Have you ever been overwhelmed by online business “advice”?
We’ve all been there.
As with any skill, it’s important to stick to the same few fundamentals.
Everything you need to sell online:
- Website
- Offer
- Way to collect $
- Way to collect leads
- Follow up
- Traffic
Anything else is extra.
Let’s break it all down.
1. Website
Regardless of your online goals, you need your own platform.
With 1-click wordpress install + free domain name, it’s never been easier or more cost effective.
If you really want to stand out, you can upgrade to a premium theme.
However, a basic theme also gets the job done.
2. Offer
As you know, you can’t sell anything if there’s no offer.
(This is usually a product or service).
Don’t have your own product yet?
Try affiliate marketing.
You can browse thousands of proven products on Gumroad.
(The program is free).
3. Way To Collect $
This is your payment processing software.
(I use Stripe for most things).
Can’t make money without a means to collect right?
If you’d like to own the marketplace for your products + offer your own affiliate program, check out E-junkie and DPD Cart.
4. Way To Collect Leads
It’s essential to keep in touch with your audience.
Not everyone will buy the first time they see your message, but there will be plenty interested in hearing from you.
That’s where landing pages come in.
A landing page is a pleasant environment where you present your offer.
(This often involves a free gift as incentive to sign up for your newsletter).
For all your landing page needs, Carrd gets the job done.
They’re proven to grow your customer list by 600%+.
5. Follow Up
Now that you have your landing page set up, you want to send your leads to your email marketing platform.
Simply add an email sign up form using Aweber or Mailchimp and you’re good to go!
Once you’ve built an email list, go ahead and share amusing ideas with your contacts on a regular basis.
Don’t write for the purpose of making an instant sale or being a clown.
You might include a few recommendations here and there, but the primary focus is to add value via self-amusement.
6. Traffic
Without traffic, you have nothing.
Traffic is the lifeblood of any website.
If you’re tired of relying on SEO, check out Google Adwords.
You can set the metrics so you never pay more than what a lead is worth.
(In other words, you’re buying money at a discount).
Conclusion
These fundamentals will keep you grounded against anyone trying to sell you unnecessary BS.
Keep your mechanics lean and mean.
If you’re encountering any problem, it has to do with one of these steps.
When all these metrics are in order, you simply can’t fail.
That’s all there is to it!
