The world of e-commerce is a big place, but it’s also a very competitive one. Every day, entrepreneurs are trying to figure out how to gain an edge over their competitors, and what better way to do that than by offering a better product at a better price? It’s a race to the top that drives every business in this industry and, in turn, these businesses drive innovation in all areas of online shopping.
What are the BEST products to sell online to make money?
There are several ways to make money online, but few of them compare to selling your own products. In truth, you don’t even have to run your own store to be making a steady income. You can use a platform like Shopify to create an online store that sells affiliate products, bringing in revenue while you sleep. Let’s delve into the various ways that you can make money online.
1. Product Creation
The first step to building a successful e-commerce store is to decide what you will sell and, therefore, create products that fulfill these needs. Before you begin, you must consider various factors like pricing, competition, and demand. Once you have an idea of what you will sell, you can begin to craft products that satisfy those needs. If you are fortunate enough to have a background in design, you can use your creative talents to develop mock-ups of your products that will make them more appealing to buyers.
2. Online Shop
After you have a product or products to sell, you will need to set up an e-commerce store to sell them. There are several platforms that you can use to build an online shop, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. Each of these platforms has their perks and quirks, so think of what you need and choose a solution that fits perfectly.
3. Digital Marketing
Now that you have a shop set up, you can begin to grow your customer base. One of the best ways to attract potential customers to your store is through digital marketing. There are plenty of platforms available to reach individuals across the globe, such as Google Ads, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also use platforms like Mailchimp and HubSpot to develop and grow your email list.
4. Affiliate Marketing
Once you have a significant audience, you can begin to grow your affiliate marketing program. There are a number of companies, like Commission Junction, that can help you build a reliable affiliate program that generates sales from people that are interested in your product. Some prefer to work with an affiliate marketing company, whereas others wish to go the extra mile and manage their own affiliate sales.
5. E-commerce Consulting
If you are the creative type, you can also become an e-commerce consultant and help businesses bring their ideas to life through a well-designed e-commerce store. It’s a great way to bring in extra money while gaining experience in a new industry.
6. Become a freelancer
If you are talented at creating unique designs or adapting existing designs to fit new products, you can become a freelance designer. There are plenty of opportunities for freelance designers, like Redbubble, Designers Republic, and Hatch Design, to make money online.
7. Start a blog
A blog can be a valuable asset to your business, not only as an online store, but also as a reference for possible customers. If you can become a reliable source for information on your chosen topic, you will be able to establish yourself as an expert in your industry. When creating content for your blog, make sure that you are consistent in your approach so that your readers will come back for more. Since your blog is an online entity, you can use platforms like Shopify and WordPress to get the contents of your blog published to the web.
8. Start an Etsy shop
If you are looking to get your products manufactured and need the funds to do so, you can start an Etsy shop. Etsy is one of the most popular platforms for independent artists, designers, and small businesses to sell their products. Since your products are handmade, you may find that you will need to invest in expensive equipment to make them look the best they can. Fortunately, Etsy provides you with a tool called Seller’s Assistant that can help you get set up with the proper equipment and the know-how to get the most out of it.
9. Rent out a booth at a tradeshow
If you are at a tradeshow, you can rent out a booth and install a mini shop. At the end of the day, you will be able to bring in revenue while gaining invaluable experience in your chosen field. The more booths you can rent, the more money you can make.
10. Become a dropshipper
If you own a product that you think could sell well online, you can become a dropshipper and essentially have your product manufactured and shipped to your customers. Some dropshippers choose to go the extra mile by looking for under-performing products and having them redesigned or improved upon to make them more appealing to the digital consumer. It is, in many ways, similar to starting a blog except that you are working with a product that you know will sell.
E-commerce Can Suitable for Every Business
In today’s world, e-commerce is not just for big businesses; it’s for everyone. If you can establish a reliable e-commerce business, you can become a full-time entrepreneur and be benefiting financially from your efforts while still having time to spend with your family.
E-commerce allows you to sell a product that you created or found a way to source, and it gives you the flexibility to set your own prices. If you have a talent for design, you can use tools like Shopify’s Merch by Amazon to setup an online store that sells your own creations as well as products that you found on Amazon. Alternatively, you can use a tool like Bluehost to quickly and easily set up a WordPress blog that begins to grow by itself.
Final Takeaway
There are several methods for making money online, but the above are among the simplest and most effective. If you are looking for a passive income stream, you can use any of the above to establish what will become a thriving e-commerce business. You don’t need to run your own store to make money online; all you need is a device, a computer, and an internet connection. The more you put in, the more you will reap!