By Myra Athena
This article is written by the “JomEntrepreNOW campaign” team
Final year Public Relations Event and Consultancy students of SOMAC, Taylor’s University.
Project Advisor: Ms. G. Manickam Govindaraju
IF the pandemic had taught us anything, it would be thinking out of the box. Businesses that are willing to change their operation to online continue to sustain as people quickly adapt to online shopping.
The height of the lockdown last year saw a rise in e-commerce due to the large number of restrictions thrown on brick-and-mortar businesses, with unemployment soaring at its highest.
The increasing demand of online businesses left no choice to business owners but to shift their line of work to the digital platform and adapt to the new norm.
Anyone can start earning money from the comfort of their own homes as the Internet growingly levels the playing field in business. Additionally, startup tools and e-resources can be utilized to build your e-commerce business.
E-commerce is one of the most affordable business options. You also have the freedom to set up the right type of business for the lifestyle you want which then gives you a better work-life balance.
Even so, commitment is crucial for your business to operate well and grow.
Have you ever felt that desire of wanting to own your very own business tingling at the back of your mind? But not sure if you’re cut out to be an entrepreneur? Let’s dive into some of the best practices to help you understand what it takes to succeed as a business owner.
Ask Yourself “Why”
It is important to ask yourself about your underlying desires to start a business as this can encourage you in achieving your end goal.
Start thinking about why you want it, or what you hope to accomplish as this will motivate you in achieving greater heights. Otherwise, you may end up giving up when things get though as there is nothing there to hold onto.
Identify Your Point of Difference
For any business to succeed, not only the product or service has to appeal to customers, but there should also be unique selling points to compete with others.
The direct competition with other brands, especially those that are much better established could prove challenging. Thus, focusing on defining what sets you apart from the competition that is already available is the way forward.
Learn While You Go
A very common issue that aspiring online entrepreneurs have is that they dwell on perfect business ideas.
The first thing you need to do is simply get started. Fear of failure is very real among all business owners. This can be both negative and positive. Some take on the negative path and decide that the best course of action is to be at a standstill. In that way, they can never fail.
In reality, you’re going to fail, and it’s okay. Failure is an essential part of the learning process which will allow us to develop ourselves and learn the importance of perseverance, determination, and effort. Consequently, it gives the business an opportunity to flourish as you know which mistakes to avoid.
It only becomes a permanent failure if you fail and give up without trying again.
Focus on Creating Effective Customer Engagement
Customer service is an integral part of a business. You can build a loyal customer base by prioritising your customers’ needs first. This is also a great approach to obtain word-of-mouth recommendation, which can attract new customers exploring your online business.
If you need some guidance getting your business off the ground, Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN) is there to help.
INSKEN is an agency that offers over 300 entrepreneurship training programmes to develop entrepreneurial competencies. You will be able to learn everything you need to know in building the foundations to a successful online business.
For more information on the programmes and courses, please visit INSKEN at
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of TVS.
