on social media like Twitter, Facebook and the like where one can possible engage with audience. So it can be done on social media site where it can be accessible by potential customers. Really it can be money making idea to engage in information product if one has rich contents that users online can benefit from.

Podcasting

Can be describe as the practice of using internet to make a digital recordings that can be upload online making it available for downloading to a computer or mobile devices. Podcasting as well take after a typical example of digital information that exist as a media file. Howbeit an episodic series of digital audio or can be video files which is available for download on web in order to listen to it. 

This distributed file which may exist in audio format also can sometimes include other file formats such as PDF or EPUB. And if it thus comes following after a podcast model as shared video it can then be relay as a video podcasts, vodcasts or vlogs. To start a podcast, some basic tools are required aside having a good sort after topics. Podcast which involve two set of people the creator and the listener. 

The creator of a podcast create a list of files to be maintain as web feed on a server which can be access by means of the Internet. The viewer or the listeners in the other hand require an application software which exist on a mobile phone or computer which can simply be called pod catcher. The pod catcher is liable to accesses the web feed on regular bases to check latest feeds and download it as an update. If a user download any of the podcast the file are kept in the users device cache in other to be use when offline

Website design and development

There are beginners, professional and expert in this line. If you fall in the category of a professional or expert it is a good thing. You can get money building and developing website for people that want to create business online presence. Knowing how to design a website is not enough going further in area of knowing how to optimize it is an edge. 

Web design is the process of creating a website from angle to enable front end designs i.e. the display or call it the client side UI/UX while the development approach is from both back end and front end design governing the codes that make the website functional. It is made simple this days, it involve using a web editor to create layouts, informative contents production, graphic design using digital design software technology and CMS. 

Web designer and developer uses HTML Hypertext Mark Up Language; tags that simplified the meaning of a page content and metadata.  However there are online services that have made building a website simple example is WordPress, Google sites, wix to mention but few where you can go to learn how to build a website following simple steps. If you can develop this skills you can power drive an online business after this model   

Social Media Consultancy

Social media is unfolding contents driven marketing and advertising products and services. In its making, it now houses lots of individual profile, brands, business, products, services to mention but few relaying data like information for the benefit of socializing and profit making. And as the desire for social media contents increases so its competition for attention by big company increases thereby opening up job opportunities for digital marketers who are social media tech savvy’s. 

Technology is providing more jobs for those who explore knowledge in that direction so if you know how to make contents like information go viral online especially on social media this is an opportunity for you to thrive. 

Building a brand, product or service presence on social media platform like Facebook, twitter, linkedin etc, It require you understand how stuffs is done, the technicality behind it need to be mastermind. You can grow your skills in this direction and become a consultant after mastering the   intricacies of social networking and some hands on you can become a social media consultant.

e Commerce

E-commerce simple mean the activity that involve buying and selling of products electronically online or over the Internet. It is technology base activities which includes mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, Internet marketing, internet transaction processing etc. and it keep evolving day by day. There exist three areas of electronic-commerce: online retailing, electronic markets, and online auctions. It also find functions in  some of the following Online shopping for retail sales direct to consumers via 

Websites and mobile apps, conversational commerce via live chat, chatbots, and voice assistants, Online financial exchanges for currency exchanges or trading purposes etc. A good example is the consumers approach respect to shopping online. Big brands e.g.  eBay and Amazon makes purchasing of goods online  flexible. 

They operate a big retail store that accommodate industries like  food & beverage, fashions, technology and many others in an online stores visible worldwide on the internet where diverse people from different background worldwide go to shop items they need using digital electronics and related software application and website. In this manner they also enable some business model like drop shipping affiliate marketing, mini importation to mention but few to be able to function on the internet. It a very lucrative if well structured.

Others examples of online business models

As there are lots of profitable functional online business models out there, its’ very possible to enhance your entrepreneurial skill set toward becoming a successful entrepreneur simply by taking advantage of any of this internet based  business opportunities listed above or List of online business models. What is required of you is the right knowledge and business operations skills to include marketing, customer relation management and determination to ply the rough road that lead to successful entrepreneurship. You can rely on the proven and reliable online business tools kit to kick start a successful online business journey and scale it up

Online business tools kit

To embark on online journey there are basic tools to use. Business tools kit consists of hardware, software applications and other relevant platform and services. Go here to read Online business tools kit list and uses required to achieve success. The tools which include computer, phone, modems, subscriber line etc. fall in the category of hardware, where internet service, email address, search engine are related business services. 

Owning a website is very vital with good web hosting services and that can be done on various platforms out there online, bluehost and wordpress are good option that render service to build a website and host it. Business registration is required to further authenticate your operations is legit. You required basic skills to operate computer and surf internet depending on your chosen business model. 

You required to also know some other related online business tools that you can use to carry out research on trending search, marketing and advertising, tools to carryout analytic where necessary, tools you can use to do monitor traffics, perform SEO, do keyword research, right catching headlines, applications to collect payments online to mention but few. Read on as we dive more deep into the intricacies of online business. 

By now I am sure you will have been having clear view respect to jump start your online business journey following after a proven business models cast out in a specific niche with findings made in direction of solving a particular problem as the steps forward that assure success in direction of starting online business using the online business tools kit.

How to Start Online Business

Ideas! Having known some example of functional business online model; and the basic business tools required to carry out the steps and also platform, services, application and other relevant things aforementioned, you good to go in direction of taking abode in a specific niche you think is good or that suit your passion' your will power to succeed should power drive your ideas respect to or in area of what  business online is about and which you want to do. 

I tell you their lots online business models out there. I only mention few ones here to enlighten you. From this angle you can begin to think what problem you want to solve that is in demand. That is where entrepreneurship begin' discovering a problem in a particular business model in a specific niche which people are trying to solve and  you find or provide solution to it.

As an entrepreneur, or an aspiring one, your thinking should go in direction of what you can do to solve a particular problem? How better can you solve a challenge? How to improve on an existing products or services? What other areas is yet to be explore? what did people want that is yet to be created? Yours may be to explore an existing market need in a region. It can even be to create an apps to solve specific need etc. Go on and on to fashion out your own niche site base idea business you want to come up with.

You can carry out research by involving the use of basic online research tools like Google trends, Ai etc.. Note, your ideas should point in direction of product or service to be rendered. Having a good look into the future of the world business system and the demands from online users mindset like what is obtainable now and could be order of the day in nearby future is the solution. 

Take for example, most business transaction trending take place online meaning their is a great shift from normal traditional means of exchange gradually shifting to internet base therefore leading to cashless society. Another good example is the shift in area of advertising on TV or radio jingle to internet base like YouTube and other apps. I mean by the technology involvement you can be privilege to receive adverts on line, in your email, social media. 

Another typical example is shopping made accessible online where by people can purchase goods online and receive it at their door step, just to mention but few. Do local search, carryout online search in forums, look inward and around you, view the community in online forums to gather information required about products or service you want engage on or learn new skills you can use to render services on line. You can equally put into use your existing skills that some people are looking out to learn put it together in a course to online searchers on platform like teachable. 

Where to Start Online Business

Regardless of whatever business model you may choose, you will need to build simple responsive website and hosting to be accessible online i.e. your business presence online; your website is replica of your offline/mortar or bricks office in physical world but now online where people from afar can reach out to you. It may also require you list contact information. 

Good! think and develop on your conceived ideas at least one pointing in direction of solving a particular problem or meeting a specific need. And from the sample list of the functional online business model in existence and many others out there, come up with your own findings or discover what you want to do. 

Do know that often time we are setting out, it is not that we are coming to invent new wheel but to come  and do better what already has been done, however it doesn't mean you cannot invent new thing' sure it takes time. From onset there is nothing human being has achieved that really has not come from an idea conceived and afterward developed through thinking by making research and methodologies. 

Developing idea is very vital. It is not enough to just conceive an idea or think of way to achieve it. You must try as much to work on it in order to bring it to reality. And to work it out you begin by researching into what the picture is as imagined in your mind. Create website for your business findings, create good contents, optimize your website, enable your advertising and marketing strategy, create email list of your customer, analyze, build documentations.   

Research into what your ideas and choice of online business

Carrying out research is required. There are vital tools online that can be use to carry out your business research; example is the Google trends. It is a vital tool you can use to research into various keywords. Search engine also is a great tool to make findings respect to what content people online are in search for however your ability or technical know-how to go about it matter. Search engine which include Yahoo, Bings, Google is currently the most comprehensive and go to by majority. 

On it you can do keyword search or key phrase search of what users are typing into search engine as search terms. Search engine e.g. Google will draw out through algorithms to present you list of relevant search results to your search terms from which you can draw out your own analysis.

Alternatively, other places you can go to is to visit online forums of choice business. Nairaland houses lots of forums you can research into, find what people are doing, requesting in comments and posts. Other ways is to visit online an existing business of your model to see what stuff they made of, what they do, the particular problem they are solving or the particular demand they are meeting. 

From whence you can gather useful information you can ponder on to come up with your own products or service that could have little or no competitor and it could be what is high in demand, it could be both it all depends.

Identify specific needs to be met or pin point a problem you want to solve

First thing required by an aspiring entrepreneur is to find a problem before solution. Most likely majority go wrong about the step when first setting out. Same is applicable when setting out to start an online business. You should first find the needs or market before looking for the product. 

By doing a good survey you will find out needs to meet, gaps which need to be fill, demands which are yet unmet, question which are yet to be answered challenges which are yet to be solve , problems which are yet to be solve and opportunities door yet to be opened. It all depends on how analytic and logical you are in your research. It will determine how you get yourself prepared to excel in your chosen business.

Analyse your business ideas

A critical conduct in market research to analyse facts is required to have clear understanding about your ideas and what it has generated through thinking and findings you made. It is from it you can draw conclusions on what needs assessment is that will assist in bringing your ideas to reality after critically taught of and off you go on to implementation plan. It will determine if the idea you have come up with can be work upon to create a functional online business that can stand test of time. It will also form the background or foundation of success which you going to build on.

Subject your business online findings to review

Going back to drawing board to brainstorm is solely required in order to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of your findings. At this stage you may begin to ponder and ask questions in direction of implementation plan. This will help a long way before you jump start any business. At this stage strategic plan is required to be put in place as to guide against unforeseen events that could make you lose cash invested. 

This stage is where you can reach out to potential customers to check their view respect to your findings and solution you created. Call on friends, business mentors, reach out to forums online to make smart inquiries and from there you can gather feedback like facts that you can use to proactively measure your stand and stakes on what you about to venture into. 

Seek people opinion concerning what you want to do and sure with every feedback gather start putting up your plan. If you smart enough you can from this stage begin to create email list of potential subscriber too, remember every business require a willing and strong customer base with formal partnership to thrive.

Write a Business Plan that guarantee success

A well written business plan is required of every business to provide direction or attract investors; it is vital for success of your business. In simple note it serves several different purpose. Your business plan will guide on how best you go about operations. There many other things that go on in this stage despite many aspiring entrepreneur and startups out there don't take this stage of writing a business plan serious out of don't care attitude or not knowing how to craft one out for the purpose it serve. 

Let ruminate on what really is business plan and some vital importance of having one handy and how best you can write a business plan that guarantee success. Sure your business plan will consist of these basic ingredients like executive summary, business description, market analysis, management, market analysis, service or product, funding to mention but few you can go here to read steps for writing a perfect business plan.

Test Run Your Idea business

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. And as an aspiring entrepreneur by starting to test runs your idea business it solely means you in business. You board the entrepreneurship ship and now on sail. You have handy your business compass, the maps and related tools required to be successful even though you cannot have everything as it implies you will pick some needed tool alongside doing your idea business.  The test running ground is open for you online and offline. 

Consider you are in the lab; customers, your brand, products, service, internet service, web, platforms, website, search engines, advertising, marketing, business plan etc. are the apparatus you required to carry out test run. Kindly do not just test run, go as far as documenting your finding, I am sure you will not just test run but keep your business afloat from hence forth. 

Take it serious, take it as a lifetime challenge, and take it as you are on the road mapped to solve income inequalities and poverty eradication. Be open to learn new things as it comes, be strategic and analytic all the best as you start setting up your success.  

Start setting up your online business

Having found the perfect product or service, setting up online business of your own is good and simple if you know how to go about the very key part. If you are an Africa entrepreneur especially if you are Nigerian and are interested in exposing your products or services to millions of potential customers, then here are few things that you need to do in order to quickly get your website up and running.

Register Your Business

Before beginning operations, after you have made every necessary research required respect to your ideas, it is advisable to incorporate your business. This step is vital, as it will tell the type of business structure and also determine your ability to raise fund where required, exposure to liability and your taxes. Most entrepreneurs often prefer private limited company, why? because of its numerous advantages include room for succession plan, limited liability and a legal entity status. More so, registration of a private limited company in Africa can be done within couple of day through Corporate 

Affairs Commission. \in good notion while you proceeding on your business registration It is also advisable you have in place the basic requirements and other necessary infrastructure such as operations, customer care and  support services, website designer & development, marketing and advertisement plan, accounting platform and other business related operations ethics required before you begin.

Build Your Business Documentations

In simple note, business documentation refers to several types of documents and reports that has different sections and contents related to business information. Example is the business plan which include the a description of a particular business, the service or product it offers, current management chart, departmental structures, business operations to mention but few. Other vital business documentation include reports (annual, sales, business, finance  etc.) minute of meeting either chat, IM, email etc. if any is also a good example and other legal document e,g, business license, brand name, receipt of purchase of some business operations equipment’s however it is not required that you post all this online even though you need to keep this data intact and retrievable when are where necessary.

Related to building your business documentation, you should know that people see the internet as a source of information. Your contents are also a typical business documentation that you need to be conscious of.  Therefore creating an expert content cannot be over emphasis. Since your website will house some pages to include about us, landing page, blog page and other pages you should endeavor to craft any of your page with vital information knowing fully well that you cannot tell how far this information on your page could travel. 

Yes every bytes of data like information found on your website represent you, it represent your business, it speaks who you are, what you offer etc. so be very careful when doing this as well forms part of your business documentations. The information giving on any of your page either informs of an article, blog, post etc. if well created also has an impact on how Google algorithm will rank it. This could enhance how traffic is drawn to your site. 

Be ready to give free vital information to help others, relay your expertise in your specific niche, and include vital links to useful resource where necessary. Video, article, blog, tutorials, podcast or other related contents found on your website forms part of your business documentation online so handle it with care.     

Write Captivating Copy Contents

Contents are data like information that is very vital, enlightening, educational, informative to mention but few for the consumption of your customers. It could come in various format video, e book, blog, audiovisual, podcast etc. It is content draw in the direction of keywords or phrase in search that will draw people to your website in order that they can learn more about what you have to offer. It not necessarily mean you should create/ write content that only sells you products or services but something that people will be captivated by, contents that solve a particular challenge related to your business. It should be a need useful informative one. 

Basic things required in creating a content that draw the attention of your audience include an headlines that are compelling or that can arouse reader interest. It could be on how your product or service solves or meet a particular demand. A content on customers testimonials from those that have benefit from using your product can be helpful if any.

Also, remember that your content can also be used as a sales copy formula to drives visitors throughout the marketing process from visiting your website to making a purchase. From the use of compelling headline to arouse the interest of your visitors to grab their interested by clearly stating the problem solved by your products, the benefits of the products to the consumers and also by establishing credibility to your online visitors could be a magnetizing force to enhance sales. 

Your Blog posts and articles centered on the importance of your product could as well promote your customers lead conversions. Products offer at discounted price is also a key components of sales copy formula. Simply, your business sells copy should primarily focus.

Build a Simple Responsive Website

Thereafter having handy winning contents, it’s now the time to create a place from whence the whole world searching for the information can find it. And your Website is the most appropriate place. It is a vital role played by website to house information related to your business online better off as it is offline. Building a simple responsive user friendly website is very important because it is going to play a good role in attracting customers. 

All necessary measures should be put in place to see that the design protrude quality else it could scare your potential customers away if not rightly handled. Kindly take your time to do it once and do it right. Here is a simple step on how to build a responsive user friendly website. Not, one of the best design tip is to keep it simple and avoid all ambiguity. Try and invest your time into it. 

Your website can be design by you if you have the skills required or you can equally award it out to website designer and work closely throughout the process to make sure it is done correctly by supplying the necessary information required to get it set up rightly. And also avoid whatever that could create a distraction on each and every page. 

Check out the basic fact to enhance the quality of your website like a good white background and space, one or two fonts, clear navigation tab regular for each and every page on your website, informative graphics that buttress your message, a contact form and call to action email listing, a simple checkout process in one or two click, a fast responsive loading speed, audio, graphics or video should be informative, a fringe offers for those who sign up is good too to mention but few.     

Use Search Engine to Drive in Traffic

Search engines known for their drive of potential visitors through organic search can lead traffic to your website if you have the related well-crafted contents that meet Google standard. I mean organic search result from search engine can be pointer to your website leading potential traffic to arrive at website. 

How? Knowing the intricacies of SEO and building it right will in turn boost your ranking on search result only if you do it right and provide informative contents vital for human consumption. A high volume of organic search result from search engine is  a positive thing for a website to grow at an edge over other competitors Meaning that the content is good enough, rich and well-structured to build up on a search engine ranking and sure it’s going to results in views from potential search engine users.

Other ways you can drive traffic to your website aside through organic search is through advertising. Promoting your website through Pay per Click Advertising (PPC) is good, though there are two advantages to using this format of advertising. One is it is easy to use to draw attention from affiliates who join in helping you to  promote your brands through their website and they get commission on each visitors that click to link your website. PPC ads easily show up on search pages instead of waiting for organic search. 

Rooms are giving to try different headlines key words or phrase and see which is converting quick and best to use. This ads related Technics is good in that it will give you quick result though it’s paid and can cost lots and to enhance it you can use SEO in combination to it to enhance the result respect to traffic in flow.   SEO and PPC required a technical knowhow to successfully drive in result. You can click here to see how SEO and PPC stuff works before you dive into it. In all writing rich informative  contents and enhancing it with SEO will give room to easy ranking, make other share and create link to it on their respective website and other platform goes a long way to drive traffic to your website

Build an Authority In Your Niche

Meaning be an expert in your niche. Gather enough knowledge and skills required to be at leading edge to other competitors. Be up to date, be informative and be lead to other relevant information requested of. Join forum where you can help others to solve problems and challenges. Create free contents to help others grow. Lend out a helping hand, support others to grow. Be the most sought after when it comes to solving problem. 

Contribute positively to the growth of the online communities. Let your website be go to for solutions on related topics respect to your niche. Study to show yourself approve, share knowledge to grow others. Look into other areas that is yet to be explored and highly in demand. Explore it; bring out valuable information that is very important for human consumption. Create contents on topics that people are searching for online. 

And by so doing you will gain ground. Every second people keep searching for one thing or the other related to your niche on the internet, it is good if you can come up with it and offer it free for the benefits of others. A check on other websites that offers the right content or that has built authority on a particular topic is good and you can help link people searching for sane to the relevant site. Good has you do; people will begin to trust you and your judgement in relevant case study

Prioritise Customer Satisfaction

When setting out or embarking on online business journey the basic first step should be to find audience need, demand, challenge or problem and then find the product, services or solution to meet it. Therefore knowing fully well that customer satisfaction is a measure of how a service or product supplied by you meet or exceed your customer expectation. It is a s well good to know that customer are the soul of your business they are the reason why you are in business, therefore meeting their needs in good timing with quality products and effective service really counts. 

You need to be always on a look out for how best you can satisfy them. Look out for common problem or challenges that people are having or facing and provide solution. The more you can exceed their specified satisfactions in area of products and service the better you can retain them, they likely to promote your business image and also run selfless campaigned unnoticed. 

Treat your customer as you will want to be treated, study complaint and provide solution in good time. Welcome compliments and do not be carried away by it. Offer proactive service to customer provide support and always be very welcoming, the easy to talk to type and tender. Developing a strong team in this aspect to always handle customer related issue is very good.  

Use Email Marketing To Enhance Your Online Business

Email marketing has been proven to be effective in sending a commercial message typically to group of people. It is considered a cheaper and active method of promoting business to potential customer compared to the former traditional radio jingle or TV broadcast. Email in its broadcast sense has a potential capitalised to be email marketing whenever it is sent to a potential or current customer. It can be used to advertise, request business information, ask for support or solicit funds. 

It can also be used to build mutual understanding and assurance, loyalty and trust or create brand awareness amidst other important usage. Email is a powerful business tool in the hands of the user who know best uses of it. In likely manner, building an email list at the beginning of your online business journey is very important. It is an asset to enable your digital marketing and advertising. 

By creating a subscriber form on your website where your visitor can sign up for newsletter really make good sense meaning whoever sign up for this is white listed to receive relevant information from you without spamming them with unsolicited information. This enables you to develop a lifetime customer relationship with your audience and the response is a hundred percent measurable. Email is the best way to follow up potential customers to keep them revisiting your site. It really a great tool that give access to large audience who are interested in your product or services that points good customer base leads

Back-end sales and up-sales

Most time, entrepreneurs  over looked this area even many companies does too, despite it is one of the most profitable marketing strategy for online businesses. Aspiring entrepreneur should take this serious. When you up-sell, meaning you give  offer to  your customers a complementary product before they complete their order. While back-end is a product or service that you sell your customers after the initial sale. 

By enabling a  pop-up window to appear each time someone fills out your order form and presses the submit button the window that show up present your customers with another product. It can be one or more. It can even be informational sales promotion. Because the window opens with a confirmation of the original order and a thank-you, the customer does not consider the ads intrusive.

First-time customers are always very important as well as returning customers. It is good spending all of the time, money and energy on drawing more first-time visitors to your web sites however there must be relevant and vital information that will keep them revisiting back, And by focusing on the relationship that has already been established with your current customer base, you can earn far bigger profits by their referral. 

As It is easier to sell to existing customers because you have already cultivated a relationship with them only If your product or service lived up to your promise and their expectations, By giving them good value, excellent customer service, and good cares attention makes reselling to them easy..

Reward customer loyalty

Be informed of the 20 by 80 rules of thumb that your 20% customers will be responsible for 80% of your profits. The people you need to focus your attention on are the potential and existing customers because purchase from them will reoccur. Show appreciation and offer incentives and bonus to them. Reward them for being loyal customers and they will continue to buy from you.

Make your customers more loyal by rewarding them with gift items, discount or token in every single purchase they made. Findings shows that people who have made at least one purchase from you will inevitably make another purchase from you in nearby future if they find or get the kind products or service them want. A welcoming gesture of thanks after each purchase will also go a long way. It can sometimes be difficult to get first sale. Therefore as an entrepreneur you must endeavour to take serious customer relation management

Africa is a fast growing continent

As a continent that embraces technology and welcome online business development, Africa business is thriving at a positive edge and is becoming a business hub for international communities. It has a welcoming pace for online business operations in all facet in that the online users are now increasing. Africa is growing in area of search advertising as Google trend reveals that the population of African population engaging in search or accessing internet uses Google to perform various kind of search in area of news, celebrities, entertainment, sports and products search.  

While most African access the internet through their mobile device, the online usage is currently increasing and continue to as thus, with this growth in online and business technology development you should not be left out in starting an online business.

 Africa economy embrace online business

Today online business is really taking edge over traditional bricks and mortar especially in Africa as it is fast growing. You cannot afford to be left out in starting an online business, why? Because the business world trends is changing and as well the basic principles of starting and owning an online business are becoming simplified with evolving solutions in area of online business tool kits. 

As an aspiring entrepreneur you can easily lay your hands on the right tools and use it to implement online business of your choice after a function business model and in a particular niche. If you are already in the online business for some time you can fine tune your business to be at positive edge using the tools you have not be using. 

One of the sole reason to start a business is to earn money and to sustain a business it is required you acclimatize e yourself with the best ways to earn money online not just driving traffic. Internet houses lots of information and more to activities that can get you distracted in twinkle of an eye. Social is one other tool that can easily distort thinking if not careful. You really need to be focus, know what you are out there for. Used the benefits the internet technology offer to you advantage. Build a functional business for yourself, create a passive income funnel, and make money today through digital technology by starting up an online business.

Starting an online business is easy and becoming more simplified

It’s an assumption that to start an online business can be very difficult. I believe with what you have read so far, you can begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. You agree with me that it takes a knowhow to do it by following basic steps. And by having a blueprint online business model of your choice handy you can follow the simple step above to start and grow a successful business online in a chose niche; while cutting out unfruitful steps and frustration which may arise while starting a business online. Business is a life time project that guarantees breakthrough into wealth if you persevere; ultimately you will see result according to the level of smart and hard work you put.

This is meant for you....Tag:Achieve Your Business Success Goals  written by me Abiona Temi powered on  BizOnSol.blogspot. I am an experienced IT Professional, Business Technologist and Entrepreneur. You find lots of useful information here in? Kindly share for others to benefit also your comments will be helpful drop a line below. Thanks for reading.