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Can You Be Your Own Boss?

Posted by Andy DeJaco in Articles
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Can You Be Your Own Boss?

 

 

 

 

Many people dream of being their own boss. Of getting rid of the commute to work, the traffic, the headaches, the workday stress, horrible bosses and snippy coworkers. It’s a dream that for many people is becoming a reality, but as with everything, there are pros and cons. Owning a website business and working from home has many advantages nearly too innumerable to count: making your own hours, being your own boss, being there for children, being there for a spouse, working in your skivvy’s, etc. But working from home and being your own boss can’t work for everyone. For one thing, many people don’t have the discipline to move the right mountains and keep them moving. Sleeping and television may be too big of a draw for some people, and being forced to travel to work and stay there for eight hours might be the only way they can make their money. So, how can you know if you have what it takes to be your own boss by owning a website business? WebsiteClosers.com, experienced online business broker has some tips:

  • Financially Stable. Unfortunately, it does take money to live from day to day so unless you already have money saved to buy the business plus anywhere from six to twelve months of living expenses already saved in case of emergency, you aren’t ready to be your own boss.
     
  • Time Management Skills. Being able to focus on daily business tasks is important to those who want to eventually enjoy success. Can you make priorities and priority lists and stick to them? An online business broker can even help you start an action plan.
     
  • Organizational Skills. Being organized means staying on top of tasks. Can you keep a daily routine to make sure the business runs smoothly and keeps customers happy? By being organized, you can also perform more tasks in a day instead of letting disorganization waste your time.
     
  • Keep Your Eyes on the Prize. Can you stay focused not just on current success, but on future success? This can be done by staying on top of market trends and always being aware of the company’s cash flow. Adjusting business goals might be necessary to re-route the path to success.
     
  • Must be “touchable”. It’s important for a business owner to be receptive to vendors, customers and employees. Can you maintain accessibility to these key players in your business? If you can, you will develop ongoing professional relationships that ultimately enhance and strengthen the business as a whole.

How To Become Your Own Boss in eCommerce

eCommerce has made it easier than today to become your own boss. By either launching your own online business or buying an existing one, you can become your own boss. eCommerce has transformed the business landscape to the point where anyone can operate an online shop from their home, without the need for stocking inventory, without employees, or even an office.

The challenge, of course, is that not everyone succeeds in this competitive environment. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that the failure rate for global eCommerce companies is about 90%. It takes a lot of hard work, and careful planning, to be among the ones that succeed.

However, many have. So, it’s important to learn from the ones who have succeeded at achieving their dream of becoming their own boss, and becoming a winner in eCommerce.

If you’re interested in launching a brand-new business, here are some tips for the best way to do it.

First, be certain you have an amazing website.

Designing a great eCommerce website is your first crucial step, and it’s virtually impossible to operate a successful eCommerce business without one. If your website is difficult to navigate or poorly designed, visitors will bail within seconds.

Designing an attractive, user-friendly, easy-to-navigate eCommerce site can be challenging – and essential to your success. Consider hiring eCommerce web design experts or use platforms such as Amazon and Shopify that know exactly how to help you grow your business. 

The next key step is to find the right products to sell. The best option is products that are in high demand but have low competition. Look for products that offer value for the customers’ money. Rather than settle on one product, consider product diversification. Merchants on Amazon are used to finding multiple products to offer customers, which helps expand their repeat customer rate and upsells, as well as attract new buyers.

What Are The Steps To Becoming Your Own Boss?

Once you have an eCommerce website and have chosen your products, devote some time and energy to thinking about the customer experience. Understanding the customer experience is a critical part of this process. Shopify and Google can provide you with analytics data to better understand what brought your customers to your website, while launching social media platforms can help you boost engagement with customers and get much-needed feedback on what they like about your shop and what they think needs improvement.

You can also ask customers to sign up for an email newsletter and use it to promote special sales and upcoming deals, and to boost upsells. These digital marketing tools have proven invaluable when it comes to attracting customers and driving sales higher.

Your marketing plan is a key part of the process of running a successful eCommerce company. You can connect with buyers using:

  • Social media
  • Email newsletters
  • SMS text message campaigns
  • Influencer campaigns
  • Affiliate marketing
  • An SEO program that optimizes your website for popular keywords
  • An educational blog on your website
     

These are proven ways to be certain the right buyers will see your products and that you can attract your key customer demographics.

It’s also important to learn from your competition. You want from day one to stand out compared to the competition and convince your buyers that you provide superior products and service and that you can excel where they don’t.

Start by learning from your rivals and see what they’re doing right – and wrong. Knowing what rivals do poorly is key to helping you adapt accordingly and improve your site.

What Are The Benefits Of Entrepreneurship?

The benefits of entrepreneurship have been well-established for decades. They include:

  • A flexible work schedule
  • Autonomy over your work
  • Development of leadership skills
  • Improved managerial skills
  • The ability to innovate in your career
  • Finding great ways to reach your full potential
     

Those benefits have been around for a long time. However, eCommerce has altered the landscape in that it has become an enormously powerful tool for small business owners. The benefits of being an entrepreneur with an eCommerce store are significant compared to the days when business owners opened shops in a special location or launched a franchise.

eCommerce also encompasses an increasingly wide number of verticals and industries. It is no longer just selling traditional retail products like clothing or home goods. Today, there’s a vast range of products and services available online, and entrepreneurs can launch a business focused on DTC (direct-to-customer) sales, B2B (business-to-business), or a combination of both. Other companies target their services to state or municipal governments, private organizations, and other specific entities.

One of the biggest benefits of eCommerce is the ease of setting up an online shop. There is no hunting for a suitable retail location or office space, paying monthly rent, and managing a warehouse for your inventory. Today, entrepreneurs can run an online business from their laptops in the comfort of their own homes, operate without employees or simply with the help of virtual assistants, and use Dropshipping (where their manufacturers ship the products directly to buyers).

This means the benefits include:

  • Lower upfront costs since your startup expenses are minimal
  • Adaptable to various business models
  • Fast-growing industry that rewards innovation
     

There are a lot of moving parts and changing elements in the eCommerce world, so make sure you focus on the best elements that matter in this industry. That includes coming up with the best pricing points to remain competitive and help your products stand out.

What Are Businesses Where You Can Be Your Own Boss?

Today there are a lot of opportunities for people to become self-employed and become their own boss. There are plenty of skills that come in handy for anyone who wants to be self-employed today, including some that don’t require a college degree. They include:

  • Real estate agent
  • Videographer
  • Beautician/hair stylist
  • Jewelry designer
  • Writer/blogger
  • Patient advocate
  • Dessert maker
  • Fitness trainer
  • and consultant.
     

For those ready to break away from the traditional 9-to-5 job and enjoy the freedom of being their boss, there are a growing number of one-person business ideas available today. The rise of solopreneurship has presented unique opportunities for people looking to leverage their expertise on their own. They get flexibility in their scheduling, a stronger work-life balance, and the ability to choose their work hours. They can also work on projects they know they’re good at and that match their interests and can work from anywhere.

One other field that entrepreneurs can go into is opening an eCommerce shop. It’s easier than ever to become your boss by starting an online business from your home and running it from your laptop, through a well-executed website. As a solopreneur, these eCommerce entrepreneurs are directly reaping the benefits of their hard work and enjoying the full financial benefits as well.

What Are Things You Can Do To Be Your Own Boss?

Before you jump into becoming your own boss, some early steps are important to take. To be your boss, first determine what you want to do, and then start a business plan. There are financial advisors that can help you achieve both goals.

You need to assess what the financial needs will be for your business, and consider taking courses on running a business, including ones available online.

Create an identity for your business – your brand, if you will. These are important first steps on the path to running your own company.

Consider the skills you have and use them to enhance your new business. Starting a business based on your expertise is a smart path forward.

Then consider what customers want. Start a business that caters to high demand for a particular product or service. Find ways to solve problems for customers. In effect, you’re selling them a solution.

Determine exactly who your target audience is. Identify the people most likely to show an interest in your products. It’s important to profile your potential customers and understand their typical behavior, then find the most effective marketing channels to reach them.

Market research will help your new business compete. Focus on issues such as:

  • Pricing in your vertical
  • Branding
  • Distribution channels
  • How competitors run their shop
  • Best sales methods in your niche
     

Finally, evaluate the potential strengths and weaknesses of your business. This can help you make smart decisions about how the business is run, and create a long-term informed strategy, which is going to improve your chances of success.

And finally: Good luck!

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