If you are looking to find the best ways to make money online, look no further! Luckily for you, in today’s world, there are quite a lot of ways to earn extra income from home. For instance, you can start an online business or side hustle that pays well, even for beginners. Let me tell you more!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclaimer for more info.
starting an online business
Do you want to start a business, and are you looking to find the best ways to make money online and be your own boss? Luckily for you, in today’s world, there are quite a lot of ways to earn extra income from home. For instance, you can start an online business or side hustle that pays well. Here’s how you can get started with your digital products business. Step-by-step, for beginners with no experience.
how do i start an online business
I’m thrilled to guide you on this exciting journey into the world of digital entrepreneurship. I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to be working a 9-5 until retirement age. I’ve always known that I wanted to be my own boss, waking up in my own time, and having the freedom to travel the world all whilst making passive income. So I decided to start working toward an early retirement and start my own business.
I had my “aha!” moment and discovered I needed clarity on what I was offering, and to pinpoint exactly who I was talking to. So I dug into my niche, created my ideal customers, and took a hard look at my strengths and, yep, even my weaknesses. I focused on the big question: What problems are my audience facing, and how can my digital products be the superhero solutions they need?
Expect this journey to be real, authentic, and fun – but also packed with valuable insights and actionable strategies. So here’s to building our dream digital empires all while staying true to who you are. You can even start today!
Finding your niche
Firstly, you need to find your niche. What is a niche idea? In short, it’s a specific segment of your topic. The entire market can be divided into different niches. For example, food recipes are the market, and organic plant-based recipes can be seen as a niche. Another example is if sport is your topic, workouts for 40+ women is a niche. So basically, finding your niche is like finding the right audience who would say, “Take my money!” even before you finish your pitch. That’s the dream, right? You need to know who you’re talking to.
Your niche has got to be interesting, engaging, and, most importantly, a perfect fit for you. It all starts by choosing a topic that you are passionate about. What is it that you talk about all day every day? You also need to be knowledgeable enough about your chosen topic so that readers can trust and rely on your content with useful or interesting information that they can use. Don’t be afraid of oversaturation or too much competition, because you can differentiate yourself by providing your own insights and experience. Eventually, it’s wise to do some research and see if there’s enough demand for it, and if it’s profitable.
25 Niche ideas for business
There are three core markets: health, wealth, and relationships. You should look for a specific niche within your chosen market that you can focus on. This will help make you stand out. Here are a few examples of the trending niches and sub-niches that are out there:
- Pets and pet products
- Sustainable products
- Travel
- Beauty, cosmetics, and skincare products
- Fashion
- Home fitness and workout equipment
- Health
- Home decor
- Home office equipment
- Video game
- Jewelry
- Kitchen supplies
- Office supplies
- Culinary arts
- Finance
- Gaming headsets
- Home Lighting Decor
- Kitchenware
- Personal protection
- Accessories
- Crafts
- Food
- Investing
- Business
- Entertainment
Your Ideal Client
Secondly, find your ideal customer. Finding the right customers for your business is really important. Specifically, you need to figure out who will like what you’re selling. Think about some of the problems that your ideal customers may currently have, how will your digital product help fix them?
Basically, know your target audience, such as their interest, age, gender, and so on. Because, if you talk to everyone, you’re talking to no one. Instead of trying to make everyone happy, you’re making sure the people who are most likely to buy from you are really happy. This way you sell more. When you focus on your ideal customers, they start to feel like your business really gets them. This can make them want to buy from you more often. Plus, happy customers usually come back, so you’re building a community of people who like your business and what you offer.
Start an online business from home with digital products
Thirdly, find something digital to sell. Digital products are delivered to your customers via download or email, and offer your business a way to provide value without holding physical inventory. Sounds perfect, right? You can start your own business from home. You can basically work from anywhere in the world, as long as you have WIFI.
Now, what digital products will you create? There are lots of different digital products you can make. You can turn any of your ideas into one of these kinds of products. But you don’t have to choose just one. Feel free to blend these ideas or add your own twist. The digital world loves innovation, and so will your audience. Try this: Grab a board – digital or physical – and start dreaming. Call it your ‘Digital Dream Board.’ Sketch or write down ideas for each product type. Let your creative juices flow without barriers. Dream big, and the ideas will follow!
Digital products to sell online
There are lots of different digital products you can make. You can turn any of your ideas into one of these kinds of products:
eBooks are a great way to share what you know without spending much or working too hard. Using Canva (it’s free), you can create an eBook easily. There are many free eBook templates to choose from.
Courses are my top pick for digital products. They’re like eBooks but with more details. You can dive deep into a topic and share your know-how. Plus, you can charge more for courses, so you don’t need to sell as many to reach your financial goals.
Printables, like checklists, guides, or PDFs, are super handy. You make these using Canva, and they’re ready to use for your customers. They buy them and use them just as they are, no changes needed.
Templates are similar to printables, but they are editable so once your customer purchases your template they can edit them to suit their needs. You can create ready-to-use templates for everything from business plans to Instagram posts. It’s about offering a helping hand to save others time and effort, making their lives easier.
Workshops or Webinars – These are usually about something you’re pretty clued up on and can teach in just one video. They’re a bit like courses, you don’t have to dive too deep, just share your knowledge in a single session.
Membership you can create exclusive content, community, and perks available only to members. This is about building a tribe and offering them value that keeps on giving, resulting in a loyal community and a revenue that’s recurring.
Digital product ideas
To help you see there are SO many digital products, I made a list of digital product ideas. This list could also get you thinking about your own digital products. For example, have you ever thought about:
Household Digital Planner
Cleaning Schedule
Travel Planner
ADHD To do List
Gratitude Journal Digital
Therapy Journal
Manifestation Journal
Digital Recipe Book
Weight Loss Tracker Printable
Weight Loss Journal
Wedding Planner
Real Estate Presets
Airbnb Welcome Sign
Bible Study Journal
Prayer Journal
Birth Plan Template
Create your digital products
Fourthly, now that you’ve found your niche and your ideal customer, it’s time to bring your digital product ideas to life. Whether it’s an eBook, an online course, or any of the exciting options we explored, it’s all about turning those bright ideas into digital realities. Start with a Blueprint. Every great creation begins with a plan. Outline what your digital product will include. For an eBook, map out the chapters. For a course, plan the lessons. Quality is key. Whether it’s engaging writing, clear video content, or user-friendly templates, aim for quality.
Therefore, think of it as your secret sauce – it’s what will make your product stand out in the digital space. What makes your product uniquely yours? Add your personality, experiences and uniquely and unique insights. It’s like adding your signature spice to a dish – it’s what will make it memorable. Brainstorm what you want to include in your digital product. Write down each module in your digital product, what will be the transformation you want to offer your customers?
Finally, pricing your digital product can be a tricky task sometimes. You don’t want your price to be too high, but also not too low. This is where checking out your competitors comes in handy. You can see what prices others in your niche are charging. This helps you set a price that’s competitive but also fair for the value you’re providing.
how to start an online business with no money
Yes, you can start an online business with no money. How? You don’t need money to start your online business if you don’t want to. Hence, let’s give a special shoutout to Canva! Canva is an incredibly user-friendly design tool that’s like having a mini design studio at your fingertips. Whether you’re crafting an eBook cover, designing graphics for your course, or spicing up your social media posts, Canva has got you covered.
It’s packed with templates, images, fonts, and more – making it a go-to for both design beginners and pros. The best part? A lot of its awesome features are free! So, if you’re looking to add some professionalism to your digital product without breaking the bank or spending years learning complex design software, Canva is your new best friend. Be creative and play around with colors, fonts, and layouts. The more you experiment, the more you’ll find your unique design style, which will make your digital product visually stand out. Set aside some time this week – even if it’s just an hour – to start working on your digital product.
Start and launch your online business
Fifthly, it’s launch time! The moment we’ve been gearing up for is just around the corner. Your digital product is about to hit the spotlight, and it’s time to roll out the virtual red carpet. Check, double-check, and triple-check! Make sure your digital product is free from any spelling mistakes, errors, and any links included actually work. Ensure your product is refined, your website or platform is running seamlessly, and your payment systems are functioning smoothly.
This is about making sure your audience’s experience is as flawless as possible. I have seen so many creators fail to proofread their website and when you try to download or make a purchase, there are error messages and links not working. Imagine how much money they are missing out on. Yikes! Anticipation can be your greatest ally. Start teasing your launch on social media and your email list. This isn’t just about counting down days – it’s about sharing the story behind your product, the problems it solves, and the value it adds.
A successful launch
The launch day is where everything comes together. This is when you announce your product across all your social media accounts, yes all of them, Pinterest included! Whether it’s through an email campaign or social media posts, your goal is to make your product’s arrival known and felt.
A successful launch is as much about communication as it is about promotion. Be active in responding to inquiries, comments, and feedback. This engagement shows that there’s a real person behind the product, which can be a powerful factor in building customer relationships.
After the launch, take the time to listen to your customers. What aspects of your product did they love? What improvements do they suggest? This feedback is crucial for your product’s evolution and can guide your future updates and releases. Plan your launch day strategy. How will you announce it? How will you engage with your audience throughout the day? Prepare a post-launch plan. Think about how you will collect feedback and continue marketing your product.
Remember, every launch is a learning experience. Whether it’s a roaring success or comes with its fair share of challenges, there’s always valuable insight to be gained.
Digital marketing
Lastly, the ins and outs of digital marketing and the role it plays in having a successful online business. Let’s talk about the trending topic all over social media right now – Digital Marketing! There seems to be a misconception about what digital marketing is, so I’m going to explain it in simple terms.
Digital marketing is simply promoting products or services using the internet. It involves reaching out to potential customers through various online platforms like social media, email, search engines, and websites. The goal is to attract, engage, and convert your audience into customers using digital tools and channels.
Digital marketing allows you to reach a global audience more efficiently and at a lower cost compared to traditional marketing methods.
What is digital marketing?
Social Media Marketing involves promoting your product or service on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It’s about creating engaging content, interacting with your followers, and if you have the budget, running targeted ads to reach potential customers.
Email Marketing is about sending emails to a list of people who have shown interest in your product or service. These emails can be newsletters, promotional offers, or updates about your business. The goal is to keep your audience engaged and encourage them to make a purchase.
Content Marketing is a strategy that focuses on creating and delivering valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. The content can be in the form of blogs, videos, infographics, or podcasts. It’s about providing useful information that establishes your authority and builds trust with your audience.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) involves optimizing your website as well as your content to rank higher in search engine results pages. The higher your pages rank, the more likely people are to find your brand when they search for keywords related to your product or service. Digital marketing is the heartbeat of selling digital products. It’s a combination of creativity, strategy, and technology, each playing a crucial role in connecting with your audience and building your brand.
Your journey awaits!
And there we have it – the end of this guide. But hey, this is just the start for you. You’re now loaded with all the know-how, tips, and a bit of inspiration to dive into the digital world. It’s time to jump in and see where these new skills will take you. Think about where you began and where you’re standing now. You’ve gone from just dreaming about digital stuff to actually doing it. That’s pretty awesome, right?
Remember, the digital world keeps changing, and so should you. Keep trying new things, learning, and adjusting your digital products. And you’re not alone on this trip. There are loads of other people out there doing the same thing. Find them, join online groups, chat, and share what you’re up to. The help and ideas you’ll get from others are super helpful. Every little win, no matter how small, gets you closer to your big dreams. Give yourself a pat on the back for the wins, learn from the tough times, and just keep going.
Set a goal for your digital business for the next month. Maybe it’s getting a product out there, getting more people on your email list, or nailing a new way to market. What’s it going to be?
How to start an online business?
When you have a good digital product to sell, whether it’s created by yourself or a bought product with Master Resell Rights (MRR), you need to find your customers to make money online. If you have NO idea where to start, you might want to consider taking a course. You will learn what platforms and software to use and how to sell like a master online.
When you are new to digital marketing you can take a look at this starter course (now with 90% discount!), and when you already have everything in place and set up ready to go, but just need to build your brand and maximize your sales, you should check out this branding course. The courses are re-sellable, and you will learn from THE BEST in the industry.
I have gone through the course too, and I’ve learned so much from them! Like the perfect launch that resulted in sales right away, monetizing my social media, and connecting with like-minded people in my niche. I’ve grown so much in the last couple of years, personally and with my business. Feel free to ask me anything you want to know about this blogpost, in the comments below. Hope to see you there!
