Creative Ideas to Grow Your Online Business in 2015

Online businesses have been growing steadily and surely for the last decade, but 2014 saw a surge in the numbers. More and more young people are tempted to start their own business in addition or in lieu of their permanent jobs. This of course means more competition to the existing business owners but the good news is that online sales are on the rise as well. Difficult economic times do pose a threat to online entrepreneurs though, and many a business give in and crumble. Arm your business with the essentials skills you need to master to make 2015 a great year in terms of business.

 Focus on Your USP

Online business in 2015 is simply not the same as it used to be 10 years ago. Everything is available online now and unless you are fortunate enough to have a monopoly in your line of business, you have no choice but to compete. One thing that will gain an edge in the competition is a USP. Stop and think about the unique selling point of your product or service. If it does not have one, re-invent it to include one. Then, create a compelling copy detailing the USPs and use them to market your product or service effectively.

Cut Your Costs with Reliable B2B Sources

The key to a successful physical products business, whether you are selling online or offline, is finding good wholesalers. B2B – or ‘Business to Business’ – is when companies sell to other companies. In simple terms, it means that instead of looking for the cheapest retail price you can get your inventory for, you look for trusted wholesalers who will sell to you (and not compete with you in the retail market) so you can make the best profits. If you already have an eBay or Amazon store, 2015 is the right time to scale things up by finding real wholesalers with the help of trusted B2B companies like Quality Trade.

Connect with Customers and Fellow Businesswomen

That staying connected is essential for business growth is an understatement. In these times when e-commerce is at its peak, out of connect is out of mind. You have to be a part of the web world if you need to make it big here. Use these tips to stay connected to the online world:

1. Set aside a fixed time for social media.
2. Connect with both customers and friends. You never know who might play an important role in bringing new business.
3. Subscribe to podcasts and mailings from fellow businessmen and women to gain insights on what they are doing in their own businesses.
4. Overcome your shyness for videos, podcasts, telephone conferences, interviews and live presentations and make 2015 the year to begin marketing through these channels.
5. Start writing to get the word out on your expertise. A regular column on an online magazine in your industry, your own blog or an ebook will help you establish yourself as an expert.
6. If your business involves products or information, do not neglect Pinterest. It is quickly surpassing all other social media platforms to help sales.

 Re-plan your Business Strategy

Analyze your business strategies and bring them up to date with the current requirements. Look up to your ideals in business and plan your business to grow in that direction. Make it a point to focus on profit margins and not only your sales.  Get into a habit of accounting so you know precisely how much money is made every single day. Then use this data to know your revenues for larger periods of time. This will give you a clearer picture of how your business is doing and where exactly you can make changes.

Invest in Yourself

Like in most online and offline businesses, the owner is the main asset of the entire setup. Just as you update your computer and smartphone to stay in sync with the latest business technology, invest time and money in growing your business acumen. Schedule time to attend seminars and courses on developing new skillsets that will help you in creating better products, rendering better services or managing and marketing your business better in 2015. Marketing and Technology gurus are forever available through their online seminars for you to take benefit from and apply the latest in business tactics to your own online ventures. If you have staff working under you, invest in their skill sets too.

Expand Your Horizons

Have you been planning to add to your business for the past year? Do not procrastinate. Always remember – “A year from now, you will wish you had started today!”. Let 2015 be the year for a new source of income or an addition to your existing business. Add new product lines and additional services that will cater to your customers. If you are selling baby products or services, for example, branching out to maternity as well as kids makes perfect sense. If your current business is pretty much on an auto-pilot, consider starting a new one to create a second income. You never know when you might need it.

The key thing to remember for 2015 is to re-invent yourself to be relevant and fresh at all times. It is not uncommon to see new businesses with a younger vision fail and generations old businesses survive because they do not shy away from innovations. Aim to become one of those who sustain by the way of re-inventing and your business will profitably sail through 2015 and many more years beyond.