WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STARTING AN ONLINE BUSINESS

Online businesses come in many forms. As a matter of fact, if you search long enough, there’s probably nothing you can’t buy online. But when it comes to setting up your own e-commerce business, you need to decide on what you want to sell. Creating your own store can open up opportunity to either earn passive income or make a full-time living as an ecommerce entrepreneur.

There are two main types of online business models: B2B (business to business) or B2C (business to consumer). You can think of B2B as companies that sell products or services to other businesses. For example, IBM sells to other businesses who need high-tech computer systems. The B2C business model involves selling directly to the consumer, which has virtually limitless possibility from cosmetics and clothing to housewares and hardware.

If you’re the creative type, you can also set up shop on Etsy. This site also allows you to sell directly to consumers without holding inventory, unless you make it yourself. A lot of sellers sell products they make at home. Others might use a print-on-demand company to create designs on clothes or household items.

Selling on Etsy is relatively straightforward. All you need to do is open a shop, upload photos or videos of what you’re selling and write the descriptions. Even though it might take some time to gain traction, most people do pretty well on this platform. The most important thing is your descriptions. They should not only produce a visual image but also use the right keywords to help consumers find them more easily.

Dropshipping is no longer just importing items from China. Now, you can dropship products from local manufacturers as well. One thing you need to remember is that your customers will hold you responsible if the quality is below their standards. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to order samples prior to selling anything on your website. Once you confirm the quality, you can get to work marketing your products online. If you’re just starting out and have limited money, pushing content from Instagram to Pinterest is an excellent way to get referral traffic to your website.

Even if you don’t have a lot of money to sell products, you can still open your own business by selling services instead. These options do require more work on your part, but they can quickly become lucrative with the right marketing.

Running an online business is a full-time job. From responding to customer emails or processing chargebacks, every business owner can use a helping hand. As a virtual assistant, you are the extra set of hands that a busy business owner desperately needs. You can create your own side hustle and market yourself. One way to get your website noticed is by using SEO. Even on freelance websites like Fiver or Upwork, you need to use the right words to show up in the algorithm. When it comes to your website, you can review a guide on user’s choice for the best SEO toolbars for Chrome. The key is to understand the components of a webpage and how using the right words can help you get seen by the right people.

If you enjoy writing, then you might like offering professional blog writing or webpage writing services. Although it’s a challenge to break into this market initially, it can quickly become highly profitable and rewarding. You can also bring a lot to the table by drawing on your own personal experiences. Maybe you’re a teacher who wants to break into educational writing; perhaps you’ve worked in the medical field and have a passion for public health. Whatever you love, there is a site out there for your work. Start pitching, build a portfolio and make a good website and social media page to promote your services.