Women’s entrepreneurship: start a digital business with a clear plan

What is the first step in starting a digital business?

Choose one target customer, one problem to solve and one offer you can explain clearly. You do not need to be on every platform on day one. Start with the channel your customers already use.

Clarify your offer before promoting it

Complete this sentence: ‘I help [customer] achieve [benefit] through [product or service].’ As an illustrative example, a baker might offer afternoon tea packs for small meetings in Kuching. This is clearer than simply saying ‘we sell food’.

Test on a small scale

Speak to potential customers about what they buy, when they need it and what makes purchasing difficult. Test an offer you have the capacity to deliver. Record enquiries and reasons people buy or decline; likes alone do not measure demand.

Build a realistic routine

Set aside time for content, enquiries and orders. Keep sales and expense records so you can understand actual costs. Choose targets within your control, such as publishing three useful posts a week and reviewing enquiries each working day.

Your action this week

Write one offer, prepare a real product photo and explain how to order. Test for a week and review how many enquiries become orders. If enquiries are high but purchases are low, check pricing clarity, delivery details and the ordering process first.