Google offers countless examples of online businesses you can start with little or no money, but many of them are weak ideas. They do not offer flexibility, they have few chances to become profitable and they are not worth your time. What does a good business idea look like? A brilliant business idea needs 5 ingredients: a responsive audience, a unique selling point, a realistic business plan with clearly defined goals, scalability and potential for automation, and passion.
Here are five perfect online business ideas with low start-up costs; have a look.
1. Start an affiliate business
It is an elementary online business but it guarantees 100% passive income. Affiliate marketing is simple; you are selling products and services on a commission basis for a major brand. You do not buy stocks, pack or ship any item; you are listing the products and services other companies offer on your website.
The most difficult part of starting this business is to create a website focused on a certain industry. You have to use low competition keywords when creating the content to help the page rank on search engines for those keywords. You get paid a commission when someone who visits your page clicks on the referral links you offer and makes a purchase on the manufacturer’s website. Some people also name this business referral marketing.
When you create the website you use to sell products and services, you can choose from two options: an authority webpage or a niche one. With the help of an authority page, you can cover all the known keywords for a certain product; you can sell hundreds of items. A niche website is focused on a certain service or product.
2. Start an Etsy store
Etsy is a platform that offers people the possibility to sell vintage or handcrafted products. Initially, Etsy was created to serve only crafters but it expanded and now it also allows people to sell antique and vintage items. You are not allowed to sell mass-produced items on Etsy. The platform will shut your store down if you try to do it.
If you have skills and talent in creating personalised items like wedding favours, pillows, clothes, accessories or other similar items, you can start a store on the platform. You can also sell raw materials used by crafters when creating items that can be later sold on the market.
Another idea is to visit thrift shops to collect retro and vintage items and sell them on Etsy to make a profit. It’s free to start a store on Etsy, so you can try this idea as a part-time job, and see if you could earn enough to transform it into your full-time gig later.
3. You can sell digital products
You will sell products, only this time they are not physical ones. You can sell digital products like apps, software products, training courses, website memberships, and even PDF files. The amazing benefit of selling an app, for example, is that you create it once and you can sell it many times over. You can create a mobile app compatible with both IOS and Android that meets the needs of a targeted group.
You do not have to be a developer to create the app; you can collaborate with a professional company to grow an app perfect for your start-up. When designing an app, you have two options. You can sell it on the App Store to earn money from the fee users pay, or you can use it to grow your existing business. If you are running an online business and you want to stand out on the market, you can create an app to engage your customers. Click here to find out more info about the process.
4. Start a blogging business
You may have heard many jokes about this business idea but it is a highly profitable one, and you should give it a try. Why do people consider this business a joke? Nowadays, everyone can start a blog, write articles, post pictures, and film videos. It does not mean they are full-time bloggers; they only go around loudly telling everyone about it.
You can establish yourself the reputation of a reliable blogger if you start the blog on a subject people are interested in. If you are passionate about it, then you have a greater chance of succeeding. Choose a niche that has the potential to make money. For example, it’s more likely to monetize your page if you promote organic products, than if you share flat earth theories.
You do not have to create life-changing posts; you will earn income if you help your readers fix the common problems they are experiencing. You can also earn money if you make product reviews, because you will help people find a new product or service they had no idea they needed. You can combine this business idea with referral marketing.
5. Be an SEO consultant
If you have SEO knowledge then you can start an online business based on the search engine optimisation services you can offer. When you target your audience, you have to think global, because SEO is global. You enter a competitive market because hundreds of other consultants are offering the same services, and you have to differentiate yourself from them. You can do this by adopting multiple strategies.
The first strategy implies you marketing your services directly to the companies you want to work for. You can contact them via cold emailing or through their LinkedIn page.
The second strategy is to offer your services to a web design company. They are the ones that develop the web page and you handle the SEO work. The advantage is that you do not have to deal with clients; you only do your job, assigned by the web design agency.
If you have knowledge on how to run pay-per-click campaigns, you can double your chances to make money from this business. Companies prefer to work with the same specialist for multiple jobs if possible.
Here they are, the five most successful online business ideas you can try with a minimum first investment.
