Whatever business or profession you are in right now, some persons somewhere out there, right now are trying to figure out how to do your job faster and less expensively with technology. And the more they breakthrough, the more people will lose their jobs.
Think about this statement by Bill Gates while speaking at The American Enterprise Institute, Washington D.C. Economic Think Tank –
Big changes are coming to the labour market that people and governments aren’t prepared for. Technology over time will reduce demand for jobs… I don’t think people have that in their mental model
It is for a good reason that world-renown economist (multi-millionaire entrepreneur), Paul Zane Pilzer called the time we are in right now…
The Dawn of the “Entrepreneurial Golden Age
He emphasizes that despite what the media is saying, corporations are not laying off employees in large numbers because of the bad economic times.
People are being let go because of the technology shift.
On the other hand, just as technology is taking over jobs, it is also creating even more jobs and opportunities for the entrepreneurial minded people. People who understand the importance of flexibility and adaptability to remain relevant in a competitive economy. These people refuse to compete with technology. Rather they figure out how to make technology work for them.
In the past getting your message to a wide audience was almost impossible for ordinary, everyday people. It was only reserved for the wealthy and famous. But not any longer.
Today Professionals, Public Speakers, freelance writers, authors, Politicians, Activists, Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Sales Persons and Pastors are building online platforms, and cultivating an audience to grow their personal, professional or organisation brand.
An online platform offers unlimited opportunities to connect with people, spread ideas and information, develop friendships, influence political opinion, inspire creativity, report news and promote business expertise.
Below are practical ways to build online platforms to give your career and business unfair advantage.
If you have an area of expertise, giving away information generously on your platform will attract business prospects your way. Then you can sell your services to help them apply your teaching to their personal situation with personal attention from you. You can also land ongoing consulting work and get long term contracts with companies.
This model works in fields ranging from dating, marriage counseling to marketing, accounting, personal finance, personal development, photography, craft, legal, health niches etc. As a consultant, you offer services in coaching, mentoring and training your readers one on one.
Example: Amara Blessing writes on relationship and related topics on her blog platform. And offer counselling and consulting services.
If you write and intend to self publish your books, a platform will help you bring together potential readers for your books. You’ll sell more books depending on the size of your audience, email list, relationship with them and how important the problem your Book solves. Sometimes the book is based on the content you publish on the platform – other times it’s completely new.
In addition to selling your Books on your own platform, you can also publish on Amazon kindle and reach a whole new audience.
Example: Chidiebere Anegbu of Allnigerianfoods.com blogs about Nigerian Food and sells his CookBook on the Platform. Great Concept.
The best way to shoot up your speaking career is to share your knowledge and expertise, and promote your brand online. This will serve as the platform to advertise you to the world. You can start with volunteer speaking engagements. Once you build your online profile, the paid opportunities will come along.
Example: Titilayo Ama of Spread Media – an entrepreneurship and business e-magazine – offers speaking service on her Platform.
This may appear similar to the part of speaking, but it’s an extension where you run own training courses. You leverage the audience you cultivate online to fill up the seats for your training programs either online (membership sites) or offline.
Example: Alongside his blogging, radio ICT talk-shows and speaking career, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA) also organizes ICT events and training programs.
If you make money writing for other media outlets, your own platform will expose you to more freelance jobs. Your profile, writing skills and expertise on your platform will attract other clients to you and serve as a comprehensive resume.
Example: Bamidele Onibalusi, at the age of 17 was earning four figures in USD monthly from freelance writing jobs. This would have been in his wildest dream if he never started his own content driven platform.
If you are skilled in graphic design, photography, event planning, Costumier, video coverage, web development or construction, a platform will help you reach potential clients.
Example: Akara Ogheneworo is a Professional Wedding and Concert Photographer showcasing his skills and offering photography service on his platform.
In your resume, you have at most two pages to impress the recruiter, and a few minutes interview to sell yourself. An online platform offers you much more room to express and demonstrate your knowledge and personality. You build your profile and perceived expertise in your industry. A potential employer may find you attractive to join their team.
Example: In this interesting story, Leslie Samuel shares ‘How My Biology Blog Landed Me My Dream Job’.
As a Business, organisation and larger corporation, your online platform will serve as the vehicle to reach new markets and grow your clients / customers-base. This article gives practical examples, on how businesses of all size succeed with online platform.
Example: 3InvestOnline is a real estate blog covering real estate deals, news and market trends. By Ruth Obih, CEO of 3Invest Ltd.
- Build a Platform as a Business
The 8 methods above are about leveraging an online platform to support your business. In this case, your platform is the business. He you build a free information-driven platform, get lots of consistent visitors and earn money from advertising, and sales of digital products and services.
Example: Millions of websites and blogs out there fall into this model.
These are practical examples of how large, small to solo businesses take advantage of online platforms to grow their careers and businesses.
Don’t assume that your business is too big or too small to need an effective internet presence.
Just 5 years ago, no one ever thought large organisations and multinational companies will go out of their way to ask people to ‘Like Us on Facebook’ or ‘Follow Us on Twitter’. Today, even CNN ask you to ‘Like Us on Facebook’.
Amazing how fast the business world is changing.
Do you have any questions or concerns about building a profitable online platform? Drop me a comment below.
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Staring up an online business is not so easy you need to plan a lot things from before. Your website should be ready to go online and you need to get it updated with good quality content on it. This post is ideal to know the dos and dont before starting an online business.
A lot of work is involved really. Most beginners fail to understand this part and get carried away with the get rich quick message. This only leads to starting something haphazardly.
Thanks for the comment.
Hi Iyke, this is awesome. I love the tips you shared here. More knowledge to share more 🙂
Thanks Dan
Your information has really inspired me to start my passion of great cooking videos from my island. I I prepare a fish every holiday and have invited my friends from every spectrum of life who boasts and loves the taste of it. I want to go viral with it, but have been scared. I need help in getting it to many other people. It is healthy and best if all tastes great. I think you have made me discover my inner person and voice. I go by my slogan, my voice is my choice. Thanks again
For staring up with an online campaign the first and foremost important thing is a Blog/website. You need to make it Live with quality content from readers point of you. All the points should be followed later. This is a superb post all in all, giving guidance about online presence.
Sure. The importance of quality content can’t be overemphasized. Thanks for your comments Paul.
These tips are very nice. i loved the points. well written
Discipline is the main thing for online business. Sometimes new bloggers don’t have patience. So he must fail in the long run. Another thing is quality & unique content. You described it very efficiently
You are right, we need disciple to succeed in everything we do, including blogging. That’s why get rich quick mind set brings nothing more than failure.
Excellent tutorial for beginners with online marketing. Well written, described and arranged 🙂
That’s a good article. Thank you for sharing it with us. Just keep it up!
its a complete starting guide for newbies. perfect post to guide anyone how to start online business and what we needs and what are the major things we have to do. this post include all the things. nothing to say except perfect.
This is a good post, Ikenna. I’m going to read your other articles as I start working on my blogsites.
More success to you.
Hi Ikenna,
I did discover your blog a little “late” but sincerely, you’re one hell of a writer I’m very comfortable reading: straightforward, no BS and perfect command of the English Language…such a combination is getting rarer by the day.
Back to the topic: my principal blog, Notopoverty, for instance, leverages most of the business models discussed here and both my readers and myself mutually benefit: it’s always a win-win.
However, the last model discussed appear too risky and uncertain. Why make a blog (or site) an ‘ordinary’ receptacle for ads and sponsored posts?
What do you think?
Make the day great!
Always,
Terungwa
Hello Akaahan,
I appreciate your comment.
About the last business model, it may interest you to know that the highest earning blogs fall into this category. Mashable, HuffingtonPost, LindaIkeji, BellaNaija and the likes.
You are not limited to ads and sponsored post with this method, like I mentioned in the post. You can also sell your products and services.
Thanks for dropping by man.
Dear Ikenna,
A nice heads-up!
Even the use of certain APPS are already swallowing up jobs that were being done mechanically by machines or manually by people.
The big changes signaled by Bill Gates are already here with us.
True! And more jobs are patiently waiting to be wallowed.