Technology has reached a point where it’s possible for anyone to launch a business online and become their own boss.
Thanks to platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk and Fiverr creating a global freelance platform, all you need to do to make money is create something that people want or need and then sell it to them as an online marketplace seller.
However, carving out a niche in a saturated market can be extremely difficult, even when you’re offering genuine value and solving a real problem. This is where self-teaching comes in.
If you’re passionate about a subject and know a lot about it, it’s possible to create a course or digital platform around that subject matter and teach others how to become successful online sellers.
Here are just some of the successful online courses available to help you make money online.
Creating A Niche
Niche building is the process of finding an audience or customer base that shares your passions and interests and then utilizing that community to build something new, different, and hopefully profitable.
For example, if you’re an experienced writer and you see that many of your peers are looking to have their content published online, you might decide to start a blog around this topic and attract all the content creators you know of in your niche to join your community.
This is a highly effective strategy when used correctly. However, sometimes the process of attracting freelance writers can be a little tactical. It’s important to ensure that you have a reliable source of income before taking on any freelance writing gigs, especially if you’re looking to build your own audience and brand.
Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the biggest players in the online freelance marketplace and recently celebrated reaching its ten-year anniversary. It was originally launched as a way for businesses to find freelancers to do small tasks for them.
Since then, the platform has evolved to become a place where people from all over the world can take on various tasks including creating product demos, web content, email marketing, and social media posts. Businesses can even hire full-time social media managers to oversee all their content across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
One of the great things about Fiverr is that it completely re-imagined the way businesses interact with customers. Instead of expecting business owners to craft an entire marketing program from the ground up, marketers can choose from a variety of pre-made marketing packages that get the job done.
ClickBank
ClickBank is possibly the most popular affiliate marketplace designed with entrepreneurs in mind. As a marketer or business owner, you can choose from a wide array of digital marketing and sales tasks, from taking on a customer service call to designing a marketing email to launching a pay-per-click campaign on Google or Bing.
These are just some of the things you can do through ClickBank. The platform is great for anyone looking to build a business because you don’t need a large audience to be able to make money through affiliate marketing. In fact, you can make a substantial amount of money with only a few hundred or thousand clicks a month.
Matching.com
Matching.com is all about one-on-one human connections whether you’re looking to meet new people or want to connect with your existing social circle. The website is best described as a dating app for nerds. Users can browse other members’ profiles, matchmaking services, and set up a profile where they can add a personal interest, learn more about the person they’ve matched with, and even create a profile picture that will appear alongside their personal interests and hobbies.
When users first log in, they’re presented with a short skills test. If the person they’re matching with is accomplishing the same tasks, they can start communicating and setting up dates. If you’re looking to make some extra cash, you can take on some of the task orders on Matching and make a little side income.
Upwork
Upwork is the professional marketer’s answer to finding contractors and freelancers they can hire for various tasks. Marketers can post their projects and choose from a pool of professionals willing to take on his or her tasks. Just like with Fiverr, Upwork is a place where business owners and marketers can find virtual assistants, people to help with social media, content creators, and graphic designers.
You won’t find any direct sales here. Marketers post projects and choose from a pool of freelancers who bid on the task and are chosen based on their skills, experience, and portfolio. If you’re looking for a steady stream of income, Upwork is the place to be.
Online Courses To Help You Make Money
Now, you might be thinking that writing a blog and doing a bit of affiliate marketing isn’t the most lucrative route and that you need to choose your niche carefully so that you can focus on becoming the best in your field. While this might be true, there are also many ways to monetize a blog or website without having to worry about being competitive in your field.
If you’ve got a sizable audience already, you might decide to experiment with hosting consulting or training sessions via video or online course. You could teach people how to get results for their businesses or show them the best practices you’ve learned from experience.
If none of the above seem like a fit, you might consider creating a whole course around the topic of online marketing or business management. You could teach yourself or another member of your team how to operate a successful online store or market an e-commerce site.
No matter what your specific niche, there’s an online course out there to help you learn how to monetize it successfully.
If you’re looking to create a passive income stream, choosing an online niche and then teaching others how to build a profitable business within that niche is a great way to go.