If
you're an entrepreneur who's thinking about setting up an
online store
then we salute you. It takes a lot of courage to go ahead and run
your own businesses, and if you get it right, the results are most
definitely worth the risk.
But
there's a difference between saying you're an entrepreneur, and being
a
successful
entrepreneur. It takes a person with certain set of characteristics
to be able to make it to the top, which is why there are only a
handful of leaders, and
thousands
of followers.
So do
you have what it takes? Take a look at this post to find out:
#1.
They learn from failure
“Do
not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start
again
.” - Richard
Branson, Virgin Group.
Running
an online store is a risky business - which financially - can be
pretty scary. But that shouldn’t get in the way of working hard and
testing out what works for you.
If
there's one thing we can learn from some of the most successful
entrepreneurs it's that you need to be resilient. If your idea
doesn’t work first time, don't give up. Tweak it, find out what
your niche is, and keep moving forward.
Remember,
in 1997 Apple was 90 days from going bankrupt and today it's worth an
estimated $700 billion!
#2.
They are passionate
“If
you just work on stuff that you like and you're passionate about, you
don't have to have a master plan on how things will play out.
”
-
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook
Passion
should be the driving force behind what you do. Many people will set
up a business because they want to make as much money as they
possibly can. But there's a common trait amongst all successful
entrepreneurs and it's that they're not driven by money, but by
passion.
We're
not saying ROI is not important. It's very important, but there's a
different way of looking at it. Once you let your passion drive you
instead of money, the better ideas you'll have, and only then will
you see success as a result of that passion.
#3.
They aren’t afraid to say no
“And
it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don't get on
the wrong track or try to do too much. We're always thinking about
new markets we could enter, but it's only by saying no that you can
concentrate on the things that are really important.
”
-
Steve Jobs, Apple.
When it
comes to business, you need to be savvy. As Steve mentions above,
there will be plenty of opportunities or markets that may seem
attractive to enter, but you shouldn’t try and tap into every
market just to make a quick buck.
Your
bandwidth will be spread too thin and losing or dying programs will
take up more time and assets than dynamic, developing opportunities.
Stay focused on why you wanted to start your online store and say no
to bad business deals.
#4.
They are clear on what their brand represents
“Unless
you have absolute clarity of what your brand stands for, everything
else is irrelevant
.” Mark
Baynes, Kellogg Co.
When
setting up your online store then you probably think the most
important aspect is the product that you sell. Well sure, your
product is
very
important. But you're not going to sell anything unless you create a
solid brand that is instantly recognizable.
The reason why brands such as Coca
Cola, Google or Apple are so successful is that their brand is fully
defined. They know who they are, and we know what we can expect from
them. Everything that you do as a company makes up your brand, so
think of it like telling a story, and ask yourself, what story do you
want to tell?
#5.
They empower their employees
“In
technology, it's about the people. Getting the best people, retaining
them, nurturing a creative environment and helping a way to
innovate.
”
-
Marissa
Mayer, Yahoo.
The
people that work for you can have a real impact on the success of
your online store. If you look at companies that have a low employee
retention rate, many think it's to do with pay. But
this
report
shows that 43% of people leave because of lack of recognition.
If you treat your
employees with respect then they will respect your company. It's such
an easy thing to do, that can have a really big effect on your
business. Once your employees start to enjoy what they do, they'll
fast become your brand advocates.
#6.
They understand who they are selling to
“The
more you engage with customers the clearer things become and the
easier it is to determine what you should be doing
.”
-
John
Russell
,
Harley Davidson
In order
to be a success, you need to think about who you're trying to
impress. And when it comes to Ecommerce – those people are your
customers. What do they like? What don't they like? Find out
everything (and we mean everything) there is to know about your
customers.
Do your
market research and put together a
buyer
persona
, which
is a detailed profile of your customers. That way, you'll be able to
effectively communicate with them. And you'll be able to tweak your
product and brand so that it reflects what they want.
#7.
They do things a little differently
“I
will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job, because he
will find an easy way to do it
.”
-
Bill
Gates, Microsoft
Following
the status quo is not something that successful entrepreneurs tend to
do. They break the mold, they're innovative and they're constantly
evolving. A successful entrepreneur doesn’t copy their competitors,
they stand apart from them and become the ones to follow.
When
starting your online store, don't worry too much about what everyone
else is doing. If you have a great idea that you think is going to
work then go for it. There is no set in stone rule that you need to
follow to become successful, you just gotta find out what works for
you.
Takeaway
As you can see,
successful entrepreneurs are hard working, passionate, and they truly
believe in their product. Once you have an awesome idea, the next
step is to find the right platform to sell that idea to the world...
And that's where we come in!
AmeriCommerce offers a whole bunch of tools to help you become a successful
entrepreneur – whether you want to start an online store, or need the tools to sell in person. Check out the AmeriCommerce suite of products now!