If you’re looking for a way to make money online, you’ve probably considered some of the same opportunities that attracted you to this article in the first place. You may have heard of affiliate marketing, which earns you a commission when someone clicks a link or buys a product that’s promoted on your site. Or, you might have tried your hand at blogging and built up a modest following. You might have even tried your hand at selling and discovering a product that people want to buy and click on links to purchase on Amazon.
But, maybe you’ve wondered…what skills make you money online? What can you do to increase your chances of success? What are the most profitable and sustainable methods of making money online?
To answer those questions, we need to take a step back and consider the big picture.
The average age of a professional online marketer is increasing. According to Fit Small Business, 44% of consumers begin searching for products and services online before even thinking about purchasing them in real life. That makes it more important than ever to learn the key concepts and skills that will help you succeed as an online marketer.
In this article, we’ll discuss six skills that will make you money online. These are all essential components of becoming a successful online marketer, so it’s important to learn and develop each one.
1. SEO (search engine optimization)
SEO, or search engine optimization, helps your website or blog stand out to potential customers when they type in keywords or search for products or services related to your niche. SEO is a combination of art and science, so it can be tricky to grasp, even for experienced web professionals. You’ll need to learn a variety of tactics, including how to craft effective copy for your content and how to properly use keywords in your content, titles, and meta descriptions.
As a beginner, you might not realize how much SEO can affect your site’s rankings in search results on Google and other search engines. According to Google, the average person spends upwards of 4 hours per day searching online. That’s a lot of time, which means that if you want your site to appear when someone searches for your keyword or product, you’ll need to learn how to do some SEO. Don’t worry — learning SEO isn’t as complicated as it seems.
There are free tools such as Google Keyword Planner and Yoast SEO, which can help you find the right keywords without needing to scour online forums or ask colleagues for help. And, while we’re on the subject of tools, don’t forget about Google Analytics, which provides you with in-depth visibility into the performance of your site.
2. Copywriting
While SEO focuses on attracting potential customers to your website or blog through organic search results, copywriting focuses on drawing in existing customers and encouraging them to make a purchase. When someone clicks on an ad, they usually expect to be presented with content that’s appealing and compelling. At the very least, they want the ad to be easy to understand and keep them interested in the product or service.
Since the average person spends 4 hours per day researching products and services online, companies like HubSpot have created marketing tools designed to assist you in the creation of persuasive content that will draw in customers and encourage them to make a purchase. For instance, HubSpot’s Content Planner allows you to drag and drop different content types (such as text, images, and videos) onto a canvas, creating unique combinations that you can use to craft compelling marketing material. You can also use built-in algorithms to track the performance of each piece of content you create, allowing you to quickly identify the types of content that most resonates with your target audience.
3. Affiliate marketing
If someone clicks a link or buys a product that’s promoted on your site, the company that owns the product or service pays you a commission for bringing customers to the site. You don’t need a fancy marketing budget to start earning commissions — many affiliate marketers begin their journey with barely any money to their name. However, as you start earning money online, you’ll find that the more you invest in marketing, the greater your earnings tend to be. You can use affiliate marketing to supplement your income or even replace your full-time job if you’re looking for a way to make extra money online.
4. Email marketing
Even if someone visits your website and doesn’t make a purchase, they may still want to stay in touch with you via email. According to HubSpot Bloggers, 65% of consumers expect to receive regular emails from brands they’re associated with, and 48% want to receive special offers through email marketing. To get started with email marketing, you’ll need a service like HubSpot, which allows you to create email marketing campaigns that include autoresponders and advanced deliverability.
5. Online branding and marketing
Like many other industries, the online marketing industry is constantly evolving and changing to stay relevant and profitable. With that in mind, it’s important to develop an understanding of how consumers interact with your brand or service in digital spaces, whether that’s through social media or web analytics. Since someone has to build the site, write the content, and track the performance of your ads, you may as well take this opportunity to get familiar with the ins and outs of online branding and marketing. That way, when the next big change comes along, you’ll be prepared to jump straight in and make the necessary adjustments. You can also take advantage of free online marketing trainings offered by reputable companies, like HubSpot, to gain the skills you need to become an effective digital marketer.
6. Website design
Even if you’ve never designed a website, you’ve likely seen them. Whether it’s a small photo album displaying product images or a massive corporation’s website featuring product reviews, videos, and infographics, everyone needs websites. But, not just anyone can design a successful website — it takes know-how, raw talent, and a lot of practice.
You’ll need to start by learning the basic design principles that make up the modern web. After that, you can move on to designing templates that can be used to easily create your own unique websites. While you’re at it, you can also try your hand at mobile website design — often, companies will pay you to design and build a mobile-friendly website, as 65% of all internet traffic now comes from mobile devices.”
At this point, you may be wondering how much all of this costs. Well, considering all of the above, the average cost for a full-time employee, including benefits, can range from $16,000 to $20,000 per year. Obviously, this is a significant investment, and you’ll need to be willing to commit in order to see results.
Even if you’re looking for a part-time gig, the above figures put its earning potential in the same ballpark. Plus, depending on your experience, you may be able to negotiate a discount.