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Haiden Hibbert
Google searches for “how to start a business” are nearly six times greater than “how to get a job.” Translation? There’s an increasing desire to be an entrepreneur. But you don’t need to be the next Steve Jobs to start your own business. In fact, the only requirement to starting a digital company is that you have a computer and some kind of knowledge to share with the world!
In this post, we’ll walk through six simple steps on how to become a digital entrepreneur and start earning income online.
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Table of Contents
Step 1: Pick your niche
The first step in becoming a digital entrepreneur is to identify your niche. What knowledge or skills do you have that others would find valuable? The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to target your ideal customer.
Some examples of specific niches include:
- Social media marketing for small businesses
- Mindfulness techniques for moms
- DIY renovation tips for homeowners on a budget
Take some time to brainstorm your unique expertise and how it can benefit a specific group of people.
Take Dana from Somewhere Worthwhile, for example. Her brand is focused on a super specific niche – moms planning a family trip to Disney World. She offers digital products like guides, toolkits, and members-only community access and uses targeted language on her website that speaks directly to her target audience:
I believe that planning for Disney can be thoughtful, laid-back, and even inspiring.
Step 2: Decide what you’ll sell and how
Once you’ve identified your niche, it’s time to decide how you’ll package and sell your knowledge. As a digital entrepreneur, you have a variety of options:
- Passive income products – Create content like e-books, online courses, or templates that customers can purchase and use on their own time.
- 1:1 or group services – Offer personalized coaching sessions, live webinars, or group classes where you work directly with clients.
- Memberships – Provide ongoing access to exclusive content, community support, and resources for a recurring fee.
Business Tip: The beauty of starting a digital business is that you can develop your products and services around what works best for your lifestyle. If you’re a busy parent or have another job, passive income products might suit you well. Maybe you’re an aspiring coach with a flexible schedule, and video calls make perfect sense for you. It’s your call!
Step 3: Create a website
Your website is your digital storefront, where you’ll showcase your products and services, share free resources, and attract new customers. Choose a user-friendly platform like WordPress or Squarespace, and pick out a website template that complements your brand and niche.
Some elements to consider including on your website are:
- A clear description of what you offer and who it’s for
- Testimonials or case studies from satisfied customers
- An “About” page that shares your story and credentials
- A blog or resource library with valuable free content
- Easy-to-find links to your products and services
Step 4: Set up your payment gateway
To sell your digital products and services, you’ll need a reliable payment gateway. This is where MemberSpace comes in. MemberSpace is a powerful tool for digital entrepreneurs that allows you to sell access to anything on your website and accept payments easily through the built-in Stripe integration.
With MemberSpace, you can restrict access to your digital product pages, requiring payment before customers can view them. This means you can securely sell e-books, courses, webinars, and more, all from your own website.
Step 5: Price your products
Coming up with a pricing strategy for your digital products can be tricky, but MemberSpace gives you plenty of flexibility. You can offer one-time payments, recurring memberships, installments, or even free lead magnets to attract new customers.
When setting your prices, consider:
- The value you’re providing to your customers
- The time and resources you’ve invested in creating your products
- Your target audience and what they’re willing to pay
- Your overall business goals and revenue targets
Remember, you can always adjust your prices over time as you learn more about your market and your own value.
Step 6: Promote your business
Once your digital products and services are ready to go, it’s time to spread the word! There are countless ways to promote your new digital business, both online and offline:
- Share your website and offerings on social media
- Reach out to bloggers or podcasters in your niche for interviews or collaborations
- Attend networking events or expos related to your industry
- Offer free webinars or workshops to showcase your expertise
- Partner with complementary businesses to cross-promote your products
- Invest in online advertising, such as Facebook or Google ads
The key is to be consistent, authentic, and generous with your knowledge and resources up front. As you build relationships and provide value to your audience, your business should naturally grow.
Best Practices for Digital Entrepreneurs
Here are a few best practices to help you position yourself online as a digital entrepreneur.
Refine your message
To best position your brand in front of the right people, it’s essential to have a clear and refined message.
Ask yourself: What is the one thing you want your audience to know about what you do? This can be as simple as, “I want to simplify complex processes” or “I want to inspire people to start their own business.”
Once you know what drives you and what you want people to take away from interacting with you online, it’s easier to determine what your strategy will be, such as which platforms you want to be on and who your target audience is.
Know your audience
Once you’ve defined your key message, it’s important to hone in on who that message is for. Every type of entrepreneur has an ideal customer. If you want to position yourself in front of the right audience, then it’s essential to know how to reach and communicate with that customer.
If you’re not quite sure where your ideal audience hangs out online, research your customers or clients. Figure out which platforms they spend the most time on, whether that’s LinkedIn, Instagram, or even email, and focus on one platform at first.
Next, determine how best to communicate with your audience. Do they prefer to read long-form content like e-books? Or would they rather watch a short video clip? Does your audience enjoy inspirational messages or do they want to stay informed? Knowing all of this will help you find your audience and speak to them in a way that resonates with them.
Build a community
Whether you sell software or offer private coaching, building an online community is essential for every type of entrepreneur.
Building a community around your business is key to creating relationships with your target customer, building trust, and ultimately increasing brand loyalty (which often translates to sales).
A couple ways to build community online is through a newsletter or social media platforms. These outlets are a good way to communicate with a large number of people in a shared space.
But if you want to take the idea of community one step further, it may be worth it to start a membership site. Not only do membership sites act as a resource for your community, but they give people a chance to connect on a more personal level than they could on social media platforms.
Final Thoughts
With the right niche, digital products, and tools like MemberSpace, you can turn your passion and expertise into a profitable digital business.
If you’re ready to take the leap and become a digital entrepreneur, MemberSpace is here to help. With our easy-to-use platform and revenue-generating features, you can start selling your products and services in no time.
For additional resources on marketing and selling digital products and memberships with MemberSpace, check out MemberSpace University, your one-stop resource hub full of step-by-step guides, educational videos, helpful tips and tricks, and more.
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