The New Age of Digital Side business Ideas
The allure of working for yourself and having the freedom to control your own schedule is appealing to many professionals today. Side business ideas are plenty and are no longer a stretch for you to grasp and generate extra revenue.
With the rise of the internet and digital technologies, easier opportunities have emerged for entrepreneurial-minded individuals to leverage their skills and passions into successful side businesses. You no longer have to have 5-year degrees or fancy certificates to be an expert. It just takes a strong desire.
In this blog post, I'll explore the top 5 most promising side business ideas for aspiring digital entrepreneurs looking to escape the rat race and start monetizing their expertise.
Introduction
Whether you want to have more flexibility in your work life, supplement your income with an additional revenue stream, or eventually transition into full-time entrepreneurship, these 5 ventures can empower you to turn your capabilities into profit. By identifying an untapped audience need and providing specialized services digitally, you can build a thriving business without needing extensive startup costs or overhead.
From leveraging creativity in web design to packaging knowledge into coaching programs, the possibilities are diverse for aspiring solopreneurs over 40.
Grasping the fundamentals of each idea and staying dedicated through the ups and downs of solopreneurship, you can build the freedom-based lifestyle you desire. Let's dive in and explore the lucrative opportunities waiting!
Exploring the Top 5 Side Business Ideas
Ok, you sort of get the appeal and potential of being a solopreneur in the Web 3.0 age, let's explore the top 5 most popular, attainable and profitable side business ideas specifically.
Based on market demand, low barrier to entry, and ability to scale, these 5 avenues offer prime opportunities for solopreneurs looking to monetize their skills, knowledge, and passions:
Web Design: Creative Design Meets Conversion Optimization
With so many businesses relying on their online presence, there is huge demand for web design services. By leveraging your creative chops with an eye for conversion optimization, you can help businesses build effective sites that engage visitors and drive action. With low overhead costs and the ability to work remotely, web design is a flexible and scalable side business idea.
No longer do you have to be a coder. You can also make a living customizing platforms like Wix and Squarespace. As mentioned above - learn what drives conversions, that will make you indispensible.
Video Editing: Crafting Compelling Narratives in a Media-Driven World
Video content is only growing in popularity across social media, ads, and more. By offering your services as a video editor, you can help clients craft compelling stories that captivate audiences. With the right editing software and a keen eye for pacing and narrative, this creative skillset can be monetized into a lucrative side business.
You can focus on YouTube, Corporate videos, short-form format and anything in between. Find your style, experiment and enjoy the creative spark.
Systems and Automations Expert: Streamlining Processes for Efficiency
Every business wants to improve productivity and efficiency. As a systems and automations expert, you can consult with clients to identify areas ripe for automation through tools like Zapier. By streamlining workflows, you can save clients time and money, making this niche expertise extremely valuable.
Think about it; your corporate environment is a hot mess, that everyone is constantly "improving". Take those learnings and help smaller ventures.
Online Coaching: Packaging Knowledge into Transformative Experience
The rise of online courses and coaching programs has created new opportunities for experts to package their knowledge into products. By creating an online coaching program in your niche, whether in health, business, or personal development, you can attract an audience and deliver value at scale. Though it requires significant effort upfront, the long-term payoff of this passive income stream is immense.
This is my favourite because of "create-once-earn-forever" model.
Ghostwriting: Flexibility and Scalability in Content Creation
Many thought leaders, executives, and public figures need help creating content but lack the time. As a ghostwriter, you can use your writing skills to craft everything from blog posts to entire books while getting paid well. Ghostwriting allows location flexibility and the ability to take on as much or as little work as you desire.
Now that we've highlighted the top side business ideas in the digital realm today, let's go deeper into what's required to start in each venture, and the keys to succeeding. There's immense potential for aspiring solopreneurs in each one of these opportunities that leverage online platforms. By understanding the essentials of getting started and executing excellently, you can build a thriving business around your skills and passions.
Diving Deeper into These Side Business Ideas
To help you determine which of these 5 side business ideas / models aligns closest with your expertise and interests, let's explore the essentials required for each one:
The Essentials of Starting in Web Design
Becoming a web designer requires a mix of creative chops and analytical optimization skills. You'll need proficiency in HTML/CSS and knowledge of conversion principles. Building a portfolio of sites you've created and focusing your services on a niche industry is key. Web design does have some upfront costs for purchasing themes, fonts, and tools, but overall has a reasonable barrier to entry.
Web Design recap:
- Tools: WordPress, Wix, Squarespace HTML/CSS skills, graphic design software like Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, ActiveCampaign.
- Examples: Chris Coyier (CSS-Tricks), Nathan Barry (ConvertKit), Alex Turnbull (Groove).
- Earning Potential: $30,000-$60,000 in first 1-2 years.
Making Your Mark as a Video Editor
The top skills needed as a video editor include storytelling ability through pacing and transitions, proficiency in editing software like Premiere or Final Cut, and a good eye for framing, color, and flow. Investing in some key video editing tools is a must. Start by editing videos for friends or non-profits to build a reel showcasing your style and skills.
Video Editing recap:
- Tools: Video editing software like Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, camera, audio equipment.
- Examples: Daniel Schiffer, Peter McKinnon, Maddie Dragsbaek.
- Earning Potential: $40,000-$75,000 in first 1-2 years.
Becoming an Efficiency Guru with Systems Automation
To become a systems and automations consultant, you'll need expertise in tools like Zapier, Airtable, and Notion to streamline workflows. Study different business processes to identify optimization opportunities. Reach out to small business owners and propose ways you could save them time with automations. Focus on quantifying the ROI you can provide.
Systems/Automations recap:
- Tools: Zapier, Airtable, Notion, Samrtsheets, Asana, project management software.
- Examples: H HoneyBook, Clara Schneidewind (Automate & Simplify).
- Earning Potential: $50,000-$85,000 in first 1-2 years.
The Path to Becoming an Authentic Online Coach
Creating an online coaching program requires identifying your niche expertise, establishing credentials and authority, and packaging your knowledge into a structured curriculum. Promote your program through content marketing, social media ads, and outreach. Be prepared to continually update materials and closely support students.
Online Coaching recap:
- Tools: Teachable, Thinkific, WordPress site, ConvertKit, Zoom, Calendly.
- Examples: Marie Forleo (B-School), Brooke Castillo (Life Coach School).
- Earning Potential: $60,000-$100,000+ in first 1-2 years.
The Many Facets of Ghostwriting as a Side Business Idea
Ghostwriting requires strong writing skills, adaptability to different author voices, and research skills to quickly learn about unfamiliar topics. Reach out to thought leaders with writing samples tailored to them. Be comfortable writing about both specialized topics and evergreen content across blogs, books, and other formats.
Ghostwriting recap:
- Tools: Excellent writing skills, ability to research/learn quickly, experience with publishing formats.
- Examples: Tucker Max, James Chartrand (Men with Pens), Carrie Green (Female Entrepreneur Association).
- Earning Potential: $40,000-$75,000 in first 1-2 years.
Now that I've outlined a high-level overview of each side business venture's must-have skills and starting steps, you likely have a sense for which aligns best with your capabilities and interests. By playing directly to your strengths and pursuing an idea resonates, your likelihood of startup and long-term success expands greatly.
Navigating the Side Business Ideas Journey Successfully
While launching any business comes with challenges, some keys principles and mindsets can set you up for success on your entrepreneurial journey:
1. Dedication Beyond Startup: Continuous Learning and Marketing
The work doesn't end once you formally start your side business. Ongoing learning to refine your offering and marketing to consistently attract new clients is essential. Make time for strategic business development along with completing client work.
2. Leveraging Opportunities in the Digital Landscape
Look for ways to expand your revenue streams and reach new audiences through emerging social platforms, training programs, and more. The digital landscape is constantly evolving, giving agile solopreneurs new money-making opportunities.
The freedom and fulfillment entrepreneurship can provide is immense, but achieving sustainable success requires grit, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning. By continually striving for excellence and keeping your offering relevant, your business can grow right alongside your aspirations.
Now let's tie this all together by reiterating why taking the leap into digital entrepreneurship can be so rewarding.
Conclusion: Turning Passion into Profitable Ventures
Starting a side business in one of these 5 digital-friendly models can empower you to gain more control over your work and life. By turning your skills and passions into a monetizable offering, you can supplement your income while moving closer to a lifestyle of freedom and fulfillment.
The Key Drivers to Achieving Freedom-Based Living Through Digital Ventures
At the core, these key forces motivate and enable solopreneurs to successfully transition into entrepreneurship:
- The desire for flexibility, autonomy, and a growth-oriented mindset.
- Leveraging digital platforms to start and run businesses with low overhead.
- Identifying meaningful work aligned with your values, interests, and purpose.
- Continuous learning and refinement to remain competitive and deliver ever-growing value.
- Passion, perseverance, and grit to push past obstacles on the journey.
By staying focused on serving others through your unique gifts and seizing the possibilities of the digital age, you can make the leap into meaningful, freedom-based living.
The opportunity is yours for the taking!
If you want to explore HOW to take the first step, I am here to help. Take a look here and then connect with me.