Lazette Special Issue: Living Not Surviving May 2021 | Page 11

2020 was truly a tough year . With unending issues and challenges faced by businesses , it is hard to see how people have made the most of these uncertain times . However , as the pandemic grows ever longer , businesses around the world have switched operations to online platforms , and from it gained a new untapped market to sell to . Countless ascendant online businesses have thrived during the pandemic and applications like Shopee and Lazada have become increasingly popular . The question for onlookers is a simple one : how might they start their own ?
To start an online business , one must fulfill a certain need . Just like any business , an online business has to sell a product or service that caters to the needs of the consumer . Whether it be seat comforters to address the never ending back pains of those working from home , or kitchen gadgets for those who were forced to cook for the first time because of lockdowns , online businesses must sell a product that caters to their customer ’ s needs . Once a product or service is created to fulfill a need , the next step is marketing it .
Marketing an online business is a process often done through the use of social media sites like Facebook or Instagram . With people confined to their homes and glued to their screens , promoting through these online avenues has become the norm during the pandemic . However , any successful online business needs to be able to stand out from the competition . The easiest way to do this is through paid
advertisements on Facebook or Instagram or through eye-catching graphics for advertising . As soon as an online business gets the attention of a customer , the question of where to sell it arises .
The ease of purchasing a product is the main selling point of online businesses . With a click of a finger , the product will arrive on a customer ’ s doorstep in a matter of days , without the customer even having to leave his house . This , however , can become the trickiest part of an online business . The most obvious answer for a startup online business is to sell their product on online shopping sites such as Shopee or Lazada . However , sites like these are highly competitive in nature which makes gaining attention and garnering customers a difficult ordeal for an upcoming online business . Another option for online businesses would be to sell their product directly to customers through social media . In this way , the online business can have full control of its schedule while marketing its product in its own desired way .
With the pandemic , many young and old entrepreneurs are on the rise with simple but original concepts that benefit their consumers from their own needs . Starting a business is a slow process , but paired with passion for the business and drive to work hard , entrepreneurs can be unstoppable . Setting up a business requires effort , passion , and the willingness to accept criticism and failure . Once one has these , there are no limits to how far they can succeed in their online business journey .
ONLINE BUSINESSES

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