Online Business. What does that even mean? Those of you not yet living the laptop life might wonder, “What’s the difference between an online service provider vs. an online business vs. a business that needs online marketing?”
BUCKET #1 ONLINE SERVICE PROVIDERS
The markers for these types of businesses are as follows…
- Scalability happens through a team – You provide services that take time and you only have 24 hours in a day so scaling means growing a team of people who can provide more services.
- You have clients, not customers – Your job is mainly dealing with people who use a service rather than a customer who buys a product.
- Proposals, invoices, and/or contracts – Each client needs a proposal, invoice, and/or contract to begin utilizing the service.
- Can be done anywhere and with anyone – There is no geographic limitation to your job or to the people you serve.
- Digital Marketer
- Virtual Assistant
- Tech Virtual Assistant
- Executive Assistant
- Online Business Manager
- Web Designer
- Copywriter
- Proofreader
- Facebook Ads Strategist
- Marketing Strategist
- Facebook Ad Agency
- Marketing Agency
- Social Media Manager
- Content Manager
- Bookkeeper
- Financial Planner + Consultant
- Videographer
- Graphic Designer
- Animation Designer
- App Developer
- UX Designer
- Ghostwriter
- Funnel Designer
- Sales Funnel Strategist
- Business Coach
- Life Coach
- Health Coach
- Energy Healer
- Relationship Coach
- Dating Coach
- Fashion Consultant
- Speaker
- Sales Consultant
- Salesman/woman
- Affiliate Marketer
- Legal Consultant
- Project Manager
- Launch Manager
- Launch Strategist
- Brand Strategist
- Brand Designer
- SEO Specialist
- Editor
- Research Assistant
- Publicist
- Tech Support Specialist
- Customer Service Specialist
- Transcriptionist
- Tutor
- Cartoonist
How to Get Your Freelance Gig Started Without Writing A HUGE Overwhelming Business Plan or Wasting Tons of Money!
Get the 42-page Freelance Business Planning Workbook free for a limited time! Just enter your name and email below.
BUCKET #2 ONLINE BUSINESS OWNERS
Now, there are other types of online businesses that I wouldn’t exactly call service provider type businesses, but they still share a LOT of the same similarities.
The markers for these types of businesses are as follows…
- You have customers, not clients – sometimes you have consumers as well (readers, viewers, followers to help your customers – the advertisers and JV partners).
- You sell something tangible – a digital or physical product (this could be in the form of ad space on a blog as well).
- Blogger
- Writer/Author
- Craft Seller
- Artist
- Digital Product Creator or Infopreneur (courses, templates, digital products)
- Courses like how to knit or play guitar or create an online business
- Templates like downloadable planners and workbooks
- Digital products like Photoshop actions and WordPress themes
- Dropshipper
- Global e-comm owner (supplements, shirts, products, subscription boxes)
- SaaS Owner (software as a service – ConvertKit, Clickfunnels, etc.)
- Apps
- Web Apps
- Connector platforms *like Air BNB*
All of these people NEED service providers to help them – especially digital marketers and online business managers and virtual assistants. This is why I often encourage people NEW to the online space to start in the service industry first and then scale through other means.
BUCKET #3 BUSINESS OWNERS THAT NEED ONLINE MARKETING
Then there are local businesses that are geographically limited but still need an online “arm” or extension of their business. These are not VIRTUAL laptop life jobs, but are the kinds of businesses that can benefit from Digital Marketing.
The markers for these types of businesses are as follows…
- You have to serve a geographic area.
- You can have clients or customers.
- You use the Internet to advertise, but people buy IN person.
These are industries like:
- Photographers
- Fitness Gyms
- Chiropractors
- Salons
- Spas
- Restaurants
- Real Estate Agents + Brokers
- Lawyers
- Doctors
- Dentists
- Accountants
- Insurance Agents
- Construction
- Landscaping
- Sports Coaches
- Small Business Shops
So who does Create Your Laptop Life serve?
We serve PRIMARILY bucket #1. However, with the release of our brand new program “The Digital Gangsta” – we are teaching the skills and strategies that ALL THREE BUCKETS need in order to survive on the Internet.
This is also why Digital Marketing is such a powerful field to get into. Because it serves everyone. Because it helps you develop skills that will serve you if you decide to become a Course Creator or even a Dentist!
The takeaway is this…
- If you’re not an online business owner yet and want to be? Bucket #1 is where you should start.
- If you’re an online business owner in bucket #2…and you’re struggling to make ends meet, you might want to dip your toes in Bucket #1.
- If you’re an online business owner in bucket #2 making bank…congrats! This is the golden goose egg of Internet Marketing…and where everyone wants to be. So spread your wealth around by hiring lots of awesome peeps from Bucket #1.
- If you’re a business owner in bucket #3…and you’re struggling to make ends meet, you might want to hire someone from Bucket #1 (like a Digital Marketer).
- If you’re a business owner in bucket #3 and making money…consider adding a Bucket #2 revenue stream and product to your offerings to make even more!
[…] people tend to come to you for; that’s usually a sign of something you’re very good at! Use this complete list of online businesses to give you some additional […]