Home and Lobby! Online Business Setup for Beginners
LYNNIE VERSION
Would you like to read this article in more grown-up words, still easy to understand? Jump here.
Hi! I’m Lynnie! Today I’m telling you about online business setup for beginners. It sounds super techy. But really, it’s just two choices!
- Where will your business live online?
- Which tools do you need to earn?
Two parts
Part one: pick your main profile. That’s your home online.
Part two: switch on the helpers that let customers buy from you. Like taking payments, rules pages, or agreements with helpers. That part is in our setup checklist.
Your profile is not the most important thing!
Surprise! Your profile isn’t the most important piece. So please don’t spend ages making it perfect.
What matters most is the other helpers, and bringing visitors. A beautiful profile that nobody visits doesn’t help at all!
Here’s a secret. Most customers won’t even look at your profile. They’ll see the exact thing you show them. So focus on that: what you sell, and how you show it.
Your home and your lobby
You do need a profile, because it’s your home online. But think about a real home. You live there, but you don’t invite everybody to look around every room!
Most visitors only come into one room: your lobby. The lobby is the page where you show your offer, or your checkout page. That’s where people decide to buy.
So first, open your home online. Then put your energy into the lobby. From now on, your lobby is your workplace. That’s where the magic happens!
What makes a good lobby?
A good lobby is clear and simple. It shows:
- what you sell
- who it’s for
- how much it costs
- how to buy it
With nice pictures and a short, honest description.
Three kinds of homes
You pick one of three:
- Marketplace profile: a shop inside a big platform, like Etsy, Amazon or Fiverr.
- Social media profile: a profile on Instagram or TikTok, often with a little shop.
- Website: your very own site, built with something like WordPress or Shopify.
Each one has good parts and jobs that come with it. The next three articles explain them one by one.
Setup oopsies
- Opening lots of profiles at once. It feels busy and productive. But it splits your attention and your visitors! One good home is way better.
- Paying for fancy stuff before any visitors. Like fancy themes, paid plans and design tools.
- Waiting until everything’s perfect. Show your offer to people already!
All three slow down the most important step: getting your first visitors.
Keep it super cheap
You need very little money to start. You’d be surprised! Most ways have free starts or small one-time costs. Monthly fees before anybody knows you just make you worried about earning them back!
Set up free, and make it pretty later, after visitors come. Bringing visitors is what really makes things work. And you can learn it yourself, no agency needed.
No face needed
None of the three homes needs your face. A shop name, a logo and nice product pictures can stand for your business.
What’s next?
The next article is about the easiest home to start with: the marketplace. The whole lesson is in the book on our products page. Want a grown-up to help you set up? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
Why isn’t my profile the most important thing?
Because most customers only see your offer, not your profile.
What’s the home and the lobby?
Your profile is your home. Your offer page is your lobby. Most visitors only see the lobby!
How many profiles do I need?
Usually just one.
What are the three kinds of homes?
Marketplace, social media, or website. The next articles explain them.
Do I set up my profile first?
You open it, yes. But just open it! No perfecting yet. Posting comes later.
Are there step-by-step lessons for starting each of the ten ways cheaply?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
How can I start for free or almost free?
Lynnaider shows you how to start each of the ten ways for free, or for very, very little money. You’d be surprised! And a free robot helper called Lynnaider Compass helps you step by step!
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
