Twenty years ago, if you’d have claimed that anyone could make a living with nothing but a computer, a website, and a few well-written blog posts, people would have thought you were out of your mind. The idea that the internet would become anything more than a collection of great scholarly databases and the occasional online bookstore (looking at you Amazon) sounded downright insane. Yet here we are, in 2019, and that’s exactly what thousands of people all over the world have done.
It’s impossible to measure just how much the Internet has changed our world. From the way we shop to the way we educate ourselves to the way we interact, the Internet has completely revolutionized how day-to-day life plays out. One of the most positive changes that the Internet has introduced is the ability to grow a sustainable career completely online.
This entire website is devoted to showing women how they can make a living through blogging. That’s the focus because that’s how You Baby Me Mummy has achieved success. However, blogging isn’t the only way you can grow a fantastic career with the web. Here’s a couple more and how to get started.
Start Freelancing
Whether you’re into writing, photography, web design, consulting, IT, or any other number of fields, there’s probably someone willing to contract your services. Freelancing is great because it gives women the potential to create a flexible work schedule, work from anywhere they choose (so long as there’s WiFi), and choose the clients they want to work with. They’re not limited to a crappy job at a crappy company, with low pay and no time for family, anymore.
How to Get Started Freelancing
Obviously, having already produced work in the field you want to freelance in gives you an advantage, but it’s not 100% essential. Sometimes, you don’t even have to have done the specific job you want to freelance for. The most important thing is that you demonstrate that you can create compelling content that will convince people to use a product or service.
This is where your portfolio comes in. Your portfolio will be what ultimately lands you work in the freelance market. You can have all the charm, charisma, and contacts in the world, but if your portfolio isn’t strong, no one will hire you. If you don’t have any work specific to your industry, be prepared to craft some just for your portfolio or as a sample work. It sucks to work without pay but the experience you gain and the boost to your portfolio will be well worth it.
Launch an E-Commerce business
If you wanted to open a business two decades ago, it meant developing a business plan, finding a parcel of land to set up shop on, and paying property taxes and insurance costs before you could even open your doors. Not anymore. Today, the Internet has made it perfectly possible to build a business empire that doesn’t involve a single storefront.
E-Commerce as an industry is growing at an accelerated rate. Total online retail sales in 2018 nearly matched those from traditional stores to the tune of $2.86 trillion. E-commerce as a platform is a fantastic way for entrepreneurial women to launch a successful business in the industry they want, with their own working hours, from anywhere in the world.
How to Get Started in E-Commerce
After you decide what industry to focus in, and what products to sell, you need to craft a solid business plan. This will be your roadmap to business success, and it’s what will convince lenders/investors to give you the money you need to get started. Good business plans are easy to understand, concise, and covering the following, at a minimum:
- A summary of your business – who you are, what you do, and your vision statement
- A market analysis that discusses where you fit in, who your competitors are, and who your ideal customers are.
- Your marketing strategy
- Your financial analysis that shows how much money you need to get started and how much you’ll need in the future
- Your projections for revenue, including when you predict to break even and then become profitable
- Your timeline and milestones for growth
Once your business plan is sound, and you have the money you need to get started, your next step is to register a domain. From there, you build a website that suits the needs of both you and your customers. You can then upload your shopping cart and product pages, and you’re ready to do business.
Learn to Code
If you go on Google and search for “most in-demand jobs,” you’ll find that every single Top 10 list contains a job revolves around computer coding. There’s been a huge push in recent years, both in the UK and the US, to get more women into STEM. The focus on inclusion is fantastic in and of itself but the reason STEM is emphasized is obvious – it’s where the demand is at.
There’s never a shortage of demand for software developers, software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and web developers. A search on Indeed UK for the keyword “software” will over 73,000 results. The best part? Even the entry-level positions average about £34,000 a year.
Getting Started with a Career in Coding
The bad news is that many IT and coding positions require a university degree in order to qualify. The good news is that not all do, and there’s plenty of online resources that teach coding for free. The Odin Project, for example, teaches web development coding for free.
Before you begin, it’s best that you choose a programming language to focus on learning. Different languages are used for different applications, so your choice will be based on where your interests lie. Some of the most commonly used languages include:
- CSS – Used to develop the look and feel of a website
- HTML – Used to develop the structure and hierarchy of a website.
- Java – Used in a wide range of software for both computers and smartphones
- C++ – Used primarily to develop software that performs intricate functions or features complex graphics, such as video games
- Python – Used extensively for machine learning, data mining, and other applications
Many programmers know multiple languages and you should strive to learn several as well. However, when you’re starting out, it’s best just to focus on one so that you can gain confidence and experience with coding as a profession.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post.