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Welcome to Nomad-Den!
Starting an online business in 2025 can feel overwhelming with countless strategies, tools, and advice. Avoiding beginner mistakes is key to overcoming information fatigue and focusing on sustainable growth.
In addition to boundless information, there is misinformation as well – or misleading – we’ve all seen it. Careful with people who make claims about easy money, passive income, or success without experience. These claims may be partially true, but they can often leave out important details about how they did it.
You will not find any of that here. Instead, you will only find practical recommendations on how to create a sustainable online business step by step, based on best practices, expert opinion (citings where necessary), and experience, which requires patience, effort, clear goals, and strategy.
In this post, we’ll explore how to build an online business with a digital business roadmap for beginners, highlighting foundational steps to get started, with valuable resources along the way. When you’re ready, check out the additional blog posts linked below to keep moving forward on your business journey.
Building the Foundation
A strong foundation is essential for understanding how to build an online business effectively. One of the first steps in building this foundation is understanding the different business models available to you and determining which best aligns with your goals.
Choosing the Right Business Model
Before you begin your online business journey, it’s important to clearly define the different online business types and what each term in the industry means. Let’s break down the differences between the business models we’ll be covering here and highlight any commonalities at the end.
Affiliate Marketing:
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular online business types. In this model, you promote other companies’ products or services and earn a commission for every sale or lead generated through your referral.
Learn more about affiliate marketing in my blog post, ‘Affiliate Marketing Fundamentals: Your Road to Success’ — where I cover the essential steps to building your foundation in this growing industry.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is a broad term that involves promoting products, services, or businesses through online platforms such as social media, search engines, and email campaigns.
Learn more about digital marketing in my blog post, Top Platforms to Sell Digital Products in 2025 — where I cover beginner-friendly platforms like Systeme.io, Stan.store, and SendOwl.
E-commerce
E-commerce is the business of selling physical or digital products directly to consumers through online stores. You’re responsible for everything from managing inventory to processing payments and handling customer service. Some entrepreneurs use models like Amazon FBA, where Amazon handles the logistics, while others manage everything themselves through platforms like Shopify.
Learn more about launching your e-commerce business in my blog post, Launching Your Online Store: A Step-by-Step Guide — where I walk you through the essential steps to building a successful online store.
Despite their differences, all three models use similar strategies like SEO, content marketing, and social media. The key difference is control: affiliate marketers promote others’ products for commissions, while digital marketers and e-commerce businesses sell their own. Revenue in affiliate marketing comes from commissions, while digital marketers and e-commerce owners earn through direct sales.
Market Research
If you’re developing and introducing your own product into the market, understanding why market research is important can help ensure its viability and refine your strategy. Addressing all 5 of these steps will greatly increase your chances of success with your product:
Identify Your Target Audience
Define your ideal customer. Who would benefit the most from what you have to offer?
Analyze Market Demand
Are people actively looking for solutions to the problem you’re addressing? Tools like Google Trends and Ubersuggest can help you identify interest in your product or service by analyzing search volume and trends, providing valuable insights into market demand.
Evaluate Competition
Research competitors in your niche using tools like Mangools or SEMrush to identify gaps in the market and ways to set yourself apart.
SiteProfiler from Mangools helps you analyze competitor websites and uncover key insights to refine your strategy.
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Gather Feedback
Collect feedback from your target market using surveys, polls, or focus groups to understand their challenges and better meet their needs.
Test It
Test your product or service with a sample market size, such as those you surveyed. The outcome will guide your next steps.
By selecting the right business model and conducting effective market research, you’re taking the critical first steps in learning how to start a digital marketing company. These decisions help you stay focused on what matters—understanding your audience and ensuring your business can thrive in the marketplace.
Planning for the Future
As mentioned previously, starting an online business in 2025 requires several key elements to improve your chances of achieving long-term success. These elements won’t guarantee success, but overlooking them makes building an online business far more difficult. A strong plan, clear goals, research, and consistency are critical.
Creating a Business Plan
A solid business plan acts as a digital business Roadmap for beginners, guiding you from concept to execution. It not only helps you organize your ideas but also provides a clear strategy for growth.
Setting Achievable Goals
After creating your business plan, set specific, measurable, and realistic goals. Clear goals prevent overwhelm and keep you on track. Start with short-term, actionable steps that lead toward long-term success, and adjust as your business grows.
Legal and Tax Considerations:
While many entrepreneurs may not initially focus on the legalities of online business, it’s an important step to address. Ensuring FTC compliance in your marketing is critical. Read the book, Don’t Say That to learn more about staying compliant.
It’s perfectly acceptable to start your online business as an individual. However, as your business grows, setting it up legally, such as forming an LLC, becomes essential. LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer are experts in providing legal services and can assist when you’re ready.
Depending on how you set up your business (see above paragraph), make sure you understand the tax implications of your new venture.
Note: I’m not a legal or tax professional. The above information is general and based on experience — always consult a qualified expert when making legal or financial decisions.
Building an Online Presence
The more your online presence grows, the more potential customers will take interest in what you’re offering. As you establish yourself or your business as a valuable source of information or products, your brand will grow as well.
Website or Landing Pages:
Your website or landing pages should be easy to navigate and optimized for search engines.
There are many platforms for many needs, including the best tools for remote work that can streamline your business processes and enhance productivity. For those just starting out, check out my previous post here about three platforms that are more streamlined.
Social Media:
Social media is like email marketing: it’s not mandatory, but you’d miss a huge opportunity by not using it. With billions of active users across top platforms, it offers an unparalleled chance to grow your online business.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
To make sure people find your website or landing pages, optimize them for search engines. Tools like Ahrefs and Mangools can help track keywords, analyze competitors, and improve your rankings. SEO takes time, but long-term efforts lead to better visibility and organic traffic.
Mangools is a user-friendly and affordable SEO tool suite that can help you optimize your website. Check out my in-depth post about how Mangools can help you improve your SEO strategy. Enter your keyword below to find out what your audience is looking for:
This is an affiliate banner. If you sign up through this link, I may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Email Marketing:
Once you have a website or landing page set up, start building an email list. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and turn them into customers, becoming one of the best investments you can make in your business efforts.
Don’t miss my full post, Email Marketing Essentials, where I dig into the tools and strategies that work.
Take the Next Step and Get In-Depth Training:
Starting and running an online business in 2025 can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Looking for an unbeatable guide? Check out the Roadmap Rebellion, one of the best foundational courses for getting started.. All of my content — especially the blog posts — provides FREE tips and affordable tools to help you get started. Note: The Roadmap Rebellion is temporarily discounted for early access. Full course is being developed and is launching soon! Stay tuned for updates.
- ✅ Over 26 hours of Training Videos (Including Bonus Content)
- ✅ Access to an Interactive Community of 12,000+ members
- ✅ 1:1 Paid Support from 14 Experts
- ✅ The Inspiration Hub (Testimonials)
- ✅ New Compliance Section for Legal Questions
- ✅ Dynamic Partner Program (apply within)
Disclosure: I am licensed to provide access to this course via my Stan.store. While I did not create it, I recommend it based on my personal experience and review of its content compared to other programs.
Customer Service
As your business grows, exceptional customer service sets you apart, helping retain customers and driving referrals that build a loyal base and new business. Here are some key components to consider for effective customer service:
Responsiveness
Being prompt in addressing customer inquiries, complaints, or feedback shows that you value their time and business.
Personalization
Personalized interactions make customers feel valued. Use their name, reference past purchases, and offer tailored solutions to create positive experiences that encourage repeat business.
How to Handle Complaints:
Every business faces complaints. What sets a great business apart is how they’re handled—listening, showing empathy, and finding solutions are key to maintaining a good reputation.
Exceed Expectations:
Going the extra mile with faster delivery, surprise discounts, or follow-ups can turn satisfied customers into loyal advocates who refer your business to others.
Time Is Money: Manage it Accordingly
Proper management of both your time and finances is crucial to the success of your business. Monitoring the flow of money in and out, managing invoices, and planning for future expenses all help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Great online tools like FreshBooks can streamline this process and keep your finances organized.
At the same time, running an online business often means juggling multiple tasks. Developing strong time management and prioritization skills is just as important as financial management. Here are some key strategies to help manage your time effectively:
Prioritize
Determine which tasks are urgent and important, and which can be delegated or deferred. Focus on high-impact activities that drive your business forward first.
Stay Focused and Organized
Working from home has it’s own unique challenges, often filled with distractions. Set clear work hours and consistently allocate specific time blocks for your tasks. This will help maintain a work-life balance, stay focused, and avoid burnout.
Learn to Delegate
As your business grows, delegating tasks to others can free up your time for strategic decision-making and high-priority tasks. For example, Fiverr is a great platform where you can find freelancers for any task, offering a quick and easy solution for your business needs.
Implement Automations
Use automation tools to reduce your manual workload and help you create an efficient automated online business. From email marketing to social media scheduling, small business automation tools can help streamline operations and save time. Set up workflows to automate customer follow-ups, or use triggers to send emails based on specific customer actions.
Mindset and Resilience
Building an online business is challenging, but resilience and the right mindset are essential for long-term success. Staying focused through ups and downs ensures progress. Here are some key elements to help strengthen your mindset and resilience:
Embrace Failure as Learning
Failure can really be seen as opportunities to improve something you might have overlooked, not though about, or just were not aware of yet. “Failure is success in progress” – Albert Einstein
Practice Patience
Building a successful business takes time. Consistency and patience are key to progress. Stay committed to your long-term goals, and follow the data.
Be Adaptable
The online business landscape is constantly changing. Being flexible and open to new trends, strategies, or technologies—while staying focused on what works best for your business—will help you navigate the shifting market, ensuring your business remains relevant and competitive.
Self-Discipline
Is what keeps you moving forward, even on the tough days. By setting clear goals and sticking to a consistent routine, you’ll develop the perseverance needed to keep your business on track through challenges.
Seek Support
Surround yourself with a network of like-minded people, and distance yourself from those who don’t believe in your vision. You’re not in this alone. Having the right associations can provide encouragement and insight when you need it most
Continue Reading Related Posts
- Top Tools to Get You S-S-Started With Digital Product Sales
- Discover beginner-friendly platforms to sell your digital products efficiently.
- Launching Your Online Store: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Learn how to build a successful online store with the right tools and structure.
- Systeme for Your System: The Budget Business Builder
- See how Systeme.io helps streamline your funnel, emails, and automations.
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