Member Article

10 Small Business Owners Share Their Top Tips For Growing a Business Online

SMEs still account for 99.9% of the UK’s business population: a clear indication of the important role small businesses continue to play in the national economy. Sadly though, on average, almost 20% of new businesses fail in their first year. To make sure you don’t do the same, here are 10 top tips from small business owners themselves on growing a business online:

1.Don’t wait for perfect

“Online businesses are iterative, which means that nothing is perfect and you are always working on improvement. Start imperfectly and learn what works and what doesn’t so you can rebuild. Curiosity, innovation and data are your friends!” says Rebecca Portsmouth, founder of Living Abstracts Social Media (@livingabstracts on instagram) who helps businesses with social media marketing.

2.Collaborate

“Collaborate with other small business owners who have a similar audience demographic to you. That could be through a ‘Live’ chat on social media, an Instagram story takeover, or delivering an expert session in a membership group. It’s a focused and strategic way to grow online, because you’re demonstrating value to your target audience,” says money blogger and influencer Laura Turner aka @thriftylondoner.

3.Keep consistent

Consistency is key in business. On my journey so far, I’ve found 2 things that BLOCK consistency, 1 thing BUILDS consistency. Block 1 is CALAMITY- When struggles strike, we feel like we can’t give due attention and priority to our business. So let’s see how to overcome that. We may need to, for example, genuinely look after health, family, or whatever the problem is. I had a mountain-carting accident at 19 in Switzerland, have had chronic pain in my lower back since then and am typing this message while lying down with a current flare-up.

So my schedule is reduced right now but I am still doing what I can. We can give ourselves permission and be kind to ourselves to take a break, a breather, a bit of a pause, as needed, or continue but with adjustments around the big or small calamity. We do not need to give up on our business goals and cast them too much into the shadows.

BLOCK 2 is COMPLACENCY- When things go our way, we can coast as it’s easy, settle for mediocrity and accept ‘average’ instead of awesome as our identity. Awesome means serving our clients at the highest level, according to our true potential. Whatever we have been given, gifted and graced with, let’s USE IT, to serve those who need our help to the max, and not be too lax!

says Sonal Patel, Former Teacher turned Teen Tutor in English and Empowerment for Secondary Teen Girls (@sonalrisegirls).

4. Be clear about your ‘where?’

“Be clear about “where” you would like to go with your business and then break it down into small, manageable, focused steps. Focusing on one area of your business at a time, builds confidence and progress to really achieve! Use the diary wisely! Schedule time for business development and always ensure self care is included. Self care, time away from work is sometimes where the magic happens! Ideas flow, so always keep a notebook close by!” says Charmaine Champ, Continence Sleep and Behaviour Consultant of Clear Steps Consultancy.

5. Get your pricing spot on

“It’s really easy to undercharge or give too much away for free so work out how much it costs to run your business and have that number in mind as you price your offerings. You bring expertise and experience so charge for the transformation you bring not the time it takes to deliver. Remember what you charge does not reflect what you are worth!” Philly Ponniah, a financial confidence coach (@philyfinancial on instagram)

6. Show up as yourself “Build a relationship with your audience by showing up online as 100% yourself and let them into your world both professionally and personally. Sharing parts of you and getting comfortable with being that little bit vulnerable, encourages others to do the same and this is where audience growth happens, “ says coach Naomi Jordan, of Just 1 to 11 it Coaching.

7. Try Microblocking

“Feel like you don’t have enough time to work on your amazing goals? Try microblocking. As a busy mom of three, I commit to spending at least 15 minutes every day working towards my goal. This technique has been a game-changer for me. Instead of waiting for large chunks of free time, make small but consistent progress every day!” Darya, Chelsea Swim Spa, a swim school for children and @daryasimanovich .

8. Make local business connections

“Even if your business is predominantly online, networking in your local community can still pay dividends. By engaging with fellow local businesses, networking communities provide a collaborative and friendly environment and the chance to open the doors to exciting opportunities that can elevate your online presence.

One of the great benefits is the chance to expand your marketing opportunities. You’ll meet local businesses, print media and radio stations, or community organisations who can help promote your business to a wider audience. These offline marketing strategies will complement your online efforts, helping you widen your reach to potential customers who may be less active or engaged online.

Probably the biggest benefit is the connections you will make with other businesses and professionals in your area. Firstly, the relationships you establish can build champions for you, who will spread the word about your business within their networks. In addition, exciting opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and joint ventures may arise, creating powerful synergies that can accelerate your growth.

By attending business gatherings, sponsoring local events, or speaking at industry seminars, you can increase your brand visibility and establish yourself as an authority in your field. This will boost your brand’s trust, credibility, and recognition, and provide a solid foundation for long-term success. Finally, local networking groups provide access to a range of resources and support through industry experts, mentors and business development programs. Staying connected to these resources helps you stay ahead of the curve, refine your skills, and receive guidance from experienced professionals.

Engaging with your local networks can open doors to new opportunities, connections, and resources that will propel your online business forward. Take the first step towards leveraging these advantages by exploring and attending local networking groups in your area and witness how they can transform your business journey. says Mark Morton, founder of Journalise, a mental health journal.

9 Utilise influencers and content creators

“No matter what you sell, there is bound to be an influencer or content creator out there who is willing to share it with their audience. Start off small and work on a gifted basis, and if you can afford it later on then working on paid collaborations with bigger names can really get your business out there. You don’t need to have a physical product in order to work with them, they will absolutely promote your service if it’s something relevant to them and their followers says Katie Bell founder of Katherena Bags .

10. Put yourself out there for media opportunities

“PR is a great way to get your name out there in the online space,” says PR strategist Jenna Farmer of Jenna Farmer PR (@jennafarmerpr), start small by using twitter-check the #journorequest hashtag once a day to see what journalists are looking for. You will often find case study requests and expert tip callouts. It’s a great completely free way to get media coverage and network with journalists.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by business writer .