According to Merriam-Webster, and entrepreneur is “a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money.” Add the internet to the equation, and you've got an “online entrepreneur.”
I had been using online resources, like email and social media for years, for years as a marketing professional. But when it came time for me to start my own consulting business, I got caught up in a world that many first-time online entrepreneurs encounter… the world of “how to make money online.”
Wow, what a distraction that was! There are a lot of people and businesses out there claiming to teach you how to “make money online.” I know, because many of them have gotten me to open up my wallet and pay them. But I often went through their training and left with little to show for it… or worse, really confused.
Here's what I learned from going down that path – a path, incidentally, that so many other online business and marketing professionals have told me they, too, inadvertently went down. I learned that, without a specific goal in mind… without knowing what outcome I was wanting to achieve, I was destined to fail.
That's what brought me to focus my business around online entrepreneurship for professional coaches and trainers. This is the path I chose to pursue online. How about you?
Are you looking to expand your current business online? Are you interested in branching out into a new business? What sorts of customers or clients are you interested in helping in your business, and what sorts of problems will you help them solve? These are just a few of the important questions you need to address before you dive into the online business world.
Once you've got a handle on what your online business activities are all about, the next step is understanding what you need to do to structure your business most effectively. What sorts of online products or services make the most sense? How ill you deliver them and in what format? How do you market online and connect with the right prospective clients?
Some good places to get started online
Remember earlier, how I said I'd fallen into the trap of getting confused by bright shiny objects and endless possibilities online? Well, eventually, I found some outstanding exceptions to my less-than-positive experiences in my search for developing my own online entrepreneurship. If you are looking to start a new online enterprise or further develop your current business using online channels, here are some of my own programs and training that might help you out.
DIY Digital
DIY Digital is a training site on a whole bunch of digital marketing topics. If you are a coach, trainer, author, speaker, consultant, or budding online entrepreneur, this is for you! Each month, I cover one area of digital marketing in depth, and you get access to templates and workbooks to help you streamline these concepts in your business. Plus, for premium members, I offer twice-monthly open office hours where you can ask me anything! Learn more about DIY Digital here
Crash Course Reports
Each of these reports is a deep dive into an area that can propel you to tremendous profitability in your online business:
Creating a Profitable Group Coaching Program
How to Sell Without Selling
How To Think Like an Entrepreneur
Kindle Publishing Profits
Hosting A Profitable Virtual Summit Online
How To Create Your Own Social Media Management Business
Beyond what I have to offer, I also highly recommend these resources from a few of my online business colleagues:
Novice to Advance Marketing System (NAMS)
I first discovered David Perdew, founder of NAMS, while searching YouTube for information on publishing my own Kindle book. In the video which first introduced me to him, I witness a sincerity and genuine delivery of great, valuable content that so many other online trainers seemed to lack.
THIS IS THE IDEAL ONLINE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING GROUND FOR PROFESSIONAL COACHES!
My first step, after watching the video, was to download David's free passive income book. That then prompted me to purchase his passive income course (here's an interview I did with David all about that course – totally worth watching – it includes a discount code to his course).
Finally, I became a NAMS Insider, which is a community focussing on one essential element of online marketing each month for 12 months. You can learn more about becoming a NAMS insider, and get trial access now for just $1.
Earn 1K A Day
Dennis Becker's old school approach to internet marketing center around his membership site and forum, EARN 1K A DAY. It's an ideal place to learn just about anything related to creating your own website to various ways to profit online.
There is also, just like with NAMS, a ton of networking and relationship building you can do in Dennis' community. If you're not totally ready to commit to a monthly membership, you can check out a preview of the forum with this free download.
TecAdemics
For lack of a better description, TecAdemics is a trade school for online business. It was created as a training ground for entrepreneurs looking to develop businesses online ranging from client services to e-commerce to affiliate marketing and beyond. Get access to their free internet marketing training center here.
Brett's Circle
This is a completely different take on online entrepreneurship, but one that I think can be incredibly eye opening… even if you don't intend to set up your business exactly this way.
Brett Rutecky is a very successful internet marketer and software developer. While Brett's expertise lies in the world of WordPress Plugins and SaaS platforms for making money online, his training can be utilized in a great many niches. In his inner circle training, he teaches the entire model behind his business, and how you can replicate it.
More Help Here
There are plenty of other “good guys” out there, who can help you expand or create your online business, but I really think these are great places to start (and, possibly, end). If you'd like some personal guidance, feel free to reach out to me directly for more help here.