The way we do business is rapidly changing. According to Forbes, 82% of business enterprises plan to adopt a digital-first business strategy in the coming year. 

The online terrain is still new territory for many business owners and entrepreneurs. This means with the right knowledge and skills in your repertoire, you can climb past the competition and ascend to digital success. 

But what does it take to be the digital entrepreneur that will dominate the coming year? Read on, and I’ll discuss the skills and tactics you’ll need to know to win big in 2019. 

Stay Flexible & Be Ready To Pivot

Online trends change at a rapid pace, and true digital entrepreneurs need to be quick on their feet in order to keep up. 

The way consumers interact online, and what they turn to the web for, changes rapidly. Keeping an eye on the pulse of the web and being able to move with changes quickly can make all the difference in digital business. 

Keeping your business flexible and open to new ideas can help you take advantage of sudden opportunities. It can also make sure you avoid being crippled and left behind by the changing of the digital tides. No one wants to end up like Vine, FilmStruck, or a variety of other quickly shuttered digital companies. 

Get The Word Out 

The power of a business in the 20th century lay in how many physical assets a company had. The number of offices, land, and employees were all a mark of dominance in most industries. 

Today, size is more of a liability than a strength, limiting flexibility and function. Instead, digital assets and connectivity rule the game. Grow your e-mail list, your social media followers, and establish yourself on many different platforms and networks. 

The more you can make yourself present in the eyes of the consumer, the more powerful you’ll be. These days, quick, fluid and innovative thinking can do that a lot better than the brute force of size and stature. So a lack of budget is no excuse. 

Plan For Scalability

Take a look at some of the most successful digital leaders in the world. Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, for example. What do their businesses have in common (besides some questionable ethical issues)? 

They were able to expand from niche markets out into ever increasing forms of profitability. Bezos’ Amazon started as an online bookstore and now provides, well, just about everything. Zuckerberg started with a niche customer base, college-aged Harvard students, and expanded out across the whole world. 

Be ready for growth. If you’ve already had a strong year behind you, begin the new one by finding the next step for your company. Is there a service that you aren’t providing but could, or an audience you aren’t reaching for but might want to? 

And most importantly, if such opportunities present themselves, have you properly planned for such changes? 

Become The Digital Entrepreneur of 2019

Opportunities come and go quickly in the digital world.

If your hope is to become the digital entrepreneur that dominates the next year, you’ll need to stay nimble, hustle, and follow the advice above. With a little luck, you can end this next year as the envy of all your entrepreneurial peers. 

Need more business advice? Check out my blog for more essential tips and tricks.