To put it mildly, starting a business is not the easiest thing in the world. It involves effort, discipline and a team. These days, the opportunities of digital media and the internet make it easier to start a business. It is tempting for many people to explore the business opportunities of the internet. Digital businesses are indeed an easier choice to take at the start, allowing you to start with less to no start capital, the ability to sell your skills, the freedom to work from anywhere in the world.
The downside however is that you enter a marketplace which is crowded, where almost everything is already available. Ratings and review platforms allow consumers to quickly assess which service provider to choose or which product to buy. When you are starting from the ground up, you still have to climb this latter to get seen and recognised.
The point of the matter is that every business has its own challenges. Online businesses are more flexible and the route to market is quick. However, the route to growth and building a real business is no different than in any other industry or sector. Whatever it is that you offer, you need customers and provide value to them. This might seem like an obvious statement, but it often get’s neglected when the internet promises you to get right quick and provide instant returns. While it is possible to monetise a product or service relatively quickly online, it won’t build you an actual brand and business name. Brands are build for longevity and sustainability and have clear value proposition.
This bring us to the essence of turning an online business into a reputable brand. All the things mentioned earlier matter: Hard work, effort, the right timing and having great people that support your mission. However, the single most useful practice to grow and online business is something you have maybe not even considered: To go offline.
Going offline is this context means that you should combine all the advantages from digital channels with traditional ways of doing business. The list of opportunites is long: Go to your local networking events, host your own workshops and seminars, engage with the local business community or starting a mastermind group. It is no secret that growth happens outside your own comfort zone.. Running a digital business from home would might be a smart idea given the opportunities of digital media, but it hardly ever works without engaging with other people and leaving your home or comfort zone.
An easy step for you to take if you are a solopreneur, self-employed or work with a remote team, is to join a co-working space in your town. This environment is usually full of like-minded people with similar passions. It will give you the chance to find business contacts and even customers.
As an example, the web & landing page design company Apexure based in Essex in the UK, was run with staff working remotely remotely from different parts around the world. In early 2017, the company moved into a co-working space and started to see the benefits of interacting with the local business community and getting local clients, some easy and low-hanging furits for winning business. Furthermore, Apexure started doing local activities & events, workshops and even sponsorship of networking events in the local area in Southend-on-Sea in Essex in the UK.
The more digital our society becomes, the more we should see that in reality business happens between people and real interactions. Get out of your comfort zone and actively engage with the business community. Last but least, remember that building a brand with longetivity will pay the best return in the long term.