5 Tips for Australian Online Business Starters
When times get tough, Aussies get tougher. Starting anything before the last few years was difficult enough and, it didn’t get any easier from there. Strength, motivation, ideas, and capital were all required if you want to start any business but, now it also takes a lot of courage and innovation to overcome the limitations of the current situation. Luckily, no one from these parts is known for being a quieter and our economy soldiers on. Online businesses represent a vast field of opportunity for anyone. If you are just starting or want to breathe a breath of fresh air (and money) into your business, going online is the logical step in the 21st century. So, where and how to start? We got you covered.
1. The legal foundation
First and foremost, you have to get an ABN which stands for Australian Business Number. To put it simply, you need to have ABN if you want to operate online in Australia. Then come Privacy Policy, Website Disclaimer, Website Terms&Conditions, and a website contract. Why the need for all of this, you may ask? Well, you need to have all of your bases covered so no nasty surprises can come along the way and throw a wrench into your business machine.
Legal fines can be very hefty, not to even mention the legal proceedings that can drag on and on. Also, the world wide web is a vast place and, not everyone there plays nice. Protection is needed in this area, as much as possible, to avoid nasty surprises from a new form of criminals, the online one. All of these forms offer a dose of security and professionalism to your future customers. Any plus is a welcomed one.
2. The technical ins and outs
Your site has to exist in some form on the internet. In this area, there are two options for every item we list. Do it yourself or hire a professional. The choice can be made based upon your technical expertise, available time, how many brain cells you want to lose to stress and lack of sleep, and how much is budget you have available. So, if you have sufficient knowledge in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you are off to a good start.
Or you can just use much more user-friendly and quicker methods of WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, to name a few. You will need a unique logo for your website and always make sure that you own it if you chose to outsource it to a designer. Also mentioned, you can outsource anything, to professional designers in this area but, that drives costs up. Legal paperwork combined with technical parts can be a strain when you are getting started. You will soon see all these costs spiral up and should prepare early to stay ahead of the curve.
3. Financing the whole operation
Costs are skyrocketing and, you haven’t even made your first sale. If we factor in potential promotional material, ads, maybe even hiring an employee, and a whole slew of costs that haven’t even shown their ugly head, it pays out to be prepared. Savings are usually the bedrock for any operation but, to help them out, you can reach out to government or private loans for upstarting businesses. And while governments tend to be slow, bloated, and can drag on, the private sector has none of that. Fast, reliable commercial business loans in Australia with low-interest rates, are a google search away. An injection of fresh capital and funds can grease the wheels and get the show moving. It is important not to lose the momentum now and along the way.
4. SEO is more than a fancy word
Search Engine Optimizing deserves its special mention here. A field of study by itself, it’s an art form that aims to place you on the first page of Google. It makes sense when you think about it. When was the last time you bought something from the third or even second page of Google? Never and that’s because your site needs to come up first when people start searching. It’s a cut-throat world in there and, SEO optimization is crucial for an upstarting business.
By aiming at specific words that people search, optimizing your site so that Google likes it, filling it with quality content and links, etc. this is an often overlooked area that can make or break your business. Auditing your site and submitting it to Google for review is also a smart option here. If all of this is something you are hearing about for the first time, it’s best to inform yourself a bit. Plenty of SEO professionals are out there and just waiting for a chance to put you on the top.
5. Marketing can be your secret weapon
SEO is just part of the broader picture, which is the marketing of your future business. People have to know you exist and, it’s up to you to make it happen by making noise on the internet. Word of mouth is the best form of marketing there is, so you can always start with your friends and relatives and branch out from there. Social networks offer a jump start for any type of online business that you will be having.
They specialize in promoting various businesses so you can pick the one best suited for you. Instagram is used to promote jewelry, food, clothes, to name a few. Make yourself stand out by offering something that no one has done till now. Offer a unique or unusual service or simply an outstanding one and, you will start generating buzz.
Having a business idea is priceless and an excellent start. Entrepreneurs are incredibly driven, focused, and ambitious people and, you are becoming part of that group. While all of this may seem too much and overwhelming, taking it one step at a time is the way to go. You are already miles ahead of all those that got discouraged and didn’t even start. There is a lot of work in making your dream come true, we won’t dance around that. Sleepless nights, endless paperwork, legal, financial, technical, just to name a few. But in the end, once all is done, you can be proud of what you achieved and reap the rewards.
Author Bio:
Mike is an Australian business consulting specialist. He’s working with companies that outsource their IT maintenance. He often writes about technology, business and marketing and is a regular contributor on several websites.