In 1991, the Internet as we know it went live to the general public. At the time, there was little fanfare. And it would take most of the rest of the decade before it became mainstream.
Now the Internet is everywhere. And have people sure learned how to use it…especially to start an online business and make money.
As the Internet has evolved, people continue to spend more and more time on it. More eyeballs looking at content means more opportunity for people to monetize that content. So, for many, starting an online business sounds like a good idea.
There are a multitude of ways to make money on the Internet. And if you have never worked on the Internet before, that should not be something to stop you. Those who are willing to learn can be a success and make enough money to either earn a living or provide a little extra on the side in their monthly budget. The work itself does not have to be full-time. Plenty of people are adjusting their schedules and juggling both their regular work as well as an online side hustle.
So, if this is something you are interested in, you will need an idea for a business plan first.
Online Business Ideas
The path to starting an online business on the Internet is not necessarily a quick one. But many successful people have proven that it can happen. Here are some suggestions for an online business that you could possibly start:
Idea #1 – Developing a Print on Demand Store
A print on demand store ought to be a good consideration given how many people are looking to get custom-made merchandise. You could be one of those who will offer these products to them.
Now, in case you do not have graphic design skills, running a POD store becomes quite difficult. On the other hand, it is possible to hire someone who has these skills. Turning the whole thing into a joint venture is not a bad idea.
Now, as for the best marketplaces for print on demand, you have quite a few options. However, aim to work in a market that offers a lot of different products, has international shipping options, and ensures quality.
Idea #2 – Managing Social Media Accounts
Managing social media accounts might not seem like that difficult of a job, right? Well, the reality is quite different. All those accounts of celebrities and influencers are usually run by agencies that have dedicated teams.
Creating content, finding a perfect time to post it, running ad campaigns, organizing contests, and engaging with the audience takes more time than one might expect. But if you have a gift in this area and love interacting with people, it could be right up your alley.
You could be the one doing this sort of work. Start with gaining some experience and running a few accounts yourself. Then, when you feel like you are ready, go, and look for social media gig offers.
Idea #3 – Working in Customer Support
Customer support is much needed business that is still continuing to hire these days. We have seen more and more businesses shift their focus to online stores from brick and mortar. Someone has to be there to respond to clients when they have a need. While not everyone likes to deal with customer support and would look for answers themselves, plenty of customers will write questions and wait for a quick response.
The work itself can be pretty monotonous at times. However, if it provides an opportunity to add additional income, then it is certainly worth exploring. And if nothing else, it will still be a valuable experience. And if you can do it well, it will lead to great opportunities for you.
Related Content: Customer Service Training Ideas
Idea #4 – Writing a Blog
As I have written here before, blogging can be fun on top of giving you a chance to make money. The dollars don’t come overnight. It will take a while before you have a decent number of readers. However, if there is consistency in your publishing and you produce awesome content in your articles, it should not take too long.
Once you reach a certain point (i.e. number of readers/page views), you can look to monetize the blog. Some like to promote digital products like ebooks. Some produce their own personal content to market and sell. Running ads might also be a good option (just be careful because some ads slow down the website and are susceptible to ad blocking software). Lastly, there is the option of creating a Patreon page, but you would have to rely entirely on your fanbase then.
Related Content: My 8 Step Method for Writing a Blog Post
Idea #5 – Teaching Online
Have experience in a particular subject like math, science or a foreign language that others might find interesting or useful? Then teaching could be just the thing. There are multiple online education platforms that allow users to create courses online and sell them. Or you could become an online tutor. There are always families with students at the high school and college level looking for additional assistance outside the traditional classroom.
As more and more people are seeking information and attempting to learn new skills, online education continues to rise. You will be making money on top of providing valuable services to those who want knowledge.
Idea #6 – Becoming a Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant position is not the fanciest in the world, but you are still able to gain experience and create a source of income. Finding a gig is not that hard as well. There are multiple work ads on websites like Fiverr and UpWork.
You can use the VA job as a platform to transition to something more serious in the future. Experience, as well as new connections, will help you.
Idea #7 – Creating Affiliate Marketing Websites
Affiliate marketing continues to be one of the more popular methods to make money on the internet. Joining an affiliate program on Amazon, ClickBank, or other service is relatively simple.
When you create a website, you will need to focus on driving relevant traffic and turn the visitors to people who click on the affiliate links. When they spend money after getting redirected to the landing page, you get a commission for each sale.
These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. So much more can be done online. So be creative. Tap into whatever skills you have that meet other people’s needs. People will definitely pay for your services if you give them value.
Leave a Comment or Answer a Question Below: What other ideas do you have for an online business? What people or companies do you admire for how they have used the Internet to make money?
These days, you can easily start an online business in a matter or minutes to hours of your time. After which, utilize the advantages available by joining websites that provide free resources such as content and ideas. You can choose resources that suit your specific theme and most relevant to your website. But, above all things, you got to have a well planned marketing strategy to bring it up.