The 9-5 grind is so pre-pandemic. We're in the new beginning; if you want to take control of your life, you need to take control of your time. And to do that, you need money. Do you dream of a life of freedom but feel overwhelmed by the thought of building a successful online venture from scratch? Then follow me, I will share my personal journey from zero to six figures in just three months.
I found my niche, created a sales funnel, started driving traffic to my site and making more sales - you may have heard it all before, but after all, that's just the golden rules to follow. So be inspired and learn some valuable insights on how you too can build a lucrative online business!
Buyer's Psychology Tips & Stats - 1
- First Impressions: 94% of first impressions are design-related when it comes to websites.
- Color Influence: Color can improve brand recognition by up to 80%.
- Decision Time: Consumers make a purchase decision within 90 seconds of initial viewing.
- Emotional Connection: Emotional responses to ads influence a person's intent to buy more than the content of the ad itself, by a factor of 3-to-1 for television commercials and 2-to-1 for print ads.
- Discount Psychology: The word ‘free’ can increase the chance of a purchase by up to 100%.
The Birth of My Business
It all started with a burning desire to escape the corporate rat race and pursue my passion for entrepreneurship. I had always been fascinated by the online world but didn't know where to start. One day, while scrolling through social media, I stumbled upon an article about e-commerce and how it was revolutionizing the way people shop.
That piqued my interest, and I began researching different business models that could be launched online. After months of brainstorming and market research, I finally found my niche in organic skincare products - an industry with high demand but few quality offerings.
With this newfound clarity on what business to build, I set out to create a brand identity that would speak to my target audience. From logo design to packaging, every detail was carefully crafted with the customer in mind.
Next came product development - sourcing natural ingredients from trusted suppliers and working closely with chemists to formulate effective formulas without harmful chemicals or additives.
After months of hard work behind the scenes, my website was ready for launch! It was nerve-wracking yet exciting as I hit "publish" on that first post announcing our grand opening. And thus began my journey towards building a successful online business!
Finding a Niche That's Relatively Rare
When I first decided to start my online business, I knew that finding a not-too-popular niche was crucial. After all, it would be impossible to create a successful business without having a burning passion in your heart. But how do you find your niche?
- What did I love doing? I only had one thing in my mind. It's actually adult cosmetics-oriented niche in my case, but if you have something that you can't stop thinking about, then that will be it.
- What topics could I talk about for hours on end? I wrote it all down, and remember it didn't take me 20 minutes, to be honest. This really helped me narrow down my options and focus on areas where I had knowledge and expertise.
Next, I conducted a little market research. I knew there was a huge demand for my chosen niche. But I also used Google Trends for keyword research, and I was able to identify keywords that were popular within my chosen field.
Once I had identified my niche and validated its potential profitability, it was time to get specific. Who exactly was my target audience? What problems or challenges were they facing? By understanding their pain points, desires, and needs, I could tailor my products and services accordingly.
Finding the right niche is all about balance - combining your passion with profitability while also solving a problem or meeting a need within your target audience's lives.
Buyer's Psychology Tips & Stats - 2
- Social Proof: 70% of consumers trust online peer reviews and recommendations more than professional content and copy.
- Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): 60% of millennials make reactive purchases because of FOMO.
- The Paradox of Choice: Offering too many choices can lead to decision paralysis; reducing options can increase sales by 27%.
- Sensory Appeal: Ads that engage more senses increase brand impact by 70%.
- Post-Purchase Satisfaction: 49% of people say they will gladly switch brands for a coupon.
Finding White Label Products
Developing a product is one of the most crucial steps in building an online business. It's important to create something that solves a problem, meets a need or provides value to your target audience. But you can't develop skincare products by yourself unless you are qualified, and I'm not qualified. So what do I do?
The solution is to find white label products. Here's what I did to find white label products through various sources:
#1 White Label Manufacturers
I contacted white label manufacturers directly or searching their websites. These manufacturers typically specialized in producing white label products across different industries. They had a range of skincare, beauty, and personal care products that I could customize with my branding and sell as my own.
#2 Private Label Suppliers
Private label suppliers often offered white label products as part of their services. They had a catalog of pre-existing formulations and product options that I could select from and customize with my branding. These suppliers had expertise in product development, packaging, and manufacturing, which helped me create my unique line of skincare products.
#3 Beauty and Cosmetics Wholesalers
I could also find white label products from wholesalers who catered to businesses looking for such options. These wholesalers offered a variety of skincare and beauty products that I could rebrand under my own label. They had a range of ready-made formulas or customizable options to choose from.
#4 Online Retailers and Marketplaces
Online retailers and marketplaces, such as Amazon, eBay, or specialized beauty platforms, had sections dedicated to white label or private label products. I could browse through the product listings and select the ones that aligned with my branding and target market. These platforms connected me with manufacturers or suppliers who offered their products for white labeling.
#5 Local Suppliers and Manufacturers
I also checked with local suppliers or manufacturers in my region who offered white label services. They had specific products or formulations that catered to the local market, or they had the flexibility to create custom formulations based on my requirements.
During this process, I not only focused on the products themselves but also on how you will present them to the public. This includes creating effective branding, packaging, pricing and marketing strategies.
Rebranding
When you acquire white label products, you typically have the freedom to rebrand them as if they were your own. This means you can add your own branding elements such as logos, labels, packaging design, and product names to create a cohesive brand identity.
My goal was to make the products align with my brand's aesthetics and messaging, giving the impression that they were exclusive to my brand. Rebranding white label products allowed me to offer a unique product line without the need to develop the formulas and manufacturing processes from scratch.
Buyer's Psychology Tips & Stats - 3
- Trust Factor: Building trust can increase purchase likelihood by 83%.
- Simplicity Sells: 64% of consumers are willing to pay more for simpler experiences.
- Personalization Impact: Personalized shopping experiences can boost sales by up to 20%.
- Storytelling Effectiveness: Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts or figures alone.
- Anchoring Bias: The first price seen acts as an anchor for consumers' willingness to pay.
Repackaging
You can get white label products repackaged at the following places:
- White Label Manufacturers: There are specialized companies that produce white label products. Many of these manufacturers offer repackaging services as well. They can help customize the packaging of the products with your branding, such as labels, boxes, or containers.
- Private Label Suppliers: Similar to white label manufacturers, private label suppliers also provide repackaging services. They have a range of products that you can choose from and then have them repackaged with your own branding.
- Third-Party Packaging Companies: Some companies specialize in packaging services and can assist you with repackaging white label products. They can help design and print labels, create custom packaging, and assemble the final product according to your specifications.
- Local Printers and Packaging Suppliers: You can also consider local printers or packaging suppliers in your area. They may have the capabilities to handle repackaging tasks, such as printing custom labels or packaging materials, and assist in the overall packaging process.
I used a local packaging supplier because I knew someone who worked there. But it's up to you to decide, depending on the cost and how professionally they can design.
Once my products were fully packaged with all necessary information such as instruction manuals or tutorials videos etc., we went through rounds of testing before finally launching our new creation into the market.
Buyer's Psychology Tips & Stats - 4
- Eco-friendly Preference: 50% of global consumers are willing to pay more for products from brands committed to positive social and environmental impact.
- Speed of Service: 66% of consumers say that valuing their time is the most important thing in any online customer experience.
- Mobile Shopping Increase: 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile device in the last 6 months.
- Influence of Reviews: 92% of B2B buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a trusted review.
- The Halo Effect: Positive experiences with one product will lead 73% of consumers to expect the same from all products by the same brand.
Creating a Sales Funnel
A sales funnel is a step-by-step process of converting visitors into customers. It's the journey that your potential customer goes through before making a purchase. Creating an effective sales funnel can make all the difference in turning your online business from mediocre to successful.
The 4 Stages
The first step in creating a sales funnel is identifying the stages that your potential customer will go through before purchasing. There are 4 stages;
- Stage 1 - Awareness: Making people aware of your product/service and its existence.
- Stage 2 - Interest: Sparking curiosity and capturing the attention of individuals towards your offering.
- Stage 3 - Decision: Influencing individuals to choose your product/service by presenting its benefits and value.
- Stage 4 - Action: Motivating individuals to take the desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up.
Once you've identified these stages, you can create content that speaks directly to each stage.
The Free Stuff
Next, you'll need to create lead magnets to capture email addresses and build trust with your audience. This could be anything from free e-books or courses to webinars or consultations. The goal is to provide value while also collecting contact information for future marketing efforts.
Use some PLR products if you don't think you can create something of your own, which is meaningless and it doesn't give any value but hey, give it a shot!
"Targeted" Campaigns
After capturing leads, it's time to nurture them with targeted email campaigns and retargeting ads on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I don't use Twitter because there are too many trolls and also since taken over by Elon Musk, the quality of users seems to have dropped badly.
Use this opportunity to highlight the benefits of your product/service and continue building trust with your potential customers.
When the time comes for them to make a purchase decision, make sure there are no barriers preventing them from completing their purchase such as complicated checkout processes or hidden fees.
Creating an effective sales funnel takes time and effort but can ultimately increase conversions and drive more revenue for your online business.
Driving Traffic to My Site
No traffic = no exposure = no money. Even if you have the best product in the world, it means nothing if nobody knows about it. Here are some strategies I used to drive traffic to my site and increase sales.
- First, I optimized my website for search engines with keyword research and on-page SEO techniques. This helped me rank higher on Google search results pages and attract more organic traffic.
- Secondly, don't underestimate social media. Because after all, it played a big role in driving traffic to my site. By creating engaging content that resonated with my target audience, I was able to build a following on various platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
- Paid advertising through platforms like Facebook Ads and Google As. This allowed me to target specific demographics based on their interests or behaviors, increasing the likelihood of converting them into customers.
- Guest blogging and collaborating with influencers in my niche helped me reach new audiences who were interested in what I had to offer.
Driving traffic takes time and effort but by implementing these strategies consistently over time, you can see significant growth in your online business.
Making Sales and Scaling My Business
After developing my product and creating a sales funnel, the next step was to start making sales. At first, I focused on organic traffic through social media platforms and SEO optimization. As more people began visiting my site, I started to see an increase in sales.
To further scale my business, I decided to invest in paid advertising such as Facebook ads and Google Ads. While these can be costly upfront, the return on investment has been worth it for me.
I also made sure to keep track of customer data such as demographics and purchase history. This allowed me to better target my audience with personalized marketing campaigns.
As my business continued to grow, I realized that outsourcing certain tasks like customer service and fulfillment could free up more time for me to focus on scaling the business even further.
Making consistent sales and implementing smart strategies for scaling have been key in growing my online business from zero to six figures within just three months.
You Can Do It Too
Building a lucrative online business from scratch in just three months may seem like an impossible feat, but as I've demonstrated through my journey, it's entirely achievable. Starting with nothing more than a passion and determination to succeed, I was able to find my niche, develop a product, create an effective sales funnel and drive targeted traffic to my site.
By following the steps that I outlined above, you too can build your own successful online business. Don't be afraid to put in the effort and stay focused on your goals.
Building a six-figure online business is not easy but it’s also not impossible. With the right mindset, tools and strategies you can build one from scratch within 3 months or less! Good luck on your entrepreneurial journey!
Ex. medical student and freelance writer, now a digital nomad, currently based in Prague, Czechia.
Author // Sanjay Keats
Thank you so much for the useful article! I, too, tried and tried for years. Even though I had to pay for email marketing software and website hosting, I finally made it to 6 figures. It really took a lot longer than six months. For a decade I think. I wish I had read your article earlier, but I’m sure it will help others. Thank you for your input on this blog post.
Thanks for the article! Was useful to learn these tips on business.
Glad it helped David, if you have any question don’t hesitate to get back to us at any time!