If you have had enough of working for someone else and would like to join the millions around the world who are self-employed, there are many online opportunities. If, for example, you have a trade, you could market your services and create a business name, or you could set up an e-commerce platform, which is a very popular way to be your own boss.

Here are a few tips for the digital entrepreneur who wishes to set up an online business.

ü  Funding – Whatever your business idea, it will take money to turn it into reality; crunch the numbers and look for online lenders who offer start-up loans and see what they can do for you. Of course, everything depends on your business concept and with a solid business plan, you can attract private investors. A good business plan would be 15-30 pages and would cover every aspect of the business and you can apply for a cash card from Thailand’s leading finance company and never have to bother going to the bank.

ü  Outsource IT Needs – The design and construction of your business website needs to look professional and you can outsource all IT needs to a single provider. One company can design, build, manage and protect your digital platform, which leaves you free to focus on improving the customer experience.

ü  Digital Marketing – Don’t make the mistake of thinking that digital marketing is an optional extra; it most certainly is not. We live in a digital world and it is crucial that you establish a strong online profile, as this will drive traffic to your website, which is your shop window to the world. There are many powerful strategies that an SEO agency might use to promote a business; social media, for example, is a very cost-effective way to get your message out to the right people. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is essential for every online business and optimising your site for Google searches will pay big dividends. Here are some digital marketing tips for e-commerce businesses.

ü  Make Good Use of Available Technology – There are specialised business software packages that really do streamline business processes; create an online calendar and you can set up notifications to make sure nothing gets overlooked. VoIP communication with platforms like Zoom and Skype for Business keep your communication costs low and all your critical business data should be migrated to the cloud. You can access your data from any location using any digital device and with added cyber-security, your data is secure.

ü  Compare Prices – Whether buying office equipment or a work vehicle, you should always take a good look at what is available and Google can really help with this by locating other suppliers so you can compare both price and service. There’s a lot to be saved if you are prepared to spend the time comparing prices.

Some would say it is unwise to launch a business during a pandemic, yet fortune definitely favours the brave and if you have done your market research properly, there’s every reason to expect success.