In this article, I will be discussing which type of business is best for online and why it's so popular today.
Some people might say that a physical store or shop is always going to have a higher profit margin than online because you need money upfront to get started with both methods. However, there are plenty of ways around that problem as well, making online even more attractive than ever before!
I'm not saying you should only go into any form of internet based business if all else fails (that would defeat the purpose). It can still make sense depending on what you want to achieve. But here are some factors to consider when deciding whether or not to pursue one over another.
There are many reasons to decide on an online business rather than just stick with traditional brick & mortar stores. Let me list them down below:
1. You don't need much capital up front - For example, let's say you're looking at starting a new fashion brand. If you were to open a small boutique, you'd probably need about $250K-$500K dollars to buy inventory, hire staff, rent office space, etc. And then you'll also need thousands upon thousands of dollar worth of clothes to sell. In order to succeed, you'd obviously have to spend big bucks in order to attract customers. On the other hand, if you choose to sell through Amazon, you won't need anything but your computer and Internet connection. All you need is enough knowledge to know where to find products with high demand, and set up a website accordingly.
2. No overhead expenses - Unlike conventional retail shops, no matter how large they may be, online retailers never pay for rent, utilities, salaries, employee benefits, advertising costs, etc. They simply use their computers and broadband connections to run their websites.
3. Easy to scale - As mentioned above, you don't necessarily need millions of dollars to start an online business. With drop shipping, you can easily create multiple sites without having to worry too much about setting up different payment gateways and handling orders manually. This means you can start off with relatively little investment and keep expanding once things pick up.
4. Quicker time to profitability - Selling through traditional channels takes longer to reach break even point due to the need for heavy investments in advertising and building customer base. Online sales usually take less time to turn profits since you don't need to build huge customer bases nor invest heavily in advertising.
5. Higher conversion rate - People like shopping online. A survey done by Forbes found that 60% of shoppers prefer buying online instead of visiting malls or department stores. Also according to the same study, 67% of consumers who bought something online were likely to recommend it to others. So if you are able to offer quality product at competitive prices, you could potentially reap a lot of rewards by selling online.
6. More control - One thing that sets apart an online retailer is that he/she has full control over his/her pricing structure, supply chain management and assortment mix. There are no middlemen involved, meaning you can dictate exactly what goes into each package sold.
7. Less competition - Due to its nature, online selling provides a wide variety of choices to buyers compared to offline options. Because everyone uses the internet nowadays, it makes it easy for customers to compare prices across various sellers. Since there isn't much room for price discrimination, the lowest cost option wins everytime. Thus, you can save tons of cash on labor costs.
8. Better ROI - Another reason why online business is gaining popularity is that it offers greater return on investment (ROI) than traditional brick & mortar retail outlets. According to Business Insider, average online revenue per visitor was 3x higher than the average offline revenue per visitor.
9. Easier to manage - Online business is far easier to manage than the traditional ones. Not only does it allow you to work remotely, but also gives you complete freedom to change locations whenever you wish.
10. Cheaper to advertise - Advertising costs are lower for online businesses. Some companies report that the total cost of acquiring a single customer ranges anywhere from 0$ to 20$. Compare that to the typical 50+$ spent on TV ads.
11. Flexible working hours - The biggest advantage of running an online business comes from the fact that you can work virtually anytime you please. While traditional employers limit employees' work schedules to specific times, you can now work wherever you want 24/7 thanks to the internet.
12. Ability to compete globally - Today's world has become increasingly globalized. Companies are willing to expand operations internationally to gain access to larger markets. That being said, it becomes harder for local merchants to compete against foreign competitors unless they have the ability to operate outside their country's borders. By operating online, however, you can easily tap into international markets.
13. Lower risk and faster growth - Starting an online business is a bit riskier than opening up a brick & mortar store. Nevertheless, the upside potentials of online business are significantly higher than those of bricks & mortar. An entrepreneur needs to learn the ropes of managing online business first before venturing into the real world.
14. Greater flexibility - Many online entrepreneurs enjoy the luxury of choosing their own schedule. Working from home allows them to avoid long commutes and commute stress. Instead, they can focus on improving themselves while earning passive income.
15. Freedom to travel - Most online business owners can actually live a life similar to that of a digital nomad. Thanks to the convenience of technology, they can literally sit back and relax anywhere in the world. This allows them to explore new places and broaden their horizons.
16. Can earn residual income - Once you've established yourself as an expert in your field, you can leverage that expertise to generate additional streams of income through consulting or affiliate programs.
17. Fewer taxes - Running an online business doesn't require you to file tax returns anymore. Taxes are automatically paid for you after you meet certain thresholds.
18. Potential for wealth creation - Entrepreneurship is often associated with wealth creation. Yet, the majority of startups fail miserably. Successful online ventures are known to multiply revenues several fold within mere months.
19. No geographical boundaries - Even though it's hard to imagine, you can actually sell stuff from anywhere in the world. When you sign up for services such as Fiverr and Freelancer, you can select your desired location and place bids on tasks that interest you. Once someone buys your bid, you receive payments instantly via PayPal.
20. High level of security - Compared to offline businesses, online sellers aren't exposed to theft, fire, natural disasters, etc.
21. Accessibility - Many online businesses can be accessed using smartphones or tablets. These days, we tend to carry our laptops everywhere we go. Therefore, many online businesses can be operated from almost anywhere in the world.
22. Low startup costs - Startups typically incur high initial costs. However, if you decide to launch your online venture through dropshipping, you can cut down considerably on your overall expenditure.
23. Time efficient - Being able to work from home enables you to maximize your productivity throughout the day.
24. Freedom to choose your clients - Having no face-to-face interaction with customers allows you to cater directly towards individuals with specific interests.
25. Reduced risks - Online businesses involve minimal risks such as stock market fluctuations, economic downturns, political instability, etc.
26. Opportunity to grow - Online businesses can continue growing indefinitely as long as you remain committed to providing excellent service.
27. No minimum wage requirement - Employers do not need to provide workers with fixed wages. Rather, they can charge whatever they deem appropriate for whatever task they assign to you.
28. Globalization - As previously stated, online enterprises can be conducted worldwide.
29. Ability to diversify sources of income - Depending on what niche you specialize in, you can earn extra income by offering related services.
30. Increased chances of success - With online businesses, you don't really need to worry about the weather, traffic jams, holidays, etc. Everything happens at your fingertips.
Now that you understand the advantages of doing business online, check out these top 10 tips for launching a successful online career.
The answer to this question depends on what you intend to accomplish. Do you plan to make quick bucks or do you aspire to build a sustainable company? What are your goals? Is it possible to combine the two? Or maybe you already have a profitable enterprise and you're struggling to figure out how to increase sales. Whatever the case may be, this guide will help you determine which path is right for you.
Online selling has been around since the beginning of time. With so many options available today, there's no reason why you can't have your very own online store or website and sell products all over the world! Whether you're looking for inspiration or simply need some advice on which type of online business would work best for you, this article will help you understand more about the pros and cons of various types of e-commerce platforms, as well as give you tips on choosing one that works for you. You'll also learn some ways that you can make money with affiliate promotions, drop shipping services, and even reselling items you already bought online at a higher price than they were sold for!
If you've ever visited eBay, Etsy, Amazon, or any other major retailer, chances are you've seen someone walking up and down the aisle offering their wares -- usually homemade crafts or clothes but sometimes electronics too. The person might not look like much of anything, and they may be dressed in jeans covered by rags (which could be dirty clothes) or maybe even just wearing a tattered shirt. But if you take a closer look, you'd realize that this "person" actually sells thousands upon thousands of products every day. That's because she doesn't have her own storefront where you can browse through her merchandise. Instead, she relies on third party stores such as eBay and Etsy to do the job for her. She makes a few bucks off each sale, and then spends the rest of her time making new things to sell.
That's basically exactly what happens whenever you decide to open an online store. You spend the majority of your time creating content and promoting your brand, while relying on others to handle sales. When you don't want to run your own site, though, there are plenty of companies who offer easy solutions for anyone interested in doing so. One way to go about it is to use either WordPress or Shopify to create a shop without having to worry about design or coding yourself. If that sounds interesting to you, read on to find out more about the benefits of e-commerce websites, and see our list below to choose among the top 5 choices.
Having your own online store means you get to keep 100% ownership over your business. There are countless advantages to owning your own business instead of working under another company. For example, you won't need to wait until you hit certain quotas before receiving paychecks or bonuses. Most importantly, you'll never be forced into taking part in unethical practices that companies often employ in order to turn a profit. It's nice knowing that you control your own destiny, rather than being told what to do by others.
But perhaps the biggest perk associated with running your own online business is that it gives you complete freedom. No boss telling you what to wear or how long you should stay late, and definitely none of those annoying co-workers trying to push you around. As far as responsibilities go, there aren't really any. All you have to do is promote your product(s), write articles, update social media accounts, market your business, etc. And thanks to modern technology, you don't necessarily need to be sitting behind a desk in front of a computer anymore. Many people now prefer to work remotely as freelancers, using apps like Slack and Zoom to communicate with clients and colleagues alike.
There are several advantages to selling your products online. First, you don't need to deal with high overhead costs like rent or utilities. Because you only need to operate within the confines of your local area, you save tons of money compared to brick & mortar retailers. Second, you can increase traffic to your site easily via paid advertising campaigns on Facebook, Google Ads, or any number of other sites. Third, once you build trust with your customers, you don't have to constantly remind them about specials and discounts. They know that you value them enough to provide excellent customer service, and therefore expect nothing less. Fourth, you can reach potential buyers across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, and smart TVs. Fifth, consumers tend to enjoy shopping locally as opposed to traveling somewhere else to buy something. A lot of people feel safer purchasing items from nearby merchants, especially if they're buying food or household supplies. Sixth, you can receive feedback directly from your audience, instead of waiting months for reviews to appear on online review sites. Finally, you can grow your business quickly by allowing shoppers to place orders directly from your website. By cutting out middlemen, you'll earn more revenue per transaction, plus you'll avoid paying fees charged by payment processors such as PayPal and Stripe.
To succeed in online retailing, you must first determine whether you plan to focus solely on digital channels, or also include physical locations. While it certainly helps to have both approaches, depending on your niche, you can still generate significant income from a single location. Online shops also allow you to expand internationally, whereas bricks and mortar outlets cannot. However, if you opt to launch your own offline store, you'll need to ensure that you hire competent employees who can manage inventory, set prices, and maintain your brand image. After all, you wouldn't want customers thinking that your shop was poorly managed. To achieve success in e-retailing, you'll also need to invest heavily in SEO efforts, as well as a strong email list. This allows you to send regular emails to subscribers, encouraging them to purchase additional products. Last but not least, you'll need to regularly monitor competitors' activities and adjust pricing accordingly. In addition to your main product lines, consider adding seasonal specialties or holiday gifts that customers typically search for during specific times of the year. Lastly, remember to always remain patient. Building an effective online presence takes time, and requires consistent effort. Take care of your prospects, and eventually, they'll come back for more.
Are you ready to become an online entrepreneur? Here are five simple steps to kickstart your journey towards building your own online empire:
1. Research different platforms and compare features
2. Choose your preferred platform based on its functionality and ease of use
3. Start learning HTML and CSS, along with basic web development skills
4. Find freelance mentors and join communities to gain knowledge from experienced professionals
5. Create your website layout and develop a budget
Once you've decided on the right platform, you'll need to begin developing your strategy. Before diving headfirst into designing your website, take note of the following points:
a. Make sure that you clearly define your target demographic
b. Determine who your ideal client base is
c. How many visitors will you need daily/weekly to sustain profitability
d. What resources will you require to host your website
e. Which methods will you utilize to drive traffic to your site
f. Will you rely on affiliates or partners to boost sales, or will you attempt to sell your own products?
g. Establish clear goals regarding earnings vs. expenses and ROI
h. Decide whether you'll accept credit cards, bank transfers, or Bitcoin payments
i. Set aside funds for future growth
j. Consider hiring a dedicated IT manager or developer to support your needs
k. Be realistic about your expectations, and don't quit midway
l. Always strive for excellence
With these considerations outlined above, you'll be able to effectively establish your online presence and maximize profits. Now let's take a quick peek at the top 5 eCommerce platforms:
Shopify: An intuitive drag & drop solution that offers free SSL certificates, payment processing tools, unlimited storage space, and 24/7 technical assistance. Plus, you can easily integrate your existing WooCommerce account onto Shopify.
Wix: A straightforward website builder that does away with complicated templates altogether. Wix is known for its user-friendly interface and ability to host mobile pages. Best of all, you can add a custom domain name to your site for $9.99/month.
Weebly: Another popular option, Weebly focuses on simplicity and convenience, letting users create professional websites without needing prior experience. Like Wix, you can customize layouts via themes, add widgets, and embed videos. Pricing starts at $13/mo.
WordPress: Perhaps the oldest and most widely used blogging software on the planet, WordPress powers roughly 30 million active blogs worldwide. Not only is WordPress highly customizable, but it provides numerous plugins and theme packages that enable you to personalize your blog's appearance.
Squarespace: Squarespace is similar to Wordpress, except that you don't need to register separately for hosting. In fact, the entire process begins automatically after signing up for a free trial period. Other perks include unlimited page views, 1GB file storage, and access to advanced analytics.
Starting and running your first online store can be daunting -- especially if you're not sure which type of ecommerce platform or website builder will work best with your products and services. If you have some experience setting up websites, but want to get started quickly and cheaply, one option is drop-shipping.
A drop-shipment company is essentially like Amazon Prime, except that they handle all the logistics (including fulfillment) while you just sell the items yourself. You don't even need any inventory at all because the drop shipper takes care of it all. In fact, many companies offer free dropshippers so they only pay when someone buys something through their site.
But there's plenty more to consider before choosing a drop-shipping solution. The question isn't "which drop-shipping service do I use?" Instead, it should be "what kind of product am I going to sell?" Here we'll explore different types of online businesses, as well as give our recommendations for the best ones to start right now.
Before diving into the specifics of each type of online business, let's take a look at several common models. These include:
Ebay - Ebay has been around since 1995 and continues to grow today. It offers a marketplace where people post listings and buyers then bid on them. There are two main ways to buy on eBay: auctions (where sellers set prices) and fixed price sales (when buyers purchase specific items).
Amazon - Amazon was founded in 1994 and remains one of the largest retailers on Earth. With its focus on customer reviews and ease of shopping, Amazon enjoys a huge advantage over other shopping sites.
Fiverr - Founded in 2007, this site connects freelancers who provide various skillsets to customers looking for help. A good example would be having a graphic designer create a logo for $5.
Upwork - This popular site connects clients and freelancers by offering online jobs such as writing articles, transcribing interviews, creating logos, and providing technical support, among others.
Craigslist - Craigslist is another great resource for finding freelance gigs. Its primary focus is local classifieds, although it also hosts general ads and job postings.
eBay Storefronts - Similar to regular eBay stores, storefronts allow users to operate their own shops without needing to register an account. They typically feature customizable templates, professional photography, and easy checkout options.
Blogs/Tutorials/Videos - Blogging, video tutorials, and YouTube channels are three very basic online business examples that anyone can easily launch. While blogging requires no actual product creation, videos and tutorials often require expensive equipment and licensing fees.
Each online business model comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Each offers unique benefits depending on what you're trying to accomplish. For instance, affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions based on referrals, whereas Etsy focuses on small producers with individualized pricing structures. And eBay provides the perfect combination of low cost and high volume, making it ideal for large scale projects.
Of course, one size doesn't fit all. Some may find certain platforms better suited than others, and you might opt to combine multiple methods to ensure success. So here are the top 20 online businesses to check out!
1. ECommerce - eCommerce refers to buying and selling physical products using electronic means. Examples include Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Alibaba, etc.
2. Dropship - Dropping ship involves dropping merchandise off at retail locations rather than directly shipping it to customers' homes. Drop ships usually involve third parties handling the delivery process, so you won't have to worry about dealing with returns or refunds.
3. Affiliate Marketing - Using affiliates, marketers connect advertisers with potential customers by placing links to their advertisements on relevant websites. When visitors click those links and make purchases, the advertiser pays commission back to the marketer.
4. Freelance Writing Services - Freelancing is a great way to build residual income streams, either working part time or full time. Many freelance writers turn to blogs and content sites to drum up new leads.
5. Online Tutoring Services - Whether you specialize in elementary school math, middle school English, or college physics, tutors can teach students virtually anywhere they choose.
6. Handmade Goods - Small batch production helps keep costs down and ensures quality control. Plus, people tend to appreciate owning a handcrafted item instead of mass produced pieces.
7. Web Design & Development - Building custom web pages and apps can take months, sometimes years, of hard work. But once complete, sites can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.
8. Social Media Management - Managing social media accounts gives you access to valuable data including follower counts, likes, retweets, clicks, and much more.
9. Content Creation - Writers, bloggers, podcasters, photographers, videographers, and artists can monetize their expertise by producing original material.
10. Audio Production - Sound engineers produce audio recordings ranging from news broadcasts to podcasts to music albums.
11. Software Licensing - Developers license software programs for commercial purposes. From accounting systems to image editing tools, developers can charge royalties for their creations.
12. Website Hosting - Setting up your own hosting server lets you manage multiple domains from one location.
13. Real Estate Investing - Buying real estate properties is a lucrative investment strategy, particularly during periods of economic growth.
14. Event Planning - Organizing events ranging from weddings to birthday parties is a fun side hustle that can bring in cash flow throughout the year.
15. Online Advertising - Running ad campaigns on search engines, social networks, and email newsletters is a simple way to promote your brand and attract traffic.
16. Digital Photography - Taking pictures, processing images, and sharing photos online can become a thriving hobby or source of passive income.
17. Virtual Assistant - Providing administrative assistance to busy professionals includes tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll management, legal research, event planning, and project management.
18. Business Consulting - Helping other entrepreneurs run their businesses effectively teaches valuable lessons that translate into profits.
19. Home Repair Service - Fixing things around the house can save money in energy bills and lower maintenance costs.
20. Virtual Reality Training - Developing virtual reality training courses for medical teams, military personnel, and corporate executives keeps employees sharp and productive.
The short answer: everyone. Online businesses vary greatly in terms of difficulty level, revenue potential, riskiness, and rewards. However, we've compiled a list of pros and cons to help narrow down the possibilities.
Pros:
Low startup costs
Can be done remotely
No inventory needed
Cons:
Limited flexibility
Higher learning curve
Lack of branding power
If you think you'd enjoy being your own boss, try one of these 30+ online business ideas. Or maybe you already know exactly what you're doing...in which case, read on below for tips on becoming wildly successful.
There are numerous reasons why online businesses succeed. One reason is that they're incredibly flexible, allowing you to decide what hours of operation you prefer and whether you want to hire staff or do it yourself. Another benefit is that you never actually have to leave the comfort of your own home.
Plus, you gain instant credibility when people see your name associated with a reputable brand. As long as you maintain positive relationships with suppliers, customers will continue to trust you.
Online businesses aren't always glamorous, though. Depending on your niche, you could spend countless hours researching and building a solid reputation before earning enough profit to quit your day job. Still, the convenience factor alone makes online businesses worth considering.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.