Web Analytics

Do You SWOT Your Online Business? Here's How.......

What Is SWOT?

For businesses and brands, regardless of industry or niche, the SWOT analysis framework is a vital tool in strategic planning and management. It helps to develop a better understanding of your strategies, make them more effective and reach your goals. Even if you have already started a project, by revisiting your analysis throughout a project's journey, you can make tweaks along the way and improve key areas.

The acronym SWOT stands for;

  • Strengths - The aspects of a business / person / project that gives an advantage over others
  • Weaknesses - Aspects that put the business / person / project at a disadvantage over others
  • Opportunities - Events, resources and possibilities that a business / person / project can explore to gain advantage
  • Threats - Competition, trends, legislation changes

Strengths and weaknesses are generally considered internal factors, whilst opportunities and threats are generally external factors.

Start your analysis with the external factors (opportunities & threats) first. That way you'll have a better idea of where your internal factors (strengths & weaknesses) can either boost or weaken the identified external factors.

Internal Factors may include;

  • Human Resources - such as business owner, staff, virtual assistants, volunteers etc
  • Physical Resources - equipment, location etc
  • Financial - sales, budget, other sources of income, investments etc
  • Activities - current projects, product range, programs etc
  • Experience - reputation, skills, knowledge

External Factors may include;

  • Legislation - Laws (either local or global) to adhere to
  • Future Trends - Viral or long term shift in practices, AI technology
  • The Economy - at local or international level, consumer demand
  • Environment - physical location access / internet / sales processing / shipments

So How Can SWOT Apply To Your Online Business?

Let's look at some examples;

Say your business solely deals with DIGITAL products and services, your SWOT example could look like this -

  • Strengths - revenue stream, good technology skills, established audience mailing list, reputation, range of products / services, design tools, optimised website / funnels, marketing platform with automation, established social media accounts etc

  • Weaknesses - no revenue, no mailing list, limited technology skills, limited or no products, no platform or automations, not using design tools, non converting website / funnels, no social media accounts etc

  • Opportunites - current consumer demand, trends, done-for-you products (with PLR rights), all-in-one marketing / selling platforms, outsourcing funnel / website design, collaborations, mentorship, virtual assistants, affiliates promoting your products, new technology (i.e AI), etc

  • Threats - local / national legislation changes, trend shifts, location (limited payment gateway options or internet access) etc

If your business deals with selling PHYSICAL products online, then your SWOT example may include some of the following -

  • Strengths - working capital, good technology skills, accounts with wholesale sites for purchasing, large inventory and storage space, good range of products / services, optimised website / funnels, design tools, established audience mailing list, reputation, physical product selling platform with fulfilment shipment included, etc

  • Weaknesses - limited working capital, limited inventory, no wholesale accounts for purchasing, no mailing list, limited technology skills, limited or no products, not using all-in-one selling platform, non converting website / funnels, limited time fulfilling your own orders and shipments, limited storage space, not using design tools, no social media accounts etc

  • Opportunites - current trend and consumer demand, wholesale sites, selling platforms with fulfilment / shipping included, alternative third party shipping fulfilment services, multiple selling platforms, collaborations, mentorship, virtual assistants, social media accounts to boast product exposure, affiliates promoting your products etc

  • Threats - local / national legislation, trend shifts, location / country (lack of access, shipping delays, storage space, limited payment gateway options or internet access) etc

The main purpose of SWOT is to identify all the key areas to analyse and, if necessary improve. As you go through your SWOT analysis of your brand / business, you'll see how some areas can affect others.

For example:- an identified opportunity, can help to turn a weakness, or a threat, into a strength.

In any business, the ability to adapt is your No 1 STRENGTH!

Of course, there are many other analysis alternatives that may go deeper into a particular scenario or benefit the later stages of a strategy. However, using SWOT is a good starting point to kickstart any small business strategy. Some alternatives to consider are;

  • SOAR - Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results

  • SVOR - Strengths, Vulnerabilities, Opportunities and Risks

Here's a list of some useful tools and platforms to help you grow your online business

Click on the name to visit the website......

  • Canva - Ultimate design tool for creating stunning graphics, illustrations, e-books, presentations, videos and more. 100's of apps, mockups, templates and free to use images to help with your designs. Free and paid plans

  • Systeme - Run your entire digital business from just one all-in-one marketing platform. Website hosting, funnel building, blogs, bio / digital store pages, email campaigns, full automations, host courses and memberships, workflows, tags, pipeline, built in calendar, payment gateways, multiple integrations including Zoom and Google Sheets, sub-accounts, manage affiliates and more. This platform has it all. Has a free (for life) plan and paid plans

  • Alibaba - Wholesale site for 1000's of physical products. Every product you can think of is available by 10,000's manufacturers. Purchase off-the-shelf or have products customised to your needs. Free sign up

  • Amazon FBA - Solve your physical product packing and shipping fulfillment worries. List your products on the Amazon platform and they do the rest. Products can also be shipped directly from the manufacturer to Amazon's warehouses. Requires Amazon business seller account

View a Category

Really Rocks Digital Marketing | © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Email: info@reallyrocksdigitalmarketing.com

Platform Powered By Systeme.io

Really Rocks Digital Marketing

© 2025 All Rights Reserved

Email: info@reallyrocksdigitalmarketing.com

Platform Powered By - Systeme.io

DISCLAIMER: As stipulated by law, we can not and do not make any guarantees about your ability to get results or earn any money with any recommended courses, events, affiliate programs, video training and products you see / purchase from this website. Any references to earnings are real and documented, but are used strictly for example educational purposes only. Your actual results will vary and depend on many factors, including but not limited to your background, experience, and work ethic. All business activities entails some risk as well as consistent effort and action on your part.

Affiliate DISCLAIMER: This page may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission (at NO extra cost to yourself). We only promote products and services we believe in and provides great value.

Facebook DISCLAIMER: This website is not part of the Facebook website or Facebook Inc. Additionally, this site is NOT endorsed by Facebook in any way. FACEBOOK is a trademark of FACEBOOK, Inc.