Online Marketing 101 for Entrepreneurs

I bet you’re wondering why I decided to put an “Online Marketing 101” series on a career blog.

Well, I believe that moving ahead in your career goes beyond perfect resumes, landing a job and dealing with corporate politics. I also know that many of you have your own side business, a hobby you’d like to turn into a business or hope to work for yourselves someday. There’s no doubt that ambitious Gen Y’ers place a high value on entrepreneurship and “lifestyle design.”

I also decided do this series because I’m a strong believer in diversifying your career portfolio. You wouldn’t invest your retirement funds in just one type of investment, so why would you invest your career into just one income source? Diversification helps absorb losses.  If one investment vehicle fails, you have others that are performing well to even things out.

What better way to truly experience “lifestyle design” and “career diversification” than to own an internet business? You can do this while working full time, while raising your kids and/or while pursuing your hobbies.

This series is designed for beginners who may not have a business idea or blog yet. I will show you how to create your own website or blog and optimize it for search engines. We will also talk about strategy and monetizing.

Here’s a simplified road map of the Online Marketing 101 Series

• Pick a niche topic you are madly in love with

• Buy a domain name, create a WordPress Thesis site

• Create great content

• Give away a freebie

• Build an email list

• Launch your 1st product

• Test, tweak and repeat

Why a niche?

Internet marketers live for the niche. Why? Because a niche website’s content is more searchable and more likely to attract a targeted audience. Building your site around a targeted audience means a better understanding of how to provide helpful products and services to them. People come to the internet to solve problems. How can your passions and interests help others solve their problems?

Most people dream about becoming an entrepreneur but have no idea what business to get into.  Let’s start by brainstorming your “passion project” which you can turn into a winning blog, website or business.

Leave your topic ideas (whether they are for you or for others) in the comments section.

Here are some examples of niche topics to get you started! college women’s soccer, Notre Dame grads in Chicago, best undiscovered chocolate, (your town) work at home moms, vegetarian cooking lessons for beginners.