When I first heard of AliExpress, I was skeptical. After all, I’ve been burned by online stores that promised to make me rich and failed to deliver. So I did what any smart girl would do: I examined the fine print before making a purchase. The problem is that most people don’t bother to do this and are often trapped by the slick sales pitches of online retailers. Well, it’s no secret that the world of online marketing is a shady one (at best), but there are legit ways to make money online that don’t require you to be fooled by slick sales pitches. One of these ways is to sell your photos on AliExpress. In this blog post, I’ll introduce you to the exciting world of DIY (do it yourself) photo selling on AliExpress, as well as teach you how to make money online without all the fluff.
How Does Photo Selling On AliExpress Work?
The basic idea behind photo selling on AliExpress is to create a store that connects photographers with customers seeking photos for various purposes (be it marketing or editorial). When a customer visits your store and purchases a photo, you get paid a commission.
To be able to sell your photos on AliExpress, you’ll need to create a free account. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to browse the site to find photos that you think will be popular and sellable. The more photos you have, the more money you’ll make. Keep in mind that the quality of your photos will affect their value and, thus, your income. Remember: buyers on AliExpress are usually looking for something new and unique, so make sure that your photos are indeed unique and worth what you’re asking for them (plus shipping). Also, make sure that your photos are of good enough quality to be used for the purpose that the customer intends to use them. Most professional photographers sell their work on stock photo websites like Alameda, which pay their bills and allow them to continue taking photos for various businesses, brands, and agencies.
The Pros and Cons of Photo Selling On AliExpress
On the positive side, aside from the fact that you get to keep the money you make, photo selling on AliExpress is a legitimate way to make money online. You’ll need a reliable source of income to support yourself and, because your income comes from selling photos, the chances of you hitting a financial wall are slim. The cons are fairly basic. Since you’re essentially running a photo shop, the most obvious con is that it can be very time-consuming. Also, because you’ll be responding to customer inquiries and requests, there’s a good chance that you’ll have to put in a lot of extra effort to make sure that each photo delivery goes smoothly.
Overall, though, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Not only do you get to keep the money you make, but you can also find the time to pursue your other interests (which I’ll discuss in a bit).
The Growth Of Photo Selling On AliExpress
After reading the previous section, you might be wondering how exactly photo selling on AliExpress grew to become such a popular and lucrative endeavor. Well, the company was originally started in China (and is now based in Hong Kong) but has recently branched out of its home country to establish offices in other countries like Germany, the U.K, and Canada. This has led to a significant rise in both its employee base and revenue. In 2020 alone, the company reported an 871% increase in monthly revenue from $1.7 million to $15.6 million.
So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to make some extra money or just want to pursue an interest that will help you establish yourself as an expert in your industry, then photo selling on AliExpress might be a good choice. Just remember: like any other business, you’ll need to put in the work to establish yourself as an authority in your industry. But, in addition to establishing your credibility, you’ll also be selling your products online, which means you’ll be able to reach a global audience if you’re doing something valuable and unique.
How To Make Money Online With AliExpress
If you’re looking for a way to make money online without having to create your own products, photo selling on AliExpress is a great option. All you need to do is find a reliable product that you feel comfortable selling and that has some demand in the market. When a customer purchases your product, you’ll receive a commission that you can use to fund your online existence. Keep in mind: the more you sell, the more you’ll make. So, if you’ve been looking for a way to establish yourself as an expert and make some extra cash, then selling your photos on AliExpress is a great option.
Selling Your Photos On AliExpress
Creating a product that customers will be willing to purchase is the key to making money online. In the previous section, we discussed how and why you’d create a product to sell on AliExpress. Now, let’s examine how exactly you go about doing this. First, you’ll need to pick a niche. The photo industry is constantly evolving, so you might want to pick a niche that’s growing quickly in popularity and, thus, has a greater demand for your product. Once you’ve chosen your niche, you’ll need to figure out the pricing for your product. In most cases, you’ll want to price your product competitively but, also, according to the demand for your product in your chosen niche. When developing your product, make sure that it’s of high quality and can be easily replicated by others. In some instances, you might want to consider making multiple versions of your product (for example, a cheap version and a more expensive version). When developing your product, make sure that it’s fit for digital consumption (that is, that it can be viewed and accessed easily on a computer or mobile device).
Once you’ve developed your product, the next step is to create a store for it. To create a product store, you’ll need to visit the website builder of your choice (I recommend Shopify, but you can use any CMS or E-commerce platform) and select the retail option. From there, you’ll want to select the photography tab and click on Continue. In the next window that pops up, you’ll want to type in a unique name for your store and select Canada as your location. You’ll then be directed to a special URL that you can use to refer to your store, which will be visible in the corner of any website that you create in the future (in case you ever decide to take your business offline).
Once you’ve created your product store website, the last step is to populate it with your products. To do this, you’ll need to navigate to your store’s homepage and click on Add New Products.
From there, you’ll see a form that asks for the details of your product (like its name and description). Add some images of your product to the page and you’re all set! When a customer clicks on one of your products, they’ll be taken to a page that details the product and provides a link to the store where they can purchase it. (Make sure that the product you’re showcasing in your store is the same as the product sold on your site. If you’ve changed the product since publishing, the customer will be informed of this fact.)
From a financial standpoint, creating a product for sale on both Amazon and eBay is a great way to go because you’ll be able to diversify your sources of income. Also, if you ever decide to take your product business offline, you’ll have an alternative source of revenue to fall back on.
One thing to keep in mind is that some industries (like the fashion and lifestyle industries) are heavily regulated when it comes to online marketing (and often, the products that these businesses sell are considered promotional in nature and, as such, can’t be marketed online). If you do choose to pursue a product-related venture, make sure that you’re aware of these regulations (especially when it comes to marketing via email) so that you don’t get flagged by an authority figure for taking the marketing route rather than the more traditional route (like in-person selling or snail mail marketing).
Choosing a profitable niche and creating a stunning product are both essential to making money online. The fact that you’re also establishing yourself as an expert in your industry (by offering unique and high-quality products) makes this a winning combination, especially if you can pull off a flawless execution. Remember: like any other business, you’ll need to put in the work to find your niche and create a profitable product. But, in addition to establishing your credibility, you’ll also be making a decent chunk of change online.