If you are unsure about where to start, you need to figure out what you are good at, or choose a gig you can learn quickly, such as freelance writing. However, choosing something that you are passionate about guarantees your knowledge and skillset in the subject.
What are some of the Best Online Business Ideas?
Below, I will share with you some of the best online business ideas that are guaranteed to work as long as you are willing to put the time and effort into it.
Start And Monetize A Blog
Turning your blog into a business can be very profitable, even if it seems outdated and has a lot of competition. If you love writing and consistently produce excellent quality, you can easily turn blogging into a business. You need to ensure the content you provide is something your readers will want to follow. This content can be educational, entertaining, or simply informative.
It is easier now than ever to start a blog, but just because you create a blog does not mean money will start coming in right away. It is going to take some legwork. You need to capture your readers' interests, and once you do this, the next step would be to sell something through your blog. This can be coaching, sponsored posts, or eBooks, to name a few.
Blogging has a low risk for a startup, but if you are willing to put the time into it, it can produce amazing rewards. This strategy can take a little time to gain traction but can be a great business idea that makes money.
Start A Web Design Business
There are billions of users on the world wide web, and many of them need a website. Some may be able to figure it out on their own; however, most will need to hire someone to build their website. If you do not have much knowledge of web design but have a passion for creative digital formatting, there are programs like Adobe XD where you can learn what you need to be successful.
If you are already technologically savvy and have experience with HTML or JavaScript, then you can jump right into your business. It is recommended to start with family and friends to sharpen your skills to build your portfolio. The next step would be to create your website for your business. This is your opportunity to show your abilities and attract potential clients.
This is probably the best business idea that makes money if the technical knowledge is already established. But I always like to say that it is never too late to learn something new. So, if you have the motivation to learn HTML and JavaScript, you can build a very lucrative business designing websites.
Start Affiliate Marketing
For those who already have a large online presence with many followers on social media, you can get into Affiliated Marketing. Affiliated marketing is where you are compensated for promoting someone’s product.
There are three different associations with the manufacturer when doing affiliated marketing:
- Involved
- Related
- Unattached
Involved affiliation is probably the best way to be successful since you will market a product you use and enjoy.
However, if you want to get free samples, brands and influencers will send you their product to review. This is related affiliation; since you do not use the product but are responsible for the content, you are marketing.
Finally, unattached affiliation requires little to no involvement and is a pay-per-click concept.
Become An SEO Consultant
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, gets websites to rank higher in search engines like Google. It brings the website relevant traffic, thus creating more revenue for that website. This is a business that does require some technical knowledge of internet marketing, but if this is a skill that you can master and learn on your own.
Many small businesses do not understand the importance of search engine optimization, so this creates an opportunity for you to educate them on how you can transform their websites. Using marketing skills, you can show business owners the added benefits of using strategic keywords and content to get more website views.
This is a constantly changing business, so it is imperative that you continue educating yourself on relevant SEO algorithms and techniques. Also, there are guides online to learn about SEO if you are unfamiliar with marketing skills. Udemy has an amazing variety of courses on this subject for a reasonable fee.
Create Online Courses
If you are an expert in something or just passionate about a topic, creating online courses may be the best business idea that makes money for you. Anyone interested in the subject you teach will be willing to pay for these courses. It is something that could benefit people across the world. However, be aware of what you are selling and ensure it is familiar and wanted content.
This is similar to writing an eBook, and you can either have material prepared or offer downloadable content. You, of course, will be responsible for promoting yourself, either through a website or having a list of potential clients' emails. If you are starting from scratch, you may want to self-publish and focus on the way to grow your clientele.
Start Freelance Content Writing
If you have an enormous imagination and like writing, or English was your most vital subject in school, then content writing might be the perfect fit for you. Right now, freelance writers are in high demand as more individuals expand their products and services onto an online platform.
With freelance writing, you can choose to do different types of writing, or even all kinds, such as:
- Content writing
- Creative writing
- Copywriting
- Email marketing
- Ad campaigns
- Ghostwriting (Goes hand-in-hand with all sorts of writing)
- Co-writing novels
- Academic writing
- And more!
To get started with this, you can sign up through a platform like Upwork or Freelancer. Or you can start building your portfolio by creating your free blog where your potential clients can see your work. It is a good idea to research the best formatting tips so that your work is easy to read and looks attractive.
Also, learn about SEO optimization as many clients only hire those who know how to incorporate that. Yoast has a free course you can take advantage of to get you started.
Begin Business Coaching
There are some people out there that are looking for long-term help. They may want help to shape their profession. This is a business venture to offer your advice and support through online chat software, like Zoom or Skype. You can help a lot of people gain more out of their own business. Assisting them over video or phone makes you appear more dependable; however, your skill and the context of your advice are what matters the most.
Business coaches have a wide range of clientele, from entrepreneurs to CEOs of major companies. As a business coach, you identify strengths and weaknesses to help the client grow their own business. You get paid to share personalized feedback and growth plans to increase company revenue.
There are multiple forums where you can advertise your services, but the best way is to create your own website. On your website, make sure you identify which part of the business process you are offering services in. You can even link your website to a social media application and reach more people. Plus, these apps have the ability for you to use video advertisement.
Offer Virtual Assistant Services
Becoming a virtual assistant is the best business idea that makes money for those just starting in freelancing careers. It also is a great place to start if you need to build on your digital knowledge. This is not a field that requires experience, but it is helpful to have some knowledge. It also allows you to meet successful people in different areas, an excellent platform for networking your business.
Some things you should be familiar with if you want to be a virtual assistant are:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- MailChimp
- Gmail
- Google Drive
- Google Calendar
Also, it is good to have a phone in case you need to make calls, as well as a headset.
The services you are selling may require making travel arrangements and entering data. So, it is imperative that you have these soft skills to build the foundation of your business. There are some job websites where you can find virtual assistant availability, or if you have enough clientele, you can always create your website to advertise your services.
Become A Social Media Manager
Everyone, for the most part, is on some form of social media. Examples of these platforms include:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
There is a lot of marketing available on these social media, and for the most part, they are free. However, if you have the know-how with ad networks and digital marketing, there could be a profit made here.
If you pursue social media manager, your responsibilities can be to create content for brands and custom ad campaigns for the business. You could expand to integrate email marketing as well as track return on investments. These social media platforms are growing rapidly and constantly changing, so you will also need to stay well informed on current trends.
Start And Monetize A Podcast
Podcasts are becoming more and more popular, so popular that the number of adults that listen to podcasts has more than tripled over the last fifteen years. (40+ Interesting Podcast Statistics for 2021 – Omnicore (omnicoreagency.com))There's a lot of success in podcasts that may make this the best business idea that makes you money.
Planning your podcasts is the first step since you want to talk about something you are passionate about or have expertise in. Next, you want to invest in some equipment because you will want to have a high-quality microphone and editing software. Finally, you will want to sign up for a podcast host that will hold your files and distribute them to networks like Spotify and iTunes.
Monetize A YouTube Channel
From Snapchat and TikTok to Instagram and Facebook Live, making videos is the next best thing, and it is only becoming better. Using YouTube as a networking platform, this business idea can be very profitable. This is a low-risk investment since you do not need to buy an expensive camera; you can start filming using your smartphone. However, you will want to eventually get a high-quality ring light, and microphone.
Building a YouTube channel opens more avenues for revenue by selling products to your audience or having more people view your website. The more views and subscribers you get, the easier it will become to monetize your channel.
What Online Business Makes The Most Money?
The best business idea that makes money online is an educational-based business. This can be online courses, YouTube channels, podcasts, and business coaching. They offer a low-risk investment with the possibility of high-profit margins. These ideas are also determined solely by you and your ambition.
To succeed online with these ideas, make sure you choose a concept based on your knowledge, find a gap in the marketplace, and then create a strategy to bridge that gap.