In today’s digital world, it is easier than ever to make money online. You may have heard of the multi-billion dollar industries such as software and internet marketing, which earn their owners billions of dollars annually. However, lesser known industries such as data entry, selling your photos, and freelancing, provide individuals with reliable ways to earn money online. In this article, we will discuss 6 ways to make money online and how to succeed as an affiliate marketer, digital marketer, product creator, or just a savvy internet marketer.
1. Start A Blog
Blogs are a great way to make money online. Many online industries, such as lifestyle, food, and fitness blogs, earn their owners six-figures per year or more. For example, the founder of one of the largest vegan food blogs, Meatless Monday, makes over $100,000 per year from adverts and affiliate partnerships. According to Flynn Starks, co-founder of Flynn Starks Media, a solo entrepreneur with a blog called The Omnivore’s Dilemma, makes over $100,000 per year from affiliate partnerships and selling and renting out her photography.
There is a wealth of opportunities in blogging, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to start a lifestyle blog to succeed as an affiliate marketer. Plenty of successful businesses started out as food blogs, for example. If you have a specific niche, like organic food or vegan food, you can leverage the popularity of food blogs to create your own niche blog. For example, the founder of Blue Banana, a company which sells premium quality organic coffees, launched a blog a while back which focuses on nutrition and fitness, and within a few months of launching she was making over $20,000 per month through affiliate sales and food product launches.
2. Test Websites And Apps
If you have a specific website or app idea, test it out with a landing page. If the page performs well, you can use it as the basis for a blog post or an affiliate sales promotion. Similarly, if you have an Android or iOS mobile app which you think is innovative and could be useful to a lot of people, you can use a digital marketer to build a landing page for a free trial or to test the app. One of the best digital marketers I know, Mike Chapple, co-founder of Chapple Media, recommends that you get a trial run of the product or service before you launch your landing page.
3. Start An Online Store
If you are the entrepreneurial type, you can start a shopify store, which is where you can sell your own products. You can use the store’s billing system to accept online orders for your own branded products, whether you are a clothing brand, accessories brand, or a homeware brand. You can even market your store to make money online.
If you have a large inventory of products which you could sell online, you can use third-party platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce to create an online store. Both platforms have a variety of e-commerce features which can help you sell your products and grow your business online.
4. Start An Online Real Estate Agency
If you are the adventurous type who would like to be their own boss, you can start your own real estate agency and sell property online. There are plenty of franchises available for those who want to get into the real estate business, and with the right guidance and training, you can be up and running in no time. You will need to work hard and treat your clients with respect, but you can build a profitable business if you are looking for a reputable and established brand to partner with.
5. Start An Affiliate Marketing Program
One of the oldest and most proven ways to earn money online is through affiliate marketing. When you set up an affiliate marketing program with a company like ClickBank, you can sell and promote their products, while occasionally getting a commission when a customer makes an purchase. The more you promote, the more you will make.
If you want to be successful as an affiliate marketer, you need to understand how affiliate marketing works, how to become an affiliate marketer, and how to profit from it. If you have a large social media following, you can use platforms like Twitter and Instagram to earn commission by promoting products which you believe in. Just remember that you will need to remain impartial and unbiased when promoting products, otherwise, you could end up in a controversy which could hurt your credibility.
6. Start A Micro Business
If none of the above seems like a fit for you, you can start a micro business. These are businesses which are considered small and independent due to their limited scope and size. There are plenty of opportunities in the micro business world to make money online. From transcription to styling, editing, and writing, you can use your skills to become financially independent. Before you begin your micro business, you will need to do extensive research into the current market value of your skills. Finding out the going rate for your services will help you determine how much you should be charging. Setting a price that is too high could end up costing you future clients. Setting a price that is too low could put you at a competitive disadvantage.
In conclusion, whether you want to call it online marketing, website design, or digital marketing, there are plenty of ways to make money online. Keep in mind though that not all businesses will make you rich, but they could provide you with a decent living. The key to success is to find a profitable niche, build a decent portfolio, and scale your business up as fast as possible. If this sounds like something which you are passionate about doing, then entrepreneurship might be the career path for you. You will need to find your strengths and skills, as well as investigate the current market value of these digital marketing, website design, and digital marketing skills. This way, you will know how much you should be charging for your services.