We live in the digital age and irrefutably it has changed the way business is done. About 30 years ago, business was all about opening a storefront, putting ads in local journals, joining a local networking organization and hoping the customers would come. But, with the inception of the internet, now there are myriad ways in which we can reach out to a global audience and engage consumers with ease.
The internet has broken down the barriers of age, location and even capital requirements. Unlike the bygone era, now one doesn’t need a hefty capital investment to go about your business….today, even the small guy can make it big.
Thanks to a string of online platforms Mumineen can now set foot with their own business without much hassle and cost. Here we walk you through 6 amazing avenues that can help do that!
1. Etsy – Marketplace for Handmade products
Etsy.com is one of the best online platforms that connects buyers and sellers around the world both online and offline. Etsy is a global community where sellers sell their products making it easier than ever for small time entrepreneurs and manufacturers to become successful in the online marketplace.
Well-suited for Mumenaat Behno who wish to start a home-based business, women moguls across the globe are part of the Etsy community with many of them selling handcrafted products like socks, scarves and headbands on the site. With all sorts of products available on the website, if you have limited capital to start off as a trader then Etsy is the platform for you.
Use online marketplace Etsy if you if you have a handmade product that you want to sell globally
To get started – Log on to https://www.etsy.com/ now.
2. Shopify – Ecommerce solution that allows you to sell online
With a mission to make commerce better for everyone, Shopify.com is a hassle-free platform to set up your own retail business, sell online and cater to a global customer base. Also, at Shopify, you get the facility of Drop Shipping that facilitates direct delivery of products from the manufacturer to the customer, thus, eliminating the trouble of keeping stocks. You can start off with an online shop with a free 14 day trial. Other retail options include:
- Lite – Start small without an online store at $9
- Basic – Sell with your own online store at $ 29
The best set up and online store that helps you become a re-seller
Get started with your venture at https://www.shopify.in/plus/contact
3. Fiverr – Marketplace to offer services
Fiverr is a new-age offbeat online marketplace where anyone can sign up and sell services. In fact, there cannot be an easier way to get started online. The services up on the site are business promotion, social networking, advertisements, translations, graphic designing, content writing, etc.
It is the most sought after site by Freelancers who can sell their services and turn their skills into lucrative sources of income. With positive reviews and ratings from clients you are elevated to a higher level making you one in the big league of Fiverr Freelancers. Similar to other Freelance websites like Elance and Upwork, Fiverr is gaining popularity like fire.
Know any simple skill like graphic design or Content Writing, start as a Freelancer and build a client base
Log on to https://www.fiverr.com/ and get earning with zero capital investment.
4. Amazon – Biggest online retailer on the planet
Amazon is a globally recognised name mainly because of its variety of products that it offers. Moreover, if you are new in the world of entrepreneurship then you can be a part of the Amazon marketplace in exchange for a small fee. With this, distributors and retailers can now tap into the Amazon infrastructure and sell their products under the Amazon banner. Amazon’s brand identity and global reach can be just the missing element that can help you ramp up your online business.
Don’t have a product of your own? Sell someone else’s by becoming an affiliate
If you are all geared up to start selling at the site head on to http://services.amazon.in/
5. Udemy – Platform for Teaching and Learning
If you have a passion for teaching then udemy.com is the apt platform that can transform you from an expert to an instructor and get you recognition for all that you know. At Udemy, you can teach anything that you like. You can use free to use course design tools to create your own online courses and reach out to a million of students in what is called the largest online learning marketplace, Udemy. You can become a premium instructor at the site for free by applying for it and keep hundred percent of the revenue if you can promote your own courses.
Have teaching skills that you want to make a living with? Become an online instructor and publish your own courses
To become an instructor with Udemy, visit the link https://teach.udemy.com/?ref=teach_header
6. Blogging – Publish your thoughts, ideas and advise and build a following
Becoming a professional blogger is now much easy with WordPress being the paramount website to get started with your dream of getting your thoughts and ideas out and reached to a wider audience. You can start a free blog on WordPress and in case if you want to set up your own blog website then you can get it done on WordPress with minimal cost. The WordPress software is free and as far as other elements are concerned like the domain name, hosting space, customization, theme and SEO, you can get all that at a minimum fee of $100.
Provide value and earn money with Ad space, subscriber list and who knows you may become an internet celebrity in your niche.
Sound interesting? Get started at https://wordpress.com/learn-more/?v=blog
So, if you have a business idea flying in your head, have the passion & ingenuity to make it big, these can be commendable options to get stared. In the internet age, business does not necessarily have to be a brick & mortar store!
Great resource for all those who want to start a online business..
Thanks Shabbar Bhai, am glad you found it useful