So, is it too late to start an online business? People are consuming more content online than ever before From restaurant and hotel reviews to relationship advice and medical consultancy, people are turning to different forms of online content for their information needs more than ever before. Starting an online business is much easier than before Just a few years ago, if you didn’t have technical knowledge of websites and coding, you couldn’t start an online business. There are many other low investment eCommerce business models that you can use to start an online business. You can learn any skills you want No matter where you live in the world if you have a computer and an internet connection you can now learn any skills you want. The same study also identified content marketing, data analysis, UX engineering, and search engine marketing as some of the most crucial skills for future marketers. People are increasingly spending money in niches that you might not have even heard of. If you can identify the needs of a small group of people who’re passionate about something, you can create content around those topics and make money by selling related products (either your own or affiliate products). Look at the stats I’ve shared with you in this post and the examples that prove you still have a great chance of starting your dream business. Click here if you need virtual assistants, data entry, market research, business or financial advice.
“You’ve missed the boat”
“All the profitable ideas are already taken”
I’ve been hearing this since 2012; the year I left my job and became a full-time content marketing consultant.
But people have been saying such things for much longer. For example, here’s a screenshot of an article published in 2010:
Back then, people had already started asking if they were too late to the “make money online” party. And there are people who are asking the exact same question in 2019.
So, is it too late to start an online business?
The short answer: No, it isn’t.
In fact, Jeff recently published a detailed article on how to start an online business in 2019 and shared a long list of business ideas that are still profitable.
As a marketer, though, I’m obsessed with statistics which is why I thought it would be great to put this debate to rest once and for all by sharing undeniable data evidence.
Here are 7 reasons, backed by solid data and research, that prove 2019 is your best chance to start and grow a profitable online business.
1. Millions of people are coming online for the first time
With widespread internet access in most of the developed countries, it’s easy to think everyone around the world is already online.
So here’s an eye-opening stat to give you a reality check.
Nearly half of the world’s population still does not have access to the internet. According to Statista, there are 4.388 billion active internet users as of Jan 2019 which makes it around 55% of the global population.
Which means 45% of people on this planet are yet to come online.
For them, even basic stuff about online businesses, digital marketing, or eCommerce is advanced knowledge. They have no prior brand associations which means they’re potential customers up for grabs.
This stat alone busts the myth of online saturation.
2. People are consuming more content online than ever before
From restaurant and hotel reviews to relationship advice and medical consultancy, people are turning to different forms of online content for their information needs more than ever before.
According to a study by Manta, 88% of people now trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations while 44% of customers read reviews before making a purchase.
Another study by the Pew Research Institute shows that nearly 80% of all American internet users have searched for medical advice online at least once.
With online content consumption at an all-time high, there’s an ever increasing demand for new, unique and high-quality content in all industries.
No matter what niche you’re in, your prospects are looking for answers online. By creating actionable content that addresses their core needs, you can easily build a loyal following that trusts you and makes purchase decisions based on your advice.
You’re also helped by the fact that search engines have become much more intelligent over the years and now understand the searcher’s intent and reward high-quality content instead of ranking pages based on keywords only.
Which means if your audience finds your content genuinely useful and spends more time on your website, your content will be rewarded with higher rankings for even the most competitive keywords, resulting in more traffic.
You can use this influence to sell your own services and products or promote other brands as an affiliate. The opportunities are unlimited.
3. Starting an online business is much easier than before
Just a few years ago, if you didn’t have technical knowledge of websites and coding, you couldn’t start an online business. Developing a simple static website used to cost a fortune.
But times have changed.
Lack of technical expertise is no longer a hurdle in starting an online business.
If you want to create a website, you can use WordPress which powers 33% of all active websites. But that’s not your only option. You can go for other user-friendly tools such as Squarespace or Wix as well.
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