The Honest Truth About Building My Online Business
When I first started this business, I thought it would be quick, easy, and I’d be rolling in money within weeks. The reality? It’s been one heck of a rollercoaster. In this post, I’m giving you the raw truth — the good, the bad, and the “why am I crying into my coffee at 2 AM” moments of building a business from scratch.
Who the Heck Am I Anyway?
Before you trust some random stranger on the internet, here’s a little about me.
I live with PTSD, and no amount of medication has made me feel safe leaving the comfort of my own four walls. I wanted freedom. I wanted to prove to myself that I could build something meaningful even if this is my reality now.
Growing up, I was always creating and learning. Starting a business was a dream of mine for years, but about a month ago I had a little wake-up call: “If I don’t at least try now, when will I?” So here we are.
The Ugly Truth (The Bad & the WTF Moments)
One of the hardest parts was just finding information. Seriously — I spent hours Googling only to be smacked with: “Subscribe to my class for only $9.99 a month!”
Like… excuse me? I haven’t made a single penny yet and you want me to pay you? Wild.
I wasted so much time taking notes, watching videos, and trying to figure out who to listen to when everyone online says something different. Honestly, it made me question if this was even worth it.
So here’s your warning: take what I share with a grain of salt. I’m not a pro. I’m just a regular person stubbornly figuring this stuff out.
The Good (Because There Is Some)
The silver lining? I am slowly figuring it out. It’s taken me about 4 months of trial, error, and “oops I did that wrong again” moments… but I’ve learned a lot.
The best part? I’m sharing it all here — no paywalls, no “buy my $1,000 course.” Yes, you had to subscribe to my email to get this password, but that’s just marketing strategy (we’ll get to that later 😉).
So grab a snack, dust off that old notebook you never use, and buckle up. This is the real ride of entrepreneurship.
✅ Week 1 Checklist: Your First Steps
Step 1: Create a Simple Plan
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Write down what type of business you want (Shopify, Etsy, Dropshipping, Handmade, etc.)
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Decide your vision (why you want this + what you want to achieve)
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Keep it short — 1 page or less
(Why this matters: A simple plan keeps you focused so you don’t chase 20 random ideas at once.)
Step 2: Choose a Business Name
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Brainstorm at least 10 ideas
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Say them out loud (if it sounds dumb, it probably is)
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Check if it’s trademarked → USPTO Search Tool
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Commit to one name (don’t overthink it — you’ll be tweaking forever)
(Why this matters: Your name is your brand’s first impression, so make sure it’s legal + memorable.)
Step 3: Decide What You’ll Sell
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Pick one main niche (aka your corner of the market)
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Avoid selling everything under the sun — focus on one vibe
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Research suppliers (dropshipping apps, wholesale, or DIY)
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Make a list of 5–10 starter products
(Why this matters: A clear niche helps customers actually find you and know what you’re about.)
Step 4: Set Up Digital Foundations
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Create a business email
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Create an Instagram account
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Create a Pinterest business account (free + gives analytics)
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Create a Facebook business page (free + helpful later for ads)
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Set up a Linktree (or similar) for all your links
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Optional: TikTok or YouTube (if you like being on camera — not for me, introverts unite ✋)
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Oh, and yes, make a free ChatGPT account. You’ll thank me later.
- ⚠️ Don’t worry about making it “pretty” yet — no bios, fancy designs, or SEO polish. We’ll get into all that later. For now, just secure your accounts.
📚 Quick Definitions (Beginner’s Corner)
Dropshipping → Selling products without keeping inventory.
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✅ Pros: Low cost, no shipping headaches, tons of product variety
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❌ Cons: Lower profits, slower shipping, you deal with complaints you didn’t cause
Niche → A specific group of customers you focus on.
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Why it matters: Helps you stand out, attract the right people, and make branding easier.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) → Fancy way of saying “make Google and Pinterest show your stuff.”
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Use keywords, write good content, and make your site easy to navigate.
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Why it matters: Free traffic + trust from search engines.
🎉 Closing
Congrats — if you made it through this checklist, you’ve officially taken your first step into online business. 🎉
Don’t rush. Don’t compare. Don’t panic if you fall behind. These blogs will be here whenever you need them.
This is your business, and the best part? You make the rules.
💬 Thanks for sticking with me through this first step of the journey. If there’s something specific you’d like me to cover in these weekly posts, or if you have any questions, drop a comment below — I’ll do my best to be real with you and share what I learn as I go. I’m grateful you’re here building it right alongside me. ✨
Shop My Store Viola Marie @: https://shopviolamarie.com/
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