I’ve learned the seven pillars of online business the long and hard way. (I really wish someone had told me everything I’m about to tell you when I first started building my online biz!) If there is one post of mine that you save–let it be this one. This post is important.

About a decade ago, I made $127,000 in 3 days from an online flash sale. I had a website (pillar 1), some brand photos (pillar 2) and many sales (pillar 7). The wave came in, everyone I knew helped me get the 13,000 orders out the door. And then, it got really quiet. What? But I had an online business now?! I was too early in the process (not to mention young/excited/naive) to understand that the windfall didn’t mean I had created a sustainable online business.

Now a decade of experience later, I see where the big holes were in that business. I didn’t have my other pillars set up so that when the flash sale ended the business could keep churning (even on a smaller scale).

What I didn’t need? Another flash sale. (and another and another??‍♀️)

What I needed?
– a blog (to attract new people)
– an email list (to stay in direct touch with my audience)
– a voice on a social platform (to establish my expertise in my niche)
– a system for website traffic automation (to keep a constant flow of visitors to my site, especially when there wasn’t a huge sale to attract them!)

The strategy I had was a toxic cycle of deep discounting my product—and I eventually discounted that business right into a hole and closed the doors. (So many lessons learned through it though. Thank you God, I’m grateful!)

So I present to you: The SISOO SEVEN! Learned first hand the long, hard, sweaty way!??

Pillar 1: Your Website

Your website is where you professionally sell your products or services. Sure, there are a boat load of ways to sell something on the internet. But having your own branded website with a custom domain gives your business the highest level of professionalism.

Pillar 2: Your Brand Photography

Brand photography is how you share your brand story and personality visually. Learn how to create brand photos or invest in someone who can create them for you. Brand photography will stir emotions in your audience which BONDS them to your business.

Pillar 3: Your Website’s Blog

Your website’s blog is the most powerful and free tool you can use to grow traffic to your online business. It’s a way to offer free and useful information to attract your potential customer.

Pillar 4: Your Email List

Your email list is how you directly stay in touch with your audience. It allows you to get personal and build trust. It’s a trusty way to get your potential customers to revisit your website.

Pillar 5: Your Pinterest

Your Pinterest is NOT a social media platform. It’s a powerful visual search engine! The more content you feed it, the more automated traffic your website will receive.

Pillar 6: Your Instagram

For most businesses, it’s hard to get people off of Instagram to purchase or subscribe. But THAT’S OK! Look at Instagram as the perfect platform to share your expertise and to create binge-worthy posts that establish authority in your niche.

Pillar 7: Your Sales (Products & Services)

Sales are obviously how your business survives and grows. The products you sell the most are a direct reflection of the problems you solve for your customers.

All 7 pillars together create an online business that will be more successful and sustainable than a business that relies on only one or two of the pillars! Repeat after me: online business is not a simple, one dimensional thing. (Nope, Tim Ferriss I am indeed not working 4 hour work weeks like you promised!?) Save this post to your Pinterest and refer back to these pillars you need to build if you want to keep your online business going strong, and on and on.

XOXO, SJP?