I think we’ve touched on it vividly in recent times – the online business “niche” (if you can call it that) is simply booming like never before. It’s booming because the internet has emerged as a place where people are flocking to for business and for prosperity. A place where anyone with a strong desire to succeed can do so, with even the most minimalistic amounts of capital.
Today, we put under the microscope a highly reliable way for YOU to take advantage of this boom. One way you may not even have thought about is selling your skills and services online to companies and individuals. Because, if you don’t subscribe to the looney “press the big red button for profits” group, and you’re willing to invest a little effort to get from zero to hero…this is about as good as it gets!
Take a look around you and you’ll see forums of all types bursting with posts on “where can I find someone who can…” – you’ll see specialist sites like elance filled to the brim with countless projects for services that are required.
Today, I want to show you how YOU can take advantage of this vibrant opportunity right away, and brand yourself as someone who can provide services that people and businesses will pay you handsomely for. So, if earning $100 per hour (and sometimes more) sounds like something you believe you’re worth, read on…
1. What Services Should You Provide? What Services Do People Need?
First, identify your strengths and abilities. A lot of my clients and newsletter readers are positioned within the internet marketing niche. Now here’s a niche where you really need to be a Jack of all trades – you need ability in site design and set-up, graphics design, marketing/list building…the list goes on and on. Well guess what, all these skills are in great DEMAND in the wider world. Just to pluck an example out, people want site development services, and the going rate for a pretty basic site with a few bells and whistles is HEAVY (four figures, depending on how big the bells and how loud the whistles).
There is absolutely zero reason why you could not do this for yourself. If you did even 7 sites a month at just five hundred a site, that’s $3,500 – and unless you’re remarkably slow, seven sites a month should be pretty easy. Now don’t think that this is an earnings cap, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what can be generated when you sell your services successfully.
So, first pick out the main service that you want to provide – hone your skills for it, and then offer it online…
2. Where Can You Find Business For Selling Your Services?
At first, until you build up a client list, you’ll have to go looking for business. That may sound daunting, but business is just EVERYWHERE – as long as you know where to look. After a while, assuming you’re providing value, the clients will flock to you automatically. Why? Because people who are looking for services will almost always pay MORE just to get it done from a reliable and well known source that they have used before.
3. Some Tips For Selling Your Services Online…
The concept of selling services may be a little alien to some. So, here are some basic tips to help you get more from the experience…
a. Get Testimonials & A Portfolio – When it comes to services, you SHOULD get genuine testimonials from past clients. Do what you must – work for less, work for free, clean your clients toilet with your tongue if you have to…and, keep a list of all your projects so that you can show people what you’ve done. In the services field, it’s important.
b. Brand Yourself – Have a clear and distinguished model for what you are, and what services you provide. Narrow it down so that your potential clients can see that you’re the expert in exactly what they need. If you try and be too broad, you may come over as a jack of all trades…but a master of none!
c. Think like a MARKETER – you may be an ace at providing your designated services, but just as in internet marketing, you must think like a marketer and promote yourself and your services.
d. Find out THE most important places where your clients are actively looking for your services. We look at this far more closely in our video series – Selling Your Services Online For Instant Cash.
e. Keep on the cutting edge of your chosen field – This applies in particular to those of you who are in fast changing tech-related fields like site design/marketing type services. You have to keep on the front line to make sure you are offering TODAYS in demand services. Today, people prefer a wordpress blog to a static html site. Today, people are looking toward social network marketing rather than older directory-listing services.
Lots of individuals are making an income by providing services – there is no reason why you cannot join them.
