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If you're ready to trade overwhelm for clarity, you're in the right place. I'm your tech-savvy sidekick sharing web design, digital tools, and mindset tips to help you live with purpose. Stay a while!
You know you have so much knowledge to offer, but you feel stuck by all the tech choices you’re bombarded with online. You’re wondering, “How do I start an online business with no tech experience?” and questioning, “Is it better to use Canva or Adobe Photoshop to create online content?” Or maybe you’re wondering, “What is the best website platform for someone just starting?”
Here’s the thing: you do not need to be a tech expert or coding wizard to have a successful online business.
Whether you are new to the online business world or making a switch from providing services to selling digital products, learning what technology tools you need can be confusing. Since we’re both business owners here, I know you are eager to share your knowledge and get your ideas into the world fast, so let this post guide you on how to get started with the tech in your online business. No computer science degree is required, I promise.
TLDR; You can grab the pdf version of this post here.
If you want to feel more confident with technology and have a solid plan for your online business, keep reading to learn how to get started with an online business without tech experience.
Start Here: What Are You Going to Sell in Your Online Business
Your first goal is to decide what you’ll sell in your online business.
Maybe you are a math teacher with a unique way of teaching math concepts to students, and you want to sell lesson plans to other teachers.
Perhaps you are a lash artist and have figured out a killer referral program that helps you get new clients on repeat, so you want to create a mini-course on your process.
Or, you are a home stager, and your clients love the furniture you use in your staging services, so you want to create an ebook of how you create a beautiful, cohesive home.
First, can I say that’s awesome?! Your knowledge is your power!
Now, you must decide what form of digital products you want to sell your customers.
Some common forms of digital products:
Courses
Lesson Plans
Ebooks
Printables
Templates
These are just a few of the most common digital products I see created in online businesses, but you can create anything you want! Once you have decided what you’re selling, you will have to decide how you will create it.
Key Decision 1: What Design Tool Will You Use in Your Online Business
One of the first tech skills you will need to learn is your design tool. Most online business owners decide between Canva, Google Slides, or PowerPoint.
One product is not better than the other—it truly depends on your comfort level. I will say my personal favorite is Canva. At the time of publishing this post, the Pro version costs a little less than $13 a month. It is an awesome design tool with many pre-made templates and customization options, and it even has an educator resource section.
What About Designing in Google Slides or PowerPoint?
You can use Google Slides or PowerPoint to design and sell your digital products. When I taught, I used these presentation tools daily for my slides, online resources, and print materials. Neither option is better than the other—it depends on your comfort level. If you plan on creating slides or editable documents for your digital products, these presentation tools may make more sense for you and your business.
Key Decision 2: Domains
You’re probably thinking, “What even is a domain?”
Domains are like owning a piece of the internet. It’s where your customers can reach you online and buy products from you. So, yes, you need a domain for your online teacher business.
Affordable Domain Registrars:
hover.com
godaddy.com
namecheap.com
There are other options, but this list covers a few of them.
What Should My Domain Title Be
Keep in mind that customers will type your domain into their internet browser to visit your website. A few rules of thumb are listed below.
Online Business Domain Name Tips:
Tip 1: Buy a .com domain rather than .co, .net, .org, .biz, etc.
When you think of visiting your favorite website, more often than not, the URL ends in .com, right? The same goes for your business. Although the other options may be available for a cheaper rate, I’d advise you to purchase a .com domain name to make it easy for your customers to find you.
Tip 2: Keep it simple
While a creative name might sound good when said aloud, it might cause some confusion for your customers. The same goes for the spelling of your domain/ business name. Misspelling something will only cause confusion for your customers, which could result in them not even bothering to visit your website.
You should also avoid numbers and symbols in your domain. Anything unclear or potentially misinterpreted can cause confusion, which can prevent sales.
Tip 3: When in doubt, try using your name as your domain for your online business
If your creative juices aren’t flowing, I suggest using your name, if available, for your domain. Your name sticks with you as you evolve, whereas a cutesy domain name pigeonholes you into a specific niche or area.
Key Decision 3: Website vs Landing Page
A key difference between a website and a landing page is the number of pages. A website is like a hub with many pages linked to it, while a landing page is just one place for customers to visit.
When you are first starting out in your online business journey, I don’t suggest a full website unless you are willing to pay for the fees associated with buying a website template and purchasing a website hosting platform. A landing page is a good place to start.
Take it from me. I have spent hundreds of dollars on a website that sat empty and had a tiny amount of traffic when I could have spent those dollars elsewhere in my online business. Since then, I have grown and learned so much about web design.
Many great landing page options exist; however, I recommend using your email service provider’s landing page when starting an online business.
Having an email list is critically important to any online business. You can send your audience newsletters, blog post updates, or information about digital products for sale. It’s a great way to stay in touch and build community with your audience.
There are quite a few options for email service providers. Most of them vary in cost depending on how many email subscribers you have.
Popular Email Service Providers (ESPs):
Convertkit
Flodesk
Mailchimp
Mailerlite
Key Decision 5: Payment Processor for Your Online Business
When you shop at a physical store, you use a card reader at the store checkout. An online store needs a version of a card reader, too. This is the purpose of a payment processor. The easiest one to start with (that you may already have access to) is PayPal. Many payment processors exist for online businesses, but it’s important to know the transaction fees associated with them. It’s also good to know what the user experience is like for you, the account holder, and your customers.
Before switching payment processors, please try it out to get familiar with it before using it.
Let’s Recap the 5 Key Decisions for Your Online Business
What Design Tool You Will Use to Create Your Products to Sell
Purchase a Domain Name
Create a Website or Landing Page
Choose an Email Service Provider
Select a Payment Processor for Your Online Business
I’ll say it again: There is no perfect tool, but there is the right tech tool for you and your online business.
Overall, learning how to start an online business requires testing and experimenting to find what works best for you. If you need help with your business’s tech, reach out to schedule a free, no-obligation call to discuss my design and tech support services.
I hope you feel less overwhelmed by tech in your online business and are ready to share your expertise.
Rooting for you,
Sarah
* This post was updated in April 2025 for clarity.
Sarah Hawk is a Web Designer and tech educator in Rochester, MN who helps health and beauty business owners ditch tech overwhelm. With a background in teaching and pharmaceutical sales, she blends strategy, design, and education to help service providers launch websites that look professional, feel aligned, and support real business growth, without the confusion. When she’s not behind the computer, she loves aesthetic coffee shops, systems, strength training, and testing new recipes for her family.
Explore web design services and resources at bysarahhawk.com
This free video series is your first step to ditching the tech chaos and letting your website do the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best.
