We all know the story about the guy who woke up one day, got a really cool idea, and started a successful online business from his basement. For example, Apple, Amazon and Google come to mind.
Live Your Dream Life with a Successful Online Business
Nowadays, in this fast-changing digital environment in which we can’t imagine a day without the Internet and social media, starting a successful online business seems more possible than ever. You don’t need advanced technology, a big team, or expensive resources to offer a service or a product that will find its way to customers all around the globe.
Moreover, as more and more people work remotely and use online services no matter where they are located, online business is something you should definitely consider as your next career stop. Plus, this kind of business will allow you to join a constantly growing community of digital nomads who live their dream lives while traveling the world.
If you believe that you need a large amount of money or a huge investment to launch a successful online business, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, a good Internet connection, a computer, and an original idea are all you need to start.
The Internet is full of free resources, platforms, and tools you can use to turn your idea into a successful business story. For example, you can start a website or a blog for free. Or, sell any kind of products via Amazon or eBay with no inventory costs. Now, let’s take a look at a few online businesses you can start with little to no investment.
Have You Considered Drop Shipping?
No matter where you live or what kind of product you want to buy, you can do it without leaving your couch. What’s more, it takes only a single click.
In the last couple of years, traditional shopping as we once knew it has been redefined. Customers now use eCommerce platforms to order products that are delivered straight to their doorstep. This change brought drop shipping to the scene.
Basically, drop shipping is a retail method where a store doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a customer orders a product, the store purchases the item from a third party and has it shipped to the customer. This means that the merchant will never see or stock the product.
How Can You Use This Mechanism for Starting Your Own Drop Shipping Business?
First, list products for sale on your website or well-known platforms like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. Then, when one of your customers makes a purchase, you buy that product from a third-party company for a price that’s lower than your sale price. Finally, your drop shipper (a manufacturer or wholesaler) sends the product to the customer.
The great thing about this process is that it can be completely automated. Therefore, you have plenty of time to focus on other aspects of your business, such as marketing.
If you find yourself considering this business option, do your best to find a reliable drop shipper. This is how you will make sure the product is delivered on time and that it fits your customer’s expectations. As you can see, drop shipping can easily become a successful online business.
Try Your Hand at Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can be another great opportunity to create a successful online business with zero investment.
In short, affiliate marketing is the process by which an affiliate earns a commission for marketing another person’s or company’s product. As an affiliate, you promote a product and earn a piece of the profit whenever you help make a sale.
If you find this interesting, you can start by picking a profitable niche for your online business. Then, find an affiliate partner who offers products in that niche. Each product will have a unique link that tracks back to your account with your affiliate partner.
Thereafter, it will be your job to come up with creative ways to promote those product links. When a customer clicks on a link, they’re taken directly to your partner’s shopping cart. And once the purchase is made, you receive a commission.
It Requires No Shipping or Inventory
To successfully run this type of online business all you have to do is to handle the marketing to get your prospects to buy. You can spread the word via social media, email marketing, or blogging. The best part is that you don’t have to ship products or maintain an inventory. Also, if you don’t know where to find affiliate partners, start with Clickbank.com, Amazon.com or CJ Affiliate by Conversant.
Have You Ever Thought About Blogging?
Have a passion for writing? Want to share your knowledge while earning money? A personal blog is a great place to start. What’s more, blogging can lead, in time, to a successful online business with little investment.
For example, with the WordPress platform you can start up your blog for free in no time. Simply choose your domain, secure hosting, and select your niche. Then, just start writing.
Here are a few things you should keep in mind if you want to monetize your blogging.
High-quality written content is just the beginning. Also post photos, videos, or links to other sites. The important part is to post on a regular basis and to create the type of content that is relevant to your target audience. This is the best way to position better on Google and drive more traffic to your blog.
Pair Blogging with PPC Ads and Affiliate Marketing to Generate Income
One proven method for making money with a blog is advertising. Pay-per-click ads are great options for a reason. Every time somebody clicks on an ad on your site, you will make a few cents or more. While that might not seem like much, it can accumulate over time. Just get a code from Google and place it on your website. Then ads will automatically appear on your blog.
Affiliate marketing is also a great option for bloggers. Simply include links to products related to your niche and wait for somebody to buy them. Before you know it, your commission will be on its way to you.
One way of getting people to click on your affiliate links is by writing product reviews. Let your readers know all the benefits of a specific product and then include a link to purchase it.
RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO USE INFLUENCER MARKETING TO BOOST YOUR BRAND
This is how many influencers earn a living: They collaborate with big brands. Doesn’t this sound like a really cool way to have a successful online business?
Creative Types Do Well with Online Videos
There’s a reason why video continues to be one of the most popular forms of content. Statistics say that 78% of people watch online videos every week. What’s more, 55% view them every day. As a matter of fact, by 2022, videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic. This all means that videos are no longer simply a nice content option; they are a necessity. So, why not use this momentum? You could earn cash by creating original video content.
Thanks to platforms like YouTube, you don’t need any major investments to get started with this type of successful online business. Just find the niche in which you can share useful tips, knowledge, or any kind of advice.
Work on your concept and get good with storytelling. Finally, start uploading videos. Once you’ve got a good channel going, you can start making money with ad revenue. Simply enable monetization in your YouTube settings to let Google include short AdSense ads with your videos. Whenever your viewers click on these ads, you will get paid.
You Could Attract Paid Sponsorships
Another way of earning money with videos is through paid sponsorships. If you have a large enough community watching your videos, there will surely be some companies ready to pay you to promote their products and services in your videos. However, before you start down the path toward YouTube stardom, here are some tips for creating professional-looking videos.
- Always make sure the lighting is good and the camera or smartphone you use has good resolution.
- Make sure your audio is clear. The best way of ensuring good audio quality is by using a separate microphone (not the one on your camera or smartphone).
- Edit your videos after filming. Cut out any excess material. Also, include titles, calls to action, and so on.
Build a Successful Online Business Around Information Products
A successful online business doesn’t have to be only about selling physical products. Instead, you can focus on digital information products. For instance, could you create tutorials, courses, and the like?
While making a quality information product generally costs next to nothing, it does take time and knowledge. But if you feel like you have talents and skills worth sharing, why not give it a try? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Audio: a recorded teleconference, interview, course, or audiobook
- Video: a recorded webinar, a how-to, an interview, tutorials, presentations
- Text: an eBook, an instruction booklet of some sort, a travel guide
No matter what kind of content you want to create, keep it engaging and useful. This is how you can make sure its popularity will grow and it will find its way to new customers.
Take Advantage of Endless Opportunities to Start a Successful Online Business
There are tons of opportunities for making money on the Internet. And thanks to all the free platforms and resources available, you can launch an online business with minimal upfront investment.
While it requires lots of time and effort, becoming a successful entrepreneur is far from impossible these days. Now it’s up to you to choose the approach that best fits your skills and personality. We wish you the best of luck with creating your successful online business!
