Making money online from the comfort of your home may seem far-fetched, but once you learn the secret to making money online, your life can change forever.
Many people talk about passive income or making money online, but few make it a reality.
Although a skeptic, I always dreamed of transforming from a full-time working mom into a successful online entrepreneur earning a six-figure passive income from home.
While I wasn’t sure if it was possible, I thought the only way to find out was to try it myself.
Now, here I am, doing exactly that.
How?
I sell digital products that I create in Canva on Etsy. But these tips carry over to getting started selling just about anything online.
Here are my top five secrets to making money online to help you embark on this journey, even if you’re starting with no money.
The Secret to Making Money Online: 5 Tips No One Will Tell You
Here are some of the tips I wish someone had told me when I first got started with making money online.
1. Learn to Create Digital Products Skillfully
There’s a common misconception that starting an online business requires substantial financial and time investment in software and tools (like Photoshop), particularly with digital products.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
When I started, my toolkit consisted of easily accessible, free software that anyone with a basic computer can use. I began with basic tools like Canva and Google Sheets, which are free and user-friendly.
The beauty of these tools lies in their simplicity and depth. You can easily start with basic functionalities. For example, learn how to manipulate templates in Canva, change colors, fonts, layouts, format cells, or create formulas in Google Sheets.
As you grow more comfortable, you can explore advanced features like custom graphics or integrating data into Google Sheets.
The key is to create things that are both aesthetically appealing and practical. Investing time in learning these tools and experimenting with different product ideas is important.
You don’t need to be a software developer or professional graphic designer to get started. You just need to start learning and creating.
2. Find An In Demand Niche
The cornerstone of my success was discovering a niche that had demand.
I dabbled for years doing side hustles online that didn’t make any money.
My biggest insight over the past few years was to create products that people were already searching for.
You may be asking yourself, “How do I figure out what people are searching for and interested in?!”
Great question.
I recommend using tools like Pinterest Trends, Google Trends, eRank, and UberSuggest.
You will want to find niches (based on keywords) with a high search volume and low competition.
This process is simple, but it can take time. I recommend not rushing this process and giving yourself time to do ample market research.
When you see an opportunity, you will know it; the data doesn’t lie. When you find an opportunity that excites you, run, don’t walk to create your product and get it listed!
By investing time upfront doing research, you’ll save a lot of time, money, and energy. Why? Because you’ll only make products that you know people will be interested in, and that is where the money is.
3. Become a Platform Expert
Once you have a product and know there’s demand for it, you need to find a place to sell it.
Etsy was my chosen platform, and understanding its intricacies supported my success.
My journey on Etsy started with a deep dive into understanding the platform. I enrolled in a comprehensive course tailored to Etsy sellers focusing on digital products.
This course was a game-changer.
It covered everything from the basics of setting up a shop to the nuances of navigating Etsy’s algorithms. Investing in such education was crucial as it gave me a solid foundation and insider knowledge on how to succeed on Etsy.
4. Stay Motivated
In the past (with other side hustle ideas), I dabbled and never made any money. My past failures, I think, were because I gave up too soon. In the past, if I did not see immediate signs of success, my energy would wane, and I would stop working on my project. It wasn’t until I pushed through that discomfort and kept going when things got “hard” that I finally started to see success.
It’s crucial to understand that building a successful online business, especially on platforms like Etsy, is a marathon, not a sprint. Most successful sellers (including me) have undergone trial and error, learning, and gradual growth. Immediate success is the exception, not the rule.
Recognizing this was a turning point for me. It helped me adjust my expectations and commit to a long-term plan. The course I enrolled in also helped me stay motivated because other people would post their successes and wins, which both inspired me and helped me learn what I was doing right (and wrong).
5. Leverage Data
When I started to focus on my Etsy shop seriously, I quickly realized the importance of data in driving business decisions. Etsy provides various tools and analytics that are invaluable for understanding your shop’s performance and customer behavior, but you have to pay attention to them. Once I paid closer attention, these tools allowed me to see patterns in traffic, identify which products resonated with customers, and understand where my marketing efforts were most effective.
To complement Etsy’s analytics, I also turned to eRank, a tool designed for Etsy sellers. eRank provided deeper insights into SEO and market trends. eRank offered features that helped me stay ahead of the curve. By understanding what’s currently popular on Etsy, I could tailor my products and marketing strategies to tap into these trends. Data and trends, I learned, are invaluable in making informed decisions about product development and marketing strategies.
Learn more:
99+ Ways To Make Extra Money In 2024 (The Ultimate Money-Making Guide)
The Bottom Line
The journey to success is rarely a straight line. The secret to making money online is to remember that it’s filled with trials and errors, moments of doubt, and instances of breakthrough. Many people don’t realize that the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t often lies in persistence and the willingness to learn and adapt.
In sharing my journey and these tips, I aim to inspire and guide others who dream of achieving financial independence and success through online entrepreneurship. Remember, the information, tools, and opportunities exist – it’s about harnessing them effectively and believing in your ability to succeed.
Still here? Check out this Blueprint for Making Money Online
Want to learn another secret to making money online? If you’re interested in learning more about how to do it with Etsy, check out The Shockingly Simple Guide to Selling Passive Income Products on Etsy. This free, in-depth guide is a deeper blueprint for passive income that will help you learn exactly how to create digital products on Etsy!
LEARN MORE:
- How to Start Etsy Business: Insane Tips from a 6-Figure Etsy Seller
- Etsy E-Printables Side Hustle Course: Gold City Ventures Course Review
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