Whether you have been sitting on a great idea for several years, or have been struck by sudden inspiration – launching an online business can provide you with great professional and personal satisfaction. It gives you the opportunity to be your own boss and can increase your income dramatically in a short space of time.
However, there are various myths floating around that often discourage people from launching their own company. However, many of them are simply untrue, and you should not allow them to hold you back from chasing your dreams.
With that in mind, here are three (debunked) myths associated with launching an online business.
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Myth: Running an online business is risky.
Reality: When you run an online business, you put a certain amount of trust into the internet. For this reason, many people believe that companies that operate entirely online are vulnerable to hackers – who may try to steal important data. This could include banking details or customer information. However, in-person businesses are just as vulnerable to this kind of attack – meaning that launching a business online is no riskier than launching a general business.
Furthermore, you can protect yourself (and your company) by ensuring that you pay close attention to cybersecurity. One way in which you can do this is by working in close collaboration with an IT Support Firm, who can provide you with access to a variety of security software that helps keep your data safe and secure. In turn, this gives you and your customers with great peace of mind.
Myth: It is impossible to stand out from the crowd when running an online business.
Reality: It is easy to understand why this myth is so prevalent – after all, you are likely inundated with company advertisements every time you open your phone to scroll through social media, and many you will look over without a second glance. However, that does not mean it is impossible to get your business noticed. You just need to ensure that you put together a strong marketing team, who can help draw in customers. You need to have a strong understanding of your target audience and the industry you operate within – as this will help you create advertisements that work effectively.
Photo by Avel Chuklanov on Unsplash
Myth: Running an online business is easy.
Reality: Many people mistakenly feel that launching an online business is easier than running a physical business – perhaps because you can do it from the comfort of your own home, without having to hire out an office space or even other employees. However, it is still incredibly difficult to get an online business up and running.
You need to spend a lot of time putting together a business plan that will steer you towards success. You also need to work alongside a web developer to optimize your website – as a low-quality site will drive customers away quickly. Furthermore, when launching a company, you cannot simply sit back and let it take care of itself – you need to work hard every day. This may mean that you end up working long and unsociable hours, spending a lot of time behind a computer.