Written by: Jennie Persson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Are you an entrepreneur and spend time on social media? Have you thought about taking the company entirely online? To create an online course and become a giant on your chosen platform?
I love this business shift. Knowledge and learning new things are within reach for all of us. You can learn how to prune trees, produce music, dance ballet, or create excellent baked goods through online courses.
And as an online course creator, the world is yours. You can go from having clients locally to meeting clients from all over the globe. But I can't promise you riches and marble halls, so here are 5 challenges you need to be aware of:
1. It takes time to build the brand.
It is often said that you need to work on an online strategy for 3-6 months to see if it works, and this applies to every adjustment and experimentation of your method and system.
You will have to muster up rock-solid persistence and discipline to not give up in the first place. If you are looking for a quick fix with minimal work, consider another solution.
2. You will face resistance and doubt from those around you.
Still, work and entrepreneurship are more traditionally something you physically do. You may be expected to sit in an office, run a shop or build something with your hands.
Running your entire business online, with only your phone and a laptop to help, can still be seen as unusual and thus met with some skepticism.
3. You will work around the clock.
This is not unique to online entrepreneurs; quite the opposite, something that all business owners recognize in the beginning.
Building your online presence takes time and requires much work, ideas, and creativity. This often means the ideas continue, even when you think the workday is over.
I know many of you dream about creating income from passive work. Let me be clear; there is no such thing as totally passive work. Everything you do, including automated systems, requires work now and then. Find a routine and create a focused work schedule that works for you.
4. You will deal with technical issues.
As an online entrepreneur, I always seek the ultimate system including all the tools needed. (Yes, this might be my eternal unicorn quest...)
Currently, I use several tools, all with different purposes. In practice, you must connect many systems; Facebook with Instagram, Meta business, webinar tool, e-mail system, and your chosen online course platform – many technical obstacles to solve.
Here you have the choice to hire help or teach yourself. (The alternative, throwing the computer out the window, is not mentioned here.)
5. You will get tired of yourself.
Five years ago, I was a complete stranger to taking pictures of myself, even less filming myself and posting on social media. Now there may be days when I get tired of seeing photos of myself everywhere, on different social media, ads, and websites. While talking about the customer and the importance of using the word You instead of Me and I are essential; you need to spotlight yourselves visually.
We want to see you and get to know you. And you want to create brand recognition. Getting reminded of you repeatedly is essential for us to trust you enough to buy from you. Are you going to let these challenges stop you? Of course not.
Jennie Persson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jennie Persson is an Instagram expert, business educator and a cheerleader for your business, based in Stockholm, Sweden. She’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs in building the business of their dreams by learning how to brand their business online.
