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A lot of people have the misconception that starting your business has to be a hugely expensive venture that takes years of planning and a huge amount of innovation. Thanks to the internet, the idea of starting your business is something that more and more people can achieve. There are so many small, online businesses you can find that are only being run by one person – right from their home. Whether or not these businesses grow is up to the owner, as it can simply be a bit of easy income on the side.
A platform
If you’re going to run a business, you need somewhere to run it from. There are a few ways you can do this, but it’s often best to start by using a bigger platform. Sites like Shopify are a great place for you to get some recognition, without having to have a website of your own. Having your own site can be expensive, and complicated – especially if this is only supposed to be a side hustle.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to be a bit more ambitious with your online business – you can get your own platform for a relatively small cost. You don’t need to have a big and flashy website developed for you, and you can use a website builder to make it yourself. This does take time, and research would be important to make sure you get it right – but it can be a great way to start out.
Pick your distribution method
As just one person handling a business, you can’t expect to be able to deliver each product to your customers personally. This means you’re going to need to pick a delivery service that fits you the best. You want a brand you can trust, or else you risk your products being damaged before they arrive at their destination – which in turn could lead to a devastating negative review being posted on your store. Click here to get instant UPS shipping rates and get a good idea of what you can expect to pay.
Automate customer interactions
While it’s important that you share some interactions with your customers, you don’t need to be there for every single transaction. Online businesses run themselves once you’ve got them up and running – at least in part. Customer orders can be handled automatically, which means you’re not going to miss out on a sale just because you’re asleep. You can take care of the orders as soon as you’ve got the time to.
Most businesses will employ automated email responses to take care of customers as soon as they’ve made an order. Just something that lets the customer know that the order has gone through, and roughly how long it will take for them to receive their product. It’s reassuring, and it doesn’t leave customers wondering if they’ve just lost their money to a product that they’re never going to see.
