Description
The definitive guide for creating, building and scaling an online business in today’s fast-moving digital economy
Packed with candid stories and hard-won lessons from more than 30 of Australia’s leading online founders, this book reveals what actually works when it comes to online business. The digital mavericks behind ventures like Boost Juice, Airtasker, Luxury Escapes and OzHarvest didn’t do things by the book. They followed their passion and did what others weren’t prepared to do. They relied on their creativity, grit and gut instinct to create world-leading brands worth millions and, in some cases, billions.
In Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs, bestselling author Bernadette Schwerdt distils the proven tactics and actionable lessons of online empire builders. You’ll discover how side hustles are turned into standout brands, how early mistakes become the foundation for future success and how tiny ideas can become transformational startups. Along the way, you’ll hear how Australia’s chocolate queen turned six students and a fax machine into a multi-million-dollar empire. And you’ll learn how a home-based tanning company used one mega-influencer to go global. The stories and insights inside reveal the surprisingly random, remarkably honest origins of Australia’s biggest digital brands — and show what actually works in launching, growing and selling a business.
Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs shows you:
- Which industries are ripe for disruption and how to spot a profitable niche
- Why most online businesses and partnerships fail and how to avoid the same traps
- How to test, measure and validate demand before you invest heavily
- Practical ways to grow an audience and leverage social media, content creation and influencer partnerships to build your personal brand
- How free, low-cost tools and AI opportunities can help you launch smarter and faster with minimal risk
- The top 10 key metrics that make an online business attractive to investors and buyers.
Whether you are starting from scratch or growing an existing business, the practical tools, strategies and frameworks in this book will fast-track your idea from concept to commercial reality. There has never been a better time to build an online business, so don’t miss the next wave. Now is the time to start smart, move fast and discover how to turn your idea into the next digital standout.
Table of Contents
About the author xi
Introduction xiii
Entrepreneurs and experts featured in the book xix
Part 1 Momentum 1
1 Know yourself 3
2 Getting started 17
3 Start small, think big 25
4 Start with heart 37
5 Start with why 45
6 Know your business 53
7 Know your numbers 61
Part 2 Multipliers 71
8 How to be a successful founder 73
9 How to get luckier 89
10 How to find your passion 97
11 How to find the right business partner 107
12 How to make a partnership work 121
13 How to build a lifestyle business 127
14 How to predict what people will want next 135
Part 3 Marketing 155
15 How to be a successful social media content creator 157
16 How to be authentic 173
17 How to build your personal brand 183
18 How to choose the right influencer for your business 191
19 How to grow an audience with Instagram 203
20 How to use Instagram to generate new leads 211
21 How to leverage YouTube and those first five seconds 219
Part 4 Management 225
22 How to build a culture that makes people want to stay 227
23 How to create a successful culture 239
24 How to prepare for a crisis 249
25 How to get the most from your team 257
26 How to conduct the hiring interviews 271
Part 5 Money 279
27 How to sell a business 281
28 How to pitch to an investor 289
29 How to protect what you've worked for 301
30 How to secure your intellectual property 311
31 How to prepare your business for sale 319
What's next? 327
Acknowledgements 329
