5 Essentials for a Successful Online Business in 2023
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If you’re reading this, you’re probably a new-ish business looking for ways to grow. Look at you go, bettering your biz and stuff!
Whether you’re outsourcing each of these essentials or going the DIY route, these are all uber important things that you should invest in for a booming business in 2023.
#1: User-Friendly Website
I mean, think about it, when you’re on a website that absolutely SUCKS to navigate, do you wanna hang out there, or click the X and get rid of the eyesore bombarding your screen ASAP? If you said you’d continue to scroll the site, you’re lying (sorry, but it had to be said).
Web design becomes even more important when mobile view enters the chat. A whopping 58% (!!!!!!) of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Before you ask, yes, I did just look that up to prove a point. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile viewing, you’re practically self-sabotaging, and your business is too awesome to have a shitty website.
My go-to website building platform is Squarespace because there’s enough freedom for great design, but it’s also easy for my clients to update their site on their own when we’re done working together. All-around heart eye emojis!
(P.S. When you work with me, you get 20% off your first year on Squarespace)
#2: Memorable Branding
And I’m not talkin’ a pre-canned Canva logo *que the “bombastic side eye” TikTok sound*. Your branding should be strategically created with your ideal client in mind to convey your business's values, personality, and unique selling proposition.
Branding should include at minimum multiple logo variations, a color palette, typography, and a photobank (imagery that elevates the vibe of your branding).
#3: Engaging Website Copy
Your words can make a world of a difference, especially when sales come into play. Web copy that encourages your viewers to trust you and take action comes with strategy! Our brains are freaking incredible, and knowing how they work is key to successfully writing to trigger the right emotions.
There are tons of free resources that you can use, courses you can take, and guides you can buy to learn how to sell through words, or you hire a professional to do it for you *hint: I’m a professional*.
#4: Social Media Presence
And no, I don’t mean you need to have thousands swiping up on your Insta stories telling you your content has changed your life. Just show up consistently and be yourself! Entrepreneurs often sleep on posting on socials for waaaaay too long because they’re scared of judgement. Join me in getting 5 likes on most posts but still posting. It’s literally fine! Because half the battle of social media is literally just showing up.
#5: Brand Photography
Visual appeal plays a huge part in your business’s image (haha, see what I did there?!). Brand photography can be used across social platforms, throughout your website, and even on printed collateral to add to the cohesiveness of your brand.
While investing in a professional photoshoot is ideal, this is another DIY-able task that can be checked off your biz to-do list. Grab your bestie (or, if I’m being brutally honest, whoever you know with the highest quality camera) and go live your model life!
If you’re feeling boujee and wanna take your photoshoot to the next level, rent out a studio space near you that matches your brand’s vibe. Don’t forget props and lots of fake laughs to bring out the real ones!
And Remember
Like that old, overused phrase goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, so don’t drive yourself bonkers trying to get all of this done after one week in business! Building a business takes patience, hard work, and most importantly time. Give yourself grace. You’ve accomplished the act of starting, and that’s more than most can say!
Dreading the idea of tackling your website, branding, or web copy by yourself? I totally get it! I’m here to make setting up the foundation of your biz 10x easier!
If we haven’t e-met yet, hey girl, hey! I’m Giuliana, a Squarespace web designer, brand designer, and web copywriter for creative businesses. Reach out via my contact page to apply to work with me, or follow me on Insta for useful tips and pretty designs.
Other than that, I hope you have an awesome day (or night if you’re like me and have made binging internet content at 1am part of your daily routine)!
