The Online Business Puzzle (4 Key Pieces You Need)

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Building a successful online business isn’t about doing everything — it’s about doing the right things in the right order. After years of helping digital entrepreneurs grow their businesses, I’ve noticed that when someone feels stuck or things just aren’t taking off, it usually comes down to a missing puzzle piece.

Here are the four essential pieces you need — and how to get them working together.

Hit play or read the post below:

1. Traffic – Getting in Front of New People

The first piece is traffic — which simply means: how are new people discovering you?

There are so many ways to do this. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are all fantastic for organic growth. Personally, I love YouTube because it allows me to leverage SEO — search engine optimization — and create content that directly answers the questions my ideal clients are searching for. That’s how I get discovered by people who are already looking for solutions I offer.

In addition to organic content, I also use Facebook ads. While free marketing is great, it can be inconsistent. Ads give your business a layer of predictability — and when set up strategically, they can deliver a steady stream of leads.

Other traffic builders I use:

• Pinterest – a visual search engine with long-lasting pins

• Collaborations – doing free trainings or guest appearances in front of other people’s audiences

2. Leads – Turning Viewers into Subscribers

Once you’re getting traffic, the next step is converting those people into leads. For me, this happens on my email list. When someone joins my list, I now have a direct line of communication with them — one that’s way more reliable than social media algorithms.

This list is where about 99% of my sales come from.

You build your list by offering something valuable for free — a fast freebie like a checklist, mini training, or resource guide — in exchange for an email address. Watch this video on how to implement this strategy.

3. Trust – Building Real Connection with Your Audience

In today’s world — especially with the rise of AI and competition in every niche — trust matters more than ever.

You build trust by showing up consistently and generously sharing your expertise. For me, YouTube does both: it attracts new people and nurtures the ones already in my world.

Other ways to build trust:

• Emailing your list regularly

• Writing helpful blog posts

• Starting a podcast

• Showing up consistently on one platform

The goal here is for people to see that you know your stuff — and that you’re someone they feel good about learning from or investing in.

4. Sales Systems – So You’re Not Always “On”

Now that you have traffic, leads, and trust — how are you actually making sales?

This is where your sales system comes in. It’s the moment in your business where you clearly say: “Here’s what I offer. Here’s how to buy it. Here’s why now.”

There are a few different formats that work:

• Launches – live events with a focused promotion window

• Sales Funnels – evergreen, automated systems that run in the background

• Webinars – a great mix of education and promotion

In my own business, I use both launches and funnels. Launches bring energy and urgency. Funnels create consistency and stability. Having both means I’m reaching people in different ways, all year long.

Do You Have All the Pieces?

If something isn’t clicking in your business right now — it might be that one of these four pieces is missing or underdeveloped.

Do a quick audit:

• Are new people finding you?

• Are you capturing leads and building your email list?

• Are you building trust and sharing value?

• Do you have a clear sales system in place?

When all four of these work together, everything changes — more visibility, more leads, more sales, and a business that grows without burning you out.

Have questions? Let me know in the comments — and if you found this helpful, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

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