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How to start an online business from home

A complete guide that will teach you all you need to know about successfully starting
an online business from home and find the flexibility and freedom you desire.
June 10, 2020 10 minute reading

If you’ve dreamed of one day starting your own online business from home, then you’re not
alone. In fact, there are 38 million home-based businesses in the United States. Many of these
business owners cite reasons such as wanting to be their own boss, wanting to pursue their
passion, and dealing with the loss of their job due to unexpected life events, such as the
coronavirus, as the main driving forces which push them to get creative and look to online
methods of earning their income.
But there’s a reason why many of us don’t go in the direction of our own online business dreams.
Starting an online business from home isn’t an easy feat. You might be stuck wondering what
you can offer potential customers, or where to begin in figuring out how to start an online
business. 
To help you get started, we’ve written an in-depth guide that will tell you everything you need to
know about successfully launching an online business. We teach you how to find your perfect
niche and develop a business idea, as well as the necessary steps to take when setting up your
venture – whether you’re selling a product, service, or know-how. With this guide, you'll be able
to launch your online business and find the flexibility and freedom you desire. 

Follow these 14 steps to launching an online business

from home
Step 1. Find a business idea
Step 2. Find what to sell online
Step 3. Be legally compliant
Step 4. Conduct online market research
Step 5. Find a profitable niche
Step 6. Define your target audience
Step 7. Source products to sell online
Step 8. Questions for a wholesaler
Step 9. Evaluate product viability
Step 10. Factors to consider before you start selling
Step 11. Define your brand identity
Step 12. Define the marketing strategies to fuel business growth
Step 13. Launch your online store
Step 14. Business trends to watch in 2020 and beyond

Step 1. Find a business idea

All great home-based, online businesses start with an idea. This can be one of the most
daunting parts of starting an online business: where do you even begin? 
The following strategies will have you overflowing with business ideas in no time.

#1. Ask yourself what skills do you have

The best place to start is by looking at your own skills, expertise, and knowledge. Generate
ideas by asking yourself:
What areas have I studied, whether at university, college, through an online course, at a
workshop, etc.?
What subjects have I taught to others before? For example, are you the go-to person in your
current workplace when it comes to training new employees about certain systems, software,
or skills?
What topics have you researched the most, whether for work, education, or your own
curiosity?
What class did you perform the best in during school or college?

#2. Ask your friends and family what you’re good at

Sometimes, we fail to see our own talents, so this is where our friends and family can help us
out.
What do your loved ones compliment you about the most?
Growing up, were you often told you were particularly good at something?
Reach out to your friends and family and ask them where they think your talents and skill set
lie. 

#3. Ask your former employees and coworkers

If you’re still in contact with any former coworkers or employees, get in touch with them to find
out what they best remember about you.
Was it your patience when they needed your help? Or perhaps your excellent, easy-to-
understand way of explaining more complex subjects? The answers to these questions may help
you identify where you shine in a business context. 

“Always think outside the box and embrace opportunities that

appear, wherever they might be”
Lakshmi Mittal, chairman & CEO of ArcelorMittal

#4. Create a “skills map” 

This is like a topic map but will be used to map out all the skills you know are good at. Putting
your skills down on paper will allow you to see them all at a glance, helping you form
connections between skills or choose the one that stands out the most to you.
Here's how to create a skills map:
 Start by writing “skills” in the center of your map.
Branch out from the center to write your main skills as words or phrases.
Explore or break up each of these main skills further by drawing smaller “branches” off of
each and writing more words or phrases relating to that idea.
You can complete your skills map using pens and paper, or use a free tool like Mindmaps App. 
See what new insights you find by arranging your skills in this way. Finding a fresh take on a
common skill or subject is a great way to develop a business idea. 

Step 2. Find what to sell online

Once you’ve brainstormed ideas for what type of business you can start, the next step is to
work out what your business should sell online, which will be either product, services, or your
know-how.
#1. Products. These are physical objects made available for consumer use. Unlike services or
know-how, products are tangible. That is, they can be picked up, touched, and interacted with.
Examples of products being sold online include:
Jewelry
Backpacks
Pet beds
Cushions
Sunglasses
You might make your own products or source them from a wholesaler or drop shipper, we'll talk
about sourcing products later in the guide. 
#2. Services. Services can be defined as tasks performed in a professional and knowledgeable
manner by an individual or team for the benefit of its customers.
Examples of services that can be sold online are:
Teaching a language online
Virtual assistance
Online architectural services
Fitness and nutrition consultation
Online relationship coaching
#3. Know-How. If you’re knowledgeable about a particular topic that is of interest to your target
audience, you can sell your knowledge in one of these forms: 
 Video
eBook
White paper
Webinar
Podcast
Online course or workshop
When selling your know-how online, you’ll want to focus on four important factors to ensure its
success:
Provide your target audience with an answer to their biggest problems. What are they trying
to achieve or overcome? Based on your knowledge, what are the necessary steps to do so?
Offer your know-how at various price points to make it accessible for a wide range of your
target audience. For example, you might have an eBook priced at $14.95, a 7-day email course
priced at $49, and an in-depth video course with printable workbooks priced at $799.
Set up necessary online channels to market what you’re selling, including a website, blog,
email newsletter, and social media accounts.
Make it easy for the buyer to purchase with a simple checkout process and the option to
accept payment using PayPal, credit card, or weekly/monthly payment installments.

Whatever you are going to sell, it must have:

#1. Great market viability. A market that is “viable” is one that will continue being profitable for
a long time, therefore helping your business to remain successful. Will there be a need for your
product or service in many years to come?
#2. Competitive advantage. What does your product or service have that will allow you to
outperform your competitors? What will you do better than them and how?
#3. Active target audience. Are there people currently searching for what your product or
service offers? Does your product or service target a niche, yet large enough audience to
generate plenty of sales?
#4. Fits within legal requirements. Do you have the licenses, permits, or certification required
to run your business and sell your product or service? This brings us to our next section…

Step 3. Be legally compliant

Before you launch your online business, you’ll need to make sure you’re legally compliant to
avoid any fines or legal issues.
The information below applies to US-based businesses only, so it's vital that you check your own
country’s legal requirements for starting a business, as laws vary.
Additionally, the licenses, permits, or certificates you require to stay legally compliant vary
based on your industry and state/country, so always check with local authorities first to ensure
you know exactly what is required of you legally before you start your online business.
US-based businesses are required to apply for a business license, as this provides the
government with a way of tracking enterprises operating within the area, as well as tax revenue
generated.
To obtain a business license, you’ll need:
A detailed description of your business's activities
A legal structure. Will you be operating as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or
corporation?
Any required inspections or permits, based on your region’s rules and regulations
A sales tax license, if required, from your state agency
You’ll also need to maintain relevant licenses, permits, or certificates and prevent them from
expiring.

Step 4. Conduct online market research

When you conduct online market research, you are simply gathering information about the
market you will be entering, as well as your competitors and customers.
This is an essential step in starting your online business, as it helps you to determine if there’s a
healthy demand for what you plan to sell.
When we talk about demand, it refers to:
The need for your product/service/know-how
Who wants to purchase what you’re selling?
How much are customers willing to spend?
To understand these things, you'll want to understand where your customers spend time online.
Do they use forums? Spend time on Facebook? Or do they prefer to read blog articles? Knowing
this will help you get the best information to understand your customers. 
To begin conducting your online market research, you’ll want to use the following tactics and
tools.

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#1. Analyze Google's SERPs (search engine results pages)

SERPs refers to Search Engine Results Pages, which are the pages displayed by search engines
like Google when you type in a search term. 
You can analyze the top-ranking websites to see what type of websites are on the first page of
results. Are they:
Informational blogs? 
E-commerce sites? 
Educational websites? 
This helps you understand if your chosen keywords have the correct intent for what your
business will offer. 
Analyzing the SERPs requires practice and knowledge, as well as a certain understanding of SEO
to understand the SERP's main intent. You can hire the help of a freelancer if you need more
specialized knowledge for this task. 

#2. Research your competitors

Researching your competitors (those who offer a similar product or service to you) helps you to
collect important information regarding their website and online business in general. By using a
free tool such as SimilarWeb, you can easily see how much traffic the competitor website
brings, what type of keywords they are ranking for, and more. 
Here are some of the things you should understand about your competitors when doing this
research: 
Products/services
Customers
Pricing
How they carry out business 
This competitor research then allows you to spot any potential gaps in the market that your
business can fill.
If you use a tool like SimilarWeb, you'll also be able to get information such as: 
Where the competitor's main traffic is coming from (organic, paid, or social) 
Who other niche related competitors are
The types of other niches people are interested in
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analyst to help.

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#3. Perform a keyword research

Performing keyword research helps you understand the search volume and competition behind
certain keywords. 
There are many tools you can use when doing keyword research, among the most popular ones
you have:
SEMrush
Moz keyword explorer
Ahrefs
Since keyword research can be a time-consuming process and require special knowledge, you
can always hire a keyword research specialist on Fiverr to do the job for you. 

Step 5. Find a profitable niche

A niche is a very focused business area of a broader market. A business that only sells clothing
for newborn babies, for example, is a specialized niche within the broader fashion market.
Important benefits of having a niche business include:
Less competition in a smaller, more specialized market, giving you a better opportunity to
stand out
The ability to offer niche market expertise, as well as a specialized skill set and knowledge
base
The potential to price your products or services higher as you have less competition, yet
healthy demand
Greater customer loyalty, retention, and satisfaction, as you’re meeting a very specific need in
a smaller market
Differentiation from competitors serving a more general market
You also need your niche to be profitable to guarantee the success of your home-based, online
business.

To find your profitable niche:

Focus on an area you are knowledgeable and passionate about (think back to your “skills
map”)
Identify subtopics within this area and research each one
Analyze the target audiences within these areas and think about their needs and wants to
identify potential gaps in the marketplace 
Research if this sector is evergreen, or has consistent interest over time. To determine this,
perform a Google search for the fastest growing industries by revenue growth in your country
 or use Google Trends.

Tip: make a list of topical interests and passion areas you have, then find the
typical problems your target customers are searching a solution for and
understand if you can actually solve them or not

Step 6. Define your target audience

Your target audience is a group of individuals sharing similar characteristics or needs that your
online business is aiming to serve. Therefore, they are most likely to purchase your products or
services.
The easiest way to define your target audience is to segment them based on demographics.
Going back to SimilarWeb, you can have a general overview of your competitor's target audience
and start to gather information such as: 
#1. Age
How old are they?
What generation are they part of?
#2. Gender
Are they predominantly male or female?
#3. Income
How much money do they make per year?
Within what income class do they belong?
#4. Device Use
How do they consume content? Desktop, mobile, or tablet?

Find the right target audience so you can create content that answers your
reader needs. Tweet This
Step 7. Source products to sell online
Your products are the foundation of your online business, so you’ll want to put a lot of thought
into the way you source them. There are three main ways to source products:
1. to make them yourself
2. to work with a manufacturer or wholesaler
3. to work with a dropshipper

#1. DIY products 

If you're making DIY products, such as handcrafted necklaces, wall art, or knitted scarves, your
first task will be sourcing the materials required to make your products. Identify what materials
are needed to create your desired product, then research their costs online or by visiting a
store.
Popular places for sourcing materials for DIY products include:
1. Local flea markets
2. Craft stores
3. Estate sales
4. An established retailer
5. Friends and family

#2. Work with a manufacturer or wholesaler

Working with a manufacturer or wholesaler allows you to hire a partner to develop the product
on your behalf. This option may be useful if you:
Can't make the product yourself, due to a lack of skills, tools, or equipment necessary
Are ready to scale your DIY product by hiring a team or other company to make it for you
Are experiencing higher than planned sales and need additional products to be produced
quickly
Working with a manufacturer or wholesaler offers benefits for your online business, including:
The option to pursue a unique or complex product idea without having to make it yourself
The ability to source products that have already proven to be popular
Still having full control over your brand and the quality of your product
Assistance with production from those with manufacturing experience
Sourcing your product from a manufacturer or wholesaler may require you to invest more
heavily upfront than if you were to produce the product yourself, however.
So, where do you find the products, or ideas for products, that you want to make and sell?
Partner with a friend or family member who makes a product you’d like to sell
Source a product using wholesale websites such as Alibaba, Etsy Wholesale, or DHgate
Partner with an existing business to take their products online or from B2B to B2C
Build relationships with makers on social media

#3. Find a dropshipper

Dropshipping is a partnership with a vendor that lets you list their products on your online store.
You then make a commission for every sale you make, while the dropshipper is completely
responsible for stocking and shipping products. 
Not only is it an effective option for starting a new online business, but it also works in the
vendor’s favor too, as you are helping them expand the product catalog of their existing store.
There are some downsides to dropshipping, however, including:
Many of the products offered by drop shippers are readily available all over the internet,
causing increased competition
Dropshipping can give you a lower profit margin, so you’ll need to sell a large number of
products before making a good profit

The four steps to find a dropshipper

1. Find options by researching dropshipping companies online.
2. Check their references and reviews and evaluate your options by comparing
each dropshipping company. Which one has the best references and reviews,
as well as the best prices and product offering for your business?
3. Ask for samples of their products so you can assess quality, size, features, and
design in-person before committing to the business relationship.
4. Pick the best one and get started in selling their products through your own
online business.

Step 8. Questions for a wholesaler

The following important questions will help you determine if a wholesale company is right for
your online business or not.
#1. Production and shipping
Where are the products made?
What location are the products shipped from?
What will the total cost of production and shipping be? Are there any potential hidden fees?
How long will it take for them to create, fulfill, and ship the product?

Important questions to ask about shipping and inventory management:

Is that included as part of the service?
Is there any additional cost?
What are the timelines and conditions?
Do you have control over package branding?

#2. Minimum order quantities

Will you have to commit to a certain number of units or spend a minimum amount?

#3. Terms and conditions

What does the contract entail?
Is there any wiggle room for things your business or customers need?
Is there an evaluation period or terms for termination?
What are the payment terms?
What are your return or refund policies?
Do you have liability insurance?
Does the product have or require certifications?

#4. Customer service

What support and communication are offered?
How frequently will you be updated on information like inventory, product changes, or even
discounts?
How can orders be placed?
Step 9. Evaluate product viability
We all know some products have greater potential to sell than others, but how can you
determine if your own products will have that same success?
The best trending e-commerce products all have three important characteristics in common:
#1. Unique, authentic, and eye-catching. The product you’re selling should be one-of-a-kind so
the demand for it is high. Ideally, customers shouldn’t be able to purchase your product
anywhere else online.
#2. Difficult to find. When a product is unique, it is also usually more difficult to find. This
increases customer demand for your product, yet means you have little to no competition when
it comes to selling it, setting you up for success.
#3. Lower pricing. The ideal product will be one that you can sell within a good profit margin,
and this is where adopting a drop-shipping solution becomes challenging as you will have to
increase your prices. Is it bad? That's not ideal but if you don't overdue you might actually
increase the customer’s perceived value of the product

Tip: Work on the sales organization around your product. Focus on building
customer loyalty, keep your customers happy and offer a great customer service
you will then create even more real value to the product itself.

Step 10. Factors to consider before you start selling

#1. How long do your products take to make?
If you are making DIY products, will you make your items to order or keep inventory on hand so
the product can be shipped immediately? 
If you’re working with a dropshipper or wholesaler, you will need to understand their policies
and ensure they always have enough products on hand to keep up with your demand. If they
need to order or make products to fulfill your requests, how long will it take to restock? 

#2. How will you ship orders?

If your product is a digital one, then delivering orders to your customers can be set up on
autopilot through your e-commerce platform, allowing them to gain access to the files once
payment has been made.
Physical products, on the other hand, will require shipping to buyers, so you need to determine
which method is easier and more affordable. 
For DIY products, will you visit the post office and send the parcels yourself? 
If you're working with a wholesaler, will you ship products yourself or work with a shipping and
fulfillment company? 
If you're using a dropshipper, they will handle all the shipping and fulfillment for you. 

#3. Where will you store your inventory?

When you first start your online business from home, it’s understandable you may want to start
small with inventory and keep your running costs low. As your business grows, however, you will
need an inventory storage method that scales with it.
If you're making products yourself, you can store them in your home or garage. Depending on
how many you make in advance, you could also get a storage locker for extra inventory. 
If you're using a wholesaler, you'll need to decide between storing products yourself at home, in
a storage unit, or even a warehouse. Your other option is to use a fulfillment service that will
store and ship the products for you. 
If you're using a dropshipper, they will take care of storing all the inventory for you.

#4. How will you communicate timelines?

From the very beginning, establish a clear plan for how to communicate with your suppliers and
make sure you’ve both set expectations for what information is required from each of your ends
to allow things to run smoothly.
If you're making products yourself, how long will it take for you to receive raw materials from
your suppliers? 
If you're working with a manufacturer, how far in advance do you need to place orders before
you will receive your products to sell?
If you're working with a wholesaler or dropshipper, what are the expected time periods for
processing the order, dispatching the order, and shipping the order?
Furthermore, how will the supplier communicate this process to you so you are being kept in the
loop throughout?
Depending on your wholesaler or drop-shipper, they may prefer communication via email,
phone, or through an integrated system, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software,
where both parties can update statuses and communicate back and forth.
Additionally, your customers won’t like to be kept in the dark about their orders. Therefore, it’s
important you set up a system for communicating with your customers throughout the sale and
shipping timeline. The best way to do this is via email or text message updates, including:
A “thank you for your purchase” or confirmation of sale message, which also mentions when
they can expect their order to arrive
An order dispatch message, notifying the customer that their order has now been shipped
and is on its way to them
A confirmation message that the order was delivered successfully

Step 11. Define your brand identity

#1. Implement design and UI/UX
When defining your brand identity, it’s important that you focus on design features such as your:
Logo
Color scheme
Typography
Font
Graphics / photography
Your online business should have a brand style guide, which is your rule book for how your
brand is represented visually. It helps maintain consistency with the look and feel of your brand,
especially when working with a graphic designer.
Along with the graphic design, other important elements of your visual identity include UX (user
experience) and UI (user interface) design.
A UX designer considers the user’s entire journey to solve a particular problem. For example,
what steps do they need to take in order to make a purchase? They focus on the overall feel of
a user’s experience when interacting with your brand.
A UI designer, on the other hand, considers all the visual and interactive elements of a product
interface, including buttons, icons, spacing, and responsive design. It’s also their job to make
sure the design is consistent, coherent, and aesthetically pleasing.

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#2. Choose the right e-commerce platform for your online

business
An e-commerce platform can be thought of as the central hub for your online business.
When determining which e-commerce platform is right for your business, you’ll want to make
sure it offers the following:
The ability to sell an unlimited amount of products, including both physical and digital
products
Basic built-in e-commerce features including promotions and discounts, analytics, and catalog
management.
An e-commerce website builder that is cost-efficient, easy-to-use, and mobile-responsive
Security features, such as secure payment processors
SEO-friendly features, such as the ability to have a custom domain name, meta tags, meta
descriptions, SEO optimized URL structures, and more
Abandoned cart recovery tools
An extensive app store with pre-built integrations and add-ons
While there are lots of e-commerce options available, we recommend WooCommerce as a
strong solution for many online businesses. 

#3. Develop content guidelines 

Your content is how you communicate with your customers, engage with your target audience,
and portray your business professionally.
Therefore, it’s important you determine the following content-related elements for your brand:
Copy guidelines
This set of rules should outline what to do and what not to do when writing content associated
with your online business. It should also focus on:
Grammar rules
How to format text
What words should and shouldn’t be used in association with your brand
Copy guidelines are especially helpful when multiple writers oversee your business’ content, or
even just to help you stay on track.
Tone of voice
This isn’t about what you say, but rather how you say it. 
Think of your online business as having a certain personality, then determine how this can be
communicated through your words and what sort of impression you want to have on your
audience.
For example, will your tone of voice be formal and professional, young and trendy, or friendly and
conversational?
Mission statement
This is a summary of the aims and values of your company. When writing your mission
statement, you should think about:
Why your online business exists
What your overall goals are
The products or services you provide
Your target audience
The geographical location in which you operate

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Step 12. Define the marketing strategies to fuel

business growth
#1. Define your acquisition funnel
Next, you must understand how your target customer will move through the stages of the
buyer's cycle (sometimes called an acquisition funnel) until they make their first purchase.
These are the four stages you will see. 
Awareness. Awareness is the first time potential customers interact with your products or
services. It typically happens after they begin online research for a problem they are trying to
solve. 
Interest. Next, potential customers want to have confirmation that you are an expert in your
industry. They may think you are the right solution for their problem and are looking for
information to support that. At this point, they may have expressed interest in your company
by providing an email address or following you on social media, but they haven't made a
purchase. 
Decision. Once the potential customer has expressed interest, you must demonstrate that
you are in fact an authority in your field and an expert in your niche. You can do this through
blog posts and articles, case studies, or even offering a free trial of your services to convince
them you are the right solution. 
Action. This is the final stage of the funnel where a prospect has made the decision to buy
and turns into a customer.

#2. Inbound marketing mediums/channels

An inbound marketing strategy can include several different channels and types of content
to attract prospects and customers to your website.
The aim is then to continue to engage and delight them, even after they become customers.
This allows you to grow a business that provides value and builds trust amongst your audience.
Inbound marketing strategies to consider include:
Video marketing
Blogging
SEO
Paid advertising
Content creation and marketing
Social media marketing
Email marketing

Step 13. Launch your online store

Once your online store is open for business, there are some important steps you'll need to take
to ensure its continued success. You see, the actions you take after a sale, as well as how you
measure and drive growth, are vital steps that can either make or break your online venture.

#1. The next steps after the sale

Order fulfillment:
Process the order
Ship the order, if handling in-house
Manage and process returns, if required
Follow up:
Contact customers to thank them for their order and provide a delivery timeframe
Reach out to customers once their order has arrived to ensure they’re satisfied
Encourage customers to provide a review or testimonial about your business or product
Build customer loyalty:
Invite your customers to keep in touch through social media channels
Invite customers to join a loyalty club where members are offered special discounts
Offer rewards for new customer referrals
Send personalized cards for special occasions such as birthdays, offering gift promotions
Generate repeat sales:
 Send updates via email and social media to advertise sales, offers, and promotions
Offer product demonstrations that may be of interest to your customer
Highlight related products that provide customers with additional benefits

#2. Measuring success

There are three main areas, as well as several KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), to consider
when measuring your online business' success:
Ecommerce data
This includes the data from your online business's website where customers can buy your
products or services. Important KPIs to monitor include:
Number of sales
Conversion rate
Average Order Value (AOV)
Shopping Cart Abandonment Rate
Product affinity (which products are often purchased together)
Online acquisition and marketing success
You'll also need to analyze your website in terms of acquisition and audience behavior. Think
about the following questions: 
How much traffic do you drive organically? How much comes through direct traffic, social
media, or referrals from other sites? 
How long do visitors stay on your site?
What percentage of visitors make a purchase or take another action, like signing up for email
lists? 
Business performance
Additionally, you'll want to focus on the profitability, growth, and overall progress of your
business. Measure the following KPIs to ensure you're achieving your desired goals:
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
Cost of Goods Sold (How much you’re spending to sell a product)
Gross profit
Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)
Average Margin

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#3. Focus on growth

You’ll want to stay engaged with your target audience and generate more buzz for your brand to
drive growth and acquire new customers. This can be achieved through:
Online marketing strategies, such as running competitions through social media, influencer
outreach, hosting or appearing on a podcast, blogging, SEO efforts such as keyword research
and targeting, and producing informative video content that addresses your target audience’s
wants and needs
Omnichannel strategies, including selling your products or services on other online channels,
such as Amazon, Etsy, and eBay
Email marketing, where you focus on growing your email subscriber list through offering opt-in
freebies such as eBooks, event invitations, printable art, discount codes, and more in
exchange for the user’s email address. You should continue to nurture your sales funnel by
sending targeted emails offering value and in-depth content to turn leads into sales
Additionally, you should continuously monitor your KPIs to ensure your business is reaching its
goals and achieving growth each quarter.
Regularly assess this information and ask yourself:
What did we do well this quarter?
What do we need to do better?
How much growth or decline are we experiencing?
What are our new goals or benchmarks for the next quarter?
Step 14. Business trends to watch in 2020 and beyond
The top trending niches
1. Eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products, such as reusable food wraps or bamboo
straws
2. Preplanned meal delivery, where meal ingredients are delivered to a customer’s door,
complete with recipes
3. HIIT exercise equipment to assist with high-intensity exercise
4. Handmade jewelry for a bespoke, minimalist style
5. Organic pet products, such as organic food, shampoo, or pet beds made from organic
materials

The most popular eCommerce platforms

1. Shopify
2. WooCommerce
3. BigCommerce
4. Magento
5. Squarespace Online Stores

Start your online business

Starting your own online business from home might not be a quick process, but it's certainly one
of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Rather than navigating the world of online business
on your own, we’ve developed this in-depth guide to provide you with a simple, step-by-step
roadmap to launching a successful online venture – whether you sell products, services, or
know-how.
There is nothing as satisfying as working for yourself and focusing on your own passions, and all
it takes is finding the right online business idea, niche, and target audience to jump-start your
entrepreneurial dream.
By following the process we outlined for finding or developing your products or services to sell,
choosing the right e-commerce platform, defining your brand identity, and employing marketing
strategies to fuel business growth, you’ll be on the road to online business success in no time.

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15 ways to promote your business online: a beginner's guide
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How to create a blog: learn how to build your own blog website
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