Most people yearn for the flexibility of working from home. I can bet that your 9 to 5 routine looks something like this:
- The alarm chimes.
- You put it to snooze.
- The alarm chimes again.
- You put it to snooze.
- The alarm chimes again.
- You groan, roll over and pull the sheets over your head.
- You open your eyes a few minutes later and realize that the sun has started to rise. You’re late!
- You do something quickly in the shower (can’t even really call that a bath) and shove some cereal down your throat.
- You drive like a mad person to work, blaring your horn angrily because no one is driving as quickly as you would like.
- You get to work on time (Whew! That was close!) and experience either of 2 things:
- You begin counting down the hours until the end of the work day because you hate your job so much.
- You become bored with the routine of the job. Granted, you love what you do and love where you work but you’re looking for more of a challenge.
- You get home so late that you hardly have time for your family.
- Your head hits the pillow and you fall right asleep because you’re so exhausted.
Does this sound familiar? The choice to leave your 9 to 5 may not be a choice that you feel you can make at this stage of your life. However, starting a side hustle with an online business can help you create a lucrative business doing what you love. Do it well and you can eventually leave the 9 to 5 to become a full-time remote worker. Read further to learn how.
What is an online business?
An online business operates strictly on the internet. There is no physical store location; all goods and services are sold strictly online. Online businesses depend heavily on social media, websites and other form of digital media to engage with customers.
Is experience needed to start an online business?
Not really. You can learn as you grow but it does help to at least have some experience. An online business that has an experienced team is more likely to get high quality clients.
What are the best online business ideas?
Here are 5 of the best online business ideas.
Online Freelancing
Online freelancing is also known as the online gig economy. Most online freelancing is done through online freelancing platforms such as UpWork, Freelancer and Fiverr. In fact, independent workers earned more than 1.1 trillion dollars in revenue in the United States on various freelancing platforms in 2014.
The beauty of online freelancing is that you can work from anywhere in the world, set flexible work hours (in most cases) and engage with clients from all over the world without ever leaving the comfort of your home. I have been experiencing this blessing and curse through my business CEM Writing Services. Becoming an online freelancer has taught me a lot and it is now something I do full-time. Some of the lessons I have learnt are captured in this book which also serves as a comprehensive guide for creating a successful online freelancing business.
Online freelancing isn’t limited to writing. You can create an online freelancing business in any niche imaginable such as:
- IT and Computing
- Administration
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Accounting
- Law
- Graphic Design
- Music Production
- Video Production
Social Media store
Some brands sell exclusively via social media. I have encountered some fun clothing brands on Instagram that only accept orders via that platform. Yours Truly Rochele is an example of a local designer who sells her clothing exclusively on Instagram. You can read her inspiring story in Issue 4 of our magazine by clicking here.
Another local brand caught my eye recently. I don’t know about you but I have always had a challenge finding good quality work clothing at an affordable price in Jamaica. You can imagine my delight when I found @corporatechicja. I believe this brand can grow into a highly successful business in Jamaica if multiple sizes and quantities are offered for the featured clothing.
Dropshipping
Kirk Buchanan is someone we can call our local dropshipping guru. It was through him that I learnt about the possibilities that exist for creating a dropshipping business in Jamaica (or anywhere else in the world for that matter). The simplest definition of dropshipping is that you sell other people’s products without having to hold their inventory. You’re essentially the middle-man between the customer and the supplier.
Shopify and Ali Express are the 2 most popular dropshipping platforms. You can learn more by reading Kirk’s free dropshiping guide. You can access it here.
Forex Trading
This is one of the riskiest online businesses to create. It is also a business where strong background knowledge is required; you can lose a lot of money if you do not know what you are doing. Additionally, special licenses are required if you are going to trade other people’s money. Nevertheless, if you love the thrill of investment, and are willing to work in the wee hours of the morning to catch the best trades in overseas markets, this may be a good option for you.
Social Media Consultant
More and more brands are understanding the value of creating an active social media platform. It’s not an easy feat to create a social media platform from scratch and build it to thousands of active followers. Therefore, there are brands that are willing to invest in a social media expert. The trick is that you’ll need a proven track record for them to even consider investing in your social media skills. This article lists some powerful online courses that can help you develop the skills needed to become a successful social media consultant.
What do i need to start an online business?
The answer to this question depends on the type of online business that you are starting. However, here are some general things that you will need to create an online business:
- An active social media presence
- A website
- A portfolio
- Client testimonials
- Free material for lead generation (guides, infographics, books etc.). The Success Lifestyle Magazine team consists of writers and graphic designers who can help you create these. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Putting It All together
There are many ways to start an online business. Some of the best online businesses to start in 2019 include: online freelancing, a social media store, dropshipping, forex trading and a social media consultancy firm. Let the Success Lifestyle Magazine team help you create the lead generation materials your business needs to establish a strong online presence. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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