AD – This post is a paid advertorial with Lil Packaging
As we’re coming towards the end of yet another year, it’ll be the time where we start thinking about our goals for the next one. I’m a hugely goal oriented person so I find this period of time incredibly exciting, motivating and inspiring. Business is a big part of my life too and most of my goals for next year are centered around blogging, business and my career going forward.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Having an online business is tough – having ANY business is tough. But it’s also incredibly rewarding and exciting when things are going well and you’re motivated and thriving through it. If you have something to sell, whether that’s art, gifts, books, services or something else entirely and you’ve been putting off setting up your own online business…
Well there’s no time like the present, is there?
There’s so much to think about when running an online business, such as packaging, marketing and even paying those who work for you – here the help of HR Compliance can come in handy. So whether you already have an online business of some kind, you’re a couple of years in, only just started or it’s one of your goals for the new year (and new decade), here are 5 things worth thinking about in regards to your online business:
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Eco-friendly packaging
If you ship out physical products (or plan to in the future) obviously packaging is a big thing that you’ll have to consider. Quality, so your products get safely from A to B without damage. Quantity, so you have enough packaging at the ready in case you have an influx of orders. And also the material you use in your packaging is more important now than ever.
I’m sure I’m not the only one to have received a tiny product in a massive box before? Or received something that’s unlikely to have got broken anyway in a ton of unnecessary plastic wrap? It’s annoying, not needed and certainly harmful to the environment. But it doesn’t need to be one or the other.
Lil Packaging provide eco-friendly packaging in a whole range of forms to suit whatever you’re sending. They work with the Internet’s biggest retailers and help them make the switch to plastic free packaging by providing sustainable, biodegradable and plastic free packaging!
Marketing, marketing, marketing
If you’re not marketing your business properly, you could potentially be missing out on a lot of clients or sales. Marketing can make or break a business – depending on how you use it. And there’s different marketing strategies and tools you can use to make it work for you and your business.
Expanding
Perhaps you’ve had your online business for a while and it’s ticking along but you need to take it to the next level? Maybe now is the time to start thinking about expanding. A scary concept, yes but it could also take your business to new heights.
Expanding could mean a bunch of different things, depending on how far you want to expand and what areas of your business you want to expand on. It could mean setting up a new social media platform, creating and selling a new range of products, upping your pricing or investing in extra resources to help you thrive.
Get clear on your vision
Sometimes when we’ve had something going for so long and it’s ticking along nicely, we forget to reflect on what we REALLY want. And sometimes, our vision isn’t aligning with what’s going on any more. You might be selling a product you’re not longer 100% happy with. Or not sending out the right message to your customers any more.
Similarly, if you’re embarking on a new business journey, it can often be so exciting that we forget to REALLY get clear on our vision of what we want before we jump in head first. Regardless of where you fall, make sure your vision and your business are in alignment. And anything that isn’t, tend to it.
Take it offline
Yes, we’re talking about online businesses but let’s not forget there’s a real world out there. This might be harder for those who sell non-physical products such as eBooks or online courses but if you sell physical products such as art or craft items, then perhaps consider taking part in a local craft fair or Christmas fair and selling your products there.
This is also a great way to get your business out there locally. You can produce business cards or flyers to give to people, detailing where they can find you online and the sort of things you sell in case they can’t buy something on the spot.
Do you have an online business? How do you plan to grow your business in the new year? Are you looking to start an online business in 2020?
* This is a sponsored post with Lil Packaging. All thought and opinions are my own.
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Awesome post on many levels, and a great message, incidentally I am very interested in acquiring eco friendly packaging for our new supplement venture.
Great post, enjoyed reading!
Eco-friendly businesses are certainly not just a trend but a general requirement for business operators and startups that are aiming to establish presence in the international market. As footprint is reduced through the presence of new forms of operations online, organizations like https://www.therisr.com/ are also designed to aid in the promotion of good business culture online.
Thanks so much for your post.
I know you have written your blog last year, but the impact it has on the condition of living in the human society now is certainly timely. Given the situation of quarantine, it is sure that many are already thinking of opening businesses online. This is why one of the websites I am actually waiting for is the website https://www.therisr.com/- hoping to help other startup businesses, I hope freelancers and business owners would benefit well from this one. Thank you for your blog and I do hope a lot more readers would find it and get inspiration from it.
Thanks for sharing your valuable preservative. It was really a practical approach to the today’s business. I hope you are doing a great job in making people to think about Eco-friendly business.
Thank You Jenny for this blog,
You explain very well and The way you are showing to expand online business is really great.
I hope the people may change there thinking about online business. and maintain the business properly . that why we organised our firm to help the people’s business to expand digitally(online)
Yes. I did like your post. Thanks for posting everything in detail, will really looking forward to implement them in future.
Thanks for sharing this article!!
Awesome and useful read!
LaTisha |upandabroad.com
Great ideas to think upon 😊👍
Great post! You had some great tips here!
I don’t have a business, online or offline, but this is such an important post! I definitely agree with you about the packaging thing – it is SO annoying to receive really wasteful packaging! And your point about alignment is so true too. I’m trying to do this with lots of different aspects of life this year so that I’m really focused on achieving my goals. I’m also really excited to see what 2020 brings you, it’s going to be such a big year for you and you deserve all the success that’s coming! xx
Beth x Adventure & Anxiety
Being eco friendly is so important in this day and age and such a big one if you’re looking to expand your business too x
Definitely agree x
Such good tips!
Erin || MakeErinOver
There’s so much I’d actually buy if not for the fact that the packaging isn’t eco-friendly. Hopefully one day everyone has green packaging. I don’t have an online business yet, but I’d love to take things to markets!
Ash | thisdreamsalive.com
Fab tips, taking time off line kills 2 birds with one stone, it get so much more inspo
Absolutely 😌
Thanks for posting everything in detail, will really looking forward to implement them in future. Happy New Year 2020.
Very handy tips! It’s still a little strange thinking of my blog as an online business but it totally is! I’ll have to think about my plans for the future and see what direction I’d like to take the blog in over the next few years.
I don’t currently have an online business but I hope to start one in the near future.
– Avalon from http://www.simplyavalon.com
Really good tips! I think taking it offline is so important because it creates a more sustainable business x
Some really great tips here! xx
Eco-friendly packaging is such a must! It is so easy to do and I am so glad that more and more companies are using it! Had a little look on Lil Packaging and it looks like they have a good range! Expanding and making your that your brand is present and all social media platforms is a good tip! x
These are all such useful tips – I can’t wait to write down my New Year’s resolutions and grow my blog in 2020!
these are such handy tips as we head into a brand new decade! x
Thank you x
These are some really useful tips. I’m looking to expand both my blog and freelance business (and etsy store!) in 2020 so I’ll be putting these suggestions into practice. Thanks for sharing!
Hope they help! x
These are all brilliant tips! Eco-friendly packaging especially is a great one and I’m so glad more people are really starting to make the change! x
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
Me too x
I love these thoughts for rocking 2020 with a business. It is so important to be more eco-conscious. These are great tips overall. Getting your business to the next level can be challenging but taking things one step at a time help. I want to have an online business as a side gig – some day!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
Small steps lead to big things! I’m sure you’d be amazing at it!
Really useful information for those that have their own online business. 🙂
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
Thank you x
Eco friendly packaging is so important going into 2020!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
It really is x
You’ve been a major inspiration for me this last year, Jenny, and I’m so proud of how much you’ve grown! Thanks to you, I’m going to focus on pushing my content and feeling comfortable with my blog voice!
2020 will be yours!!
Daisy xoxo | TheDeeWhoLived
Awh thank you! You’ll rock 2020, I know you will xxx
I’ve been thinking about taking a little break but I’m not sure x
I would – everyone’s taking a break over Christmas!
Some really useful tips to think about Jenny x
Thank you x
Eco friendly packaging is such a big one going into 2020. I’ve noticed so many brands, even huge companies now switching to recyclable or compostable packaging now and it’s so nice to see x
Sophie
It’s great to see x
Hope you don’t mind me reblogging… such a timely article.
Don’t mind at all x
☺️