Key resources and tools you need for an online business

Today’s business world operates almost purely in the digital space, with $1.5 trillion being spent on the digital revolution globally in 2021. According to studies, 56% of companies are now prioritising the digital revolution over any other business aspect, with those not on board with the digital world falling victim to the ever growing power of the online world.

While there are a huge number of reasons why businesses benefit from becoming an online company in addition to having a brick and mortar store (or becoming purely an online brand for that matter, the top reason is the amount of potential customers your business becomes exposed to when you move into the online space. From reaching within a 20 mile neighbourhood radius, those that move online suddenly reach a global capacity, receiving customers from all over the world.

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the successes businesses have had when they transition into the online space, as well as some of the keys resources and tools you need to succeed in the online world.

Success stories in the online business space

​​(Woman cheering at the top of a mountain)

Since the internet first became accessible to the public, there have been many success stories of brands that have made the transition to the online space and have gone from small neighbourhood stores to global powerhouses recognised internationally in a small space of time.

Let’s take a look at some of these success stories and how they did it.

Party Pieces

Established in 1987, Party Pieces was set up as a small online company, with the business owners operating out of their home barn as an office/warehouse. Through their online store, the company was able to bring party supplies to parents in a rush, attracting millions who couldn’t find what they needed in a store. Through a careful process of marketing and a great website, Party Pieces has become a successful multi million pound business today.

The gaming industry

Play poker game is a prompt we see on many gaming platform screens nowadays and it has never been easier. The gaming industry has been one of the fastest to adopt the latest technologies, in which today it is flourishing. By enabling people across the world to play their favourite casino games from anywhere and at any time, casino providers have been able to tap into a larger market, as well as winning the hearts of those that would have previously visited a physical casino.

GymShark

GymShark started out as a business idea by a young person with his Grandma’s sewing machine in the garage, and is today a business worth over £1 million. Its success can be strongly attributed to their careful use of social media where the company built a significant following and athlete community on their many social channels.

What tools and resources are needed to start an online business?

Starting an online business is now much easier than it once used to be. You no longer need knowledge on how to code a website or how to track your own finances as this can all be automated through online tools. Let’s take a look at some of the best ones below.

WordPress

The first place to start with your online business is building a website. WordPress is the world’s most popular hosting platform for websites , enabling start-ups to use templates to easily create their online space, with the ability to scale as the business grows.

Google Analytics

The key to your businesses online growth is being able to pinpoint what is working and what isn’t. By doing this, you will identify exactly where to put your company’s time and resources and where to pull back. Google Analytics is an essential tool that enables you to track key metrics on your website, including how many visitors you’re getting, where in the world they are located, and which web pages are performing the best.

Slack

In today’s online world, an online business can also often mean an online team. The key to success is to use a tool that keeps everyone productive, communicative, and on the same page. Slack enables teams to create tasks, assign people to those tasks, and track the progress of them.

MailChimp

One of the most popular e-marketing tools, enabling businesses to reach their customers with key campaigns and important business updates. Email campaigns can be carefully targeted and tracked to help grow the business.

Overall, starting an online business can seem like a daunting task. However, with the amount of tools available today, there’s never a shortage of resources to help you succeed and get your business turning over well in no time.