In today’s connected world, it’s easier than ever to launch an online business, all you need is the right idea. The internet allows you access to a national – and even international – customer base. It also means that you can run your business from anywhere. Nowadays everyone is connected via social media, so why not make the most of those extended networks to promote your online business venture?
Here are a collection of five online business ideas to get you started.
Five online business ideas
If you’re ready to take the plunge into becoming an online entrepreneur, we’ve got some great ideas to help you get your online business off the ground.
1. Web design
Building websites offers plenty of opportunities if you know some HTML and have an eye for design. Initially you could use free to download software but eventually you’d want to buy something a little more advanced.
With some artistic ability and some programming knowledge, you can launch a business creating attractive, easy-to-use websites for small businesses. And you can market your business through your own website to business owners who want to take their online presence to the next level.
You need to build up a portfolio of work with smaller freelance jobs. As your portfolio grows, you’ll be able to increase your rates and hopefully get some word of mouth referrals.
2. CV and cover letter writing
Almost all job applications nowadays require a comprehensive CV and accompanying covering letter to be submitted. And these two documents can make all the difference in deciding whether you get called in for an interview or not.
You can earn a living helping others to secure that all-important interview by getting paid to write outstanding CVs. As an add-on you can create or tidy up LinkedIn profiles for the candidates.
One way to get a CV writing business up and running is to have a website on which you have standard questionnaires for clients to fill out online. You can then follow-up by phone or email with questions, if needed. Hopefully you’ll be so good at writing that perfect covering letter that you start getting word of mouth referrals.
3. Author
With e-readers becoming more and more commonplace, self-publication is becoming a reality for many writers who might otherwise never get published. Nowadays, you can easily publish your own book on anything from cooking to a murder mystery.
It’s important to price your e-book cheaply to encourage people to buy it. This way you can create a readership who will pay a little more for subsequent books .
Find a website where you can share your content – or create your own website where you and fellow authors can share ideas, experiences and advice. You can also promote your book on your social media channels.
4. Blogging
Starting a blog is now easier than ever. All you need is to choose a free blogging website (eg tumblr.com or WordPress) and start publishing posts about pretty much everything. So if you’re a mother, for example, you could do a blog about child-raising. If your writing – and subject matter – is sufficiently engaging, you’ll soon build an audience.
Blogs can be informative, they can be funny observations on life and they can even be serious, but they have to keep the readers coming back for more.
5. Freelancing
If you have creative skills, freelancing is a great way to make money from pretty much anywhere. All you need is an internet connection and a website showcasing your talents. The most common freelance jobs are content writers, programmers, and graphic designers. If you have any of these three skills, you can start your own freelancing business by providing these services to other businesses online.
The easiest way to get started is by leveraging freelancer websites, but once you’ve established a reputation for good quality work and being reliable, you can begin attracting clients on your own and charge higher rates.