If you are looking to start your own online business in South Africa, it may seem like a difficult and confusing process.
However, there are three simple steps that can help make the process much simpler and more understandable:
One: Choose a niche (e.g., dog walker)
Two: Create content (write about what it’s like being a dog walker, create videos of yourself walking dogs)
Three: Build an audience from scratch or through social media.
Let us look at each step in detail.
Table of Contents
Step One – Choose a niche
First things first when learning how to do online business in South Africa, you need to narrow down the niche that your online business will be in.
You can choose anything from fashion and beauty to sports or even math tutoring – it’s completely up to you!
For example;
If you are a skilled writer with an eye for fashion then maybe starting a blog about new fashion trends in South Africa would work well for you.
Things to consider when choosing an online business niche
a). Choose a business niche that you know something about.
It is easy to get excited when choosing your online business niche in South Africa because there are so many options out there, but if you do not have any knowledge in the area it will be difficult to succeed.
b). Do some research and find an industry with good potential and low competition.
There can also be other factors that make this specific industry perfect for starting your own business such as high demand or low supply.
This way you won’t end up spending money on products people don’t need nor want which would not help build your brand image either!
c). Make sure the market isn’t saturated already by checking whether there are competitors ranking well in search engines before making any decisions.
Just make sure you choose a market that’s not too small as well because it might be difficult to scale.
d). Lastly, think about your interests and skills when choosing an industry to focus on.
This way the business will fit into your lifestyle more easily which means you won’t have to work long hours or give up many of your interests just so you can run the business from home!
With that said, here are some of the best online business niches in South Africa.
These are the 10 most profitable niches on the Internet:
- Fitness and Weight Loss. P90X, Weight Watchers, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Keto Diet… the list goes on.
- Health.
- Dating and Relationships.
- Pets.
- Self-Improvement.
- Wealth Building Through Investing.
- Make Money on the Internet.
- Beauty Treatments.
Step Two – Create content
Now that we have chosen our desired niche, let us move on to creating content.
This is where most people get overwhelmed because they do not know how much time should be spent on researching their topic versus actually writing posts/creating videos etc., but don’t worry.
There are many ways of managing this so it doesn’t turn into stress when learning how to do online business in South Africa.
If all else fails, simply write about what you know the most about.
For example;
If your niche is dog walking then all of your content should be focused on that topic versus trying to research beauty tips or fashion trends since it will divert time away from creating quality content for your readers.
How to create engaging content
These tips should help you learn how to do online business in South Africa.
a). Be concise
Your message needs to be communicated in as few words as possible.
b). Be conversational
Speak directly to your audience so they feel like you are talking with them, not at them.
People want their problems solved quickly and seamlessly, don’t rely on experts or facts too much because the average person won’t have that information available when they need an answer right away.
Don’t sacrifice content quality though! Make sure everything is accurate before publication.
c). Use images wherever possible
Use relevant pictures to illustrate points where it makes sense rather than just including lots of text without any visual aid whatsoever.
It also helps people visualize what you are saying which encourages engagement more often than complete silence from readers who are left unsure of how to feel.
d). Tell a story
People love to read stories, it engages them in a way that dry facts and figures cannot.
Use this tactic when applicable but make sure to deliver your message clearly above all else or you will lose people’s attention quickly!
e). Promote engagement
Ask readers questions throughout the post which they can answer within the comment section below (if you are running an online blog), encourage discussion by responding where relevant.
This gives visitors something more than just reading about what you have to say; it shows that there is someone behind the words who cares enough about their audience to take time out of their day for them too.
f). Use captivating headlines
This is the first thing your readers will see, so make it count!
Try to use an attention-grabbing headline that is specific and provides information about what you’re writing about.
It should be 100% accurate though because if not, you risk losing a reader who clicked on something they thought was relevant but then discovered it wasn’t at all.
So try to avoid clickbait titles like “You won’t believe this one weird trick for XYZ…” – unless you really can deliver on whatever promise your title makes in the body of the post (in which case go for it) – because even if people do read your posts despite these types of titles.
Step Three – Build an audience
Now comes the fun part!
The third step in learning how to do online business in South Africa process involves building a loyal fan base through social media and any other means necessary.
This can include setting up Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, etc.
Another important thing to remember here is not just how much work goes into this but also where are these fans going to come from?
If they are coming through organic sources (i.e., people finding you online) rather than paid advertising then you may have a harder time acquiring them.
How To Build A Loyal Client Base Online
To learn how to do online business in South Africa, we mentioned that you need to build an audience.
To build a loyal audience online, you must do two things:
So, what steps can we take?
It is easier than it seems!
Ask for recommendation
First of all – visit with current clients and ask if they could recommend you on social media or via another form of advertising (if possible).
If their friends need your services too, there is potential for even more business.
Plus they will appreciate that you care enough about the relationship to follow up.
This is an easy way for new people in contact with those existing fans as well as gain exposure through word-of-mouth advertisements from others who know how good your service/product really is.
That’s a lot of free advertising, people!
Create relatable content
Another option is to offer content that your audience can relate to.
This should come naturally for many businesses – everyone wants information about their industry or profession.
You could even provide marketing strategies and other helpful hints in order to help them grow their business while gaining the trust you desire.
Before I go on any further, I’d like to mention something here:
Your social media profiles are not just outlets for pictures of cats, food, or selfies.
They represent YOU as a professional so take pride in how they look/sound/feel – this will set you apart from others out there looking for work too!
Be sure all images used have high resolution (no grainy photos) because this will make you look less professional.
Use social for feedback
Social media is a great place to get feedback from your customers and fans in regards to how they interact with your business online in South Africa – both on social media profiles as well in blog posts, newsletters, or any other content you’re providing them access to.
This can be done by asking questions that are specific to the industry/profession (i.e., what do they like most about their work? What would be one thing they would change if given the chance?)
Wrapping up
Once again, don’t forget:
You want people out there who already know about you so when others need similar services or products, these websites should give them all of the information needed prior to making a purchase.
When starting your online business, keep in mind that these three steps are the basic framework for success but by no means do they guarantee it.
It takes time and effort to build something great so stay patient and enjoy the process.
