There are four main types of online marketing, also called digital marketing:

1. SEO or Search Engine Optimization
This is also called “organic” meaning, not paid. There are various types of SEO including Content Marketing, Inbound Marketing, and Social Media Marketing. This type of online marketing includes optimizing the meta-data in your post in such a way that the search engines pick up key words and phrases that correspond to what your audience is searching for.

A great example of an un-intrusive way to collect email addresses through inbound marketing is HubSpot’s quiz: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Social media marketing is simply crafting just the right post to go along with your blog. Every post should have a purpose. Posting without a strategy in place will just yield poor results, so if you’re not seeing any measurable results from your social media marketing strategy, focus on making sure each post has both an eye-catching and creative photo, a well-written headline, and a measurable purpose. Posting blindly is kind of like posting a billboard on the side of the road, you don’t really know whether you got any business because of the billboard. With all forms of online marketing, it’s easy to actually measure clicks to see what’s working and what isn’t. Social media is both an art and a science.

2. Paid Ads
There are two main types of paid ads: SEM or Search Engine Marketing and Social Media Advertising.
The best way to understand SEM is that it is the paid form of SEO. Search engine marketing is a strategy typically used and scheduled through the Google Ad Network and it’s also commonly referred to as PPC or Pay-per-click advertising. In order to get measurable results with this type of paid ad, you’ll do best working with someone who specializes in crafting strong copy and strong search term research. You can also use a free tool such as the Keywords Everywhere Chrome Extension to help you gain some perspective on how much volume a particular search word or term gets: https://keywordseverywhere.com/

Social Media Advertising (different from social media marketing in that it is the paid form) is done through each social network itself. For example, Facebook Ads, Pinterest Ads, Twitter Ads…these are all examples of Social Media Advertising. This is simply the paid form of Social Media Marketing. It’s important to pay close attention to the details of your ads because each network has different rules. This is also where audience targeting is of the utmost importance. The strategy works particular well when you have a very targeted niche and you orchestrate your ads to reach your target audience.

3. Affiliate Marketing: This term refers to making a commission on the sale of a product or service. For example, you sign up as an “Affiliate Advertiser” and you’ll create an account and get a dashboard that offers you a unique link to track the customer’s purchase back to you. You would simply post a review of a product or service that you endorse on your blog, then use your special link. Any time one of your visitors clicks that link and ultimately purchases the product or service, you receive a commission. That is what it means when people say that you “don’t need a product or service to make money with online marketing.”

4. Email Marketing:
Building an opt-in strategy and a nurturing sequence for your list is what makes this digital strategy profitable. If those words sound strange to you, make sure you subscribe to my channel (click the link on the lower right hand side of your screen) because I’ll be posting more detailed tutorials on both list building and email nurturing on my channel. Email marketing works really well when you have a large email list. The drawback is that you’ve got to invest some real time and effort into building your email list. Although it may seem like people have become immune to email, the data suggests that this strategy still drives the highest Return on Investment of all forms of digital marketing.

My goal is to help you, the small business owner, the blogger, the solo-entrepreneur learn how to leverage new media so you can grow your dream of working from home on a flexible schedule.

If you would like a deeper dive on any of these strategies, I have some preferred tools that I use for different purposes whether it’s setting up your blog or website, implementing an automated email nurturing sequence, or simply just making a page for the purpose of online marketing and list building. I would love it if you would click that Subscribe button on my YouTube Channel, and download my Free Quick Start Guide to Starting Your First Blog. I just started posting on my YouTube channel, and my goal for 2019 is to post online marketing tutorials at least once a week and grow it into a community where women business owners and bloggers aren’t afraid to ask questions, share their dreams, and connect with others who share the same goals.

In the meantime, Who isn’t looking for extra income that you can do on your own schedule or from your own home? Here are fifty ideas to ponder that you can start and do either on the side or full time, without enduring the 9 to 5. Whether you’re starting over, starting from scratch, in need of some extra income, or looking to build a new business…these ideas offer ways to thrive in the new age of digital.

Affiliate Marketer
As an affiliate marketer, you share links to products and services on your website and earn a commission on referrals.

App Developer
This type of programmer is specific to mobile technology; you can develop apps for clients or develop your own apps to offer for sale.

Artist
An artist sells paintings, drawings, or pottery at a venue or online.

Auto Detailing
Car washing and auto detailing services can be done at your house or a clients house.

Baker
Bake cookies or cupcakes for events or on a wholesale basis.

Bicycle Mechanic
If you can fix bicycles, you could also provide bicycle mechanic & maintenance services out of your garage.

Blogger
Build a business around writing and vlogs, and make money through advertisements and sponsored content.

Bookkeeper
If you know how to use Quickbooks, bookkeeping services are good for a business looking to outsource.

Business Consultant
If you have expertise in a specific niche, you can offer your services as a business consultant, working with clients in person, over the phone or online.

Child Care
If you have experience caring for children, you can provide in-home child care and babysitting services.

Coffee Vendor
A gourmet coffee cart can be set up at events, shopping centers or office buildings.

Copywriter
Copywriting and copyediting is in high demand for websites, books, and advertisements.

Dog Walker
If you enjoy spending time around animals, you can provide dog walking as a service.

Ebook Author
If you have a particular area of expertise, you can write and self-publish your own ebooks and sell them online.

Ecommerce Seller
Set up an ecommerce site on platforms such as eBay, Amazon or Etsy.

Errand Services
There is always a need for people to run errands such as picking up the dry-cleaning and grocery shopping.

Event Planner
If you enjoy organizing parties and working with vendors, you can set up shop as an event planner.

Event Photographer
Photography is an area that lends itself well to solo-entrepreneurship.

Farmers’ Market Vendor
Many communities have markets where you can sell items that you grow in your own garden.

Freelance Writer
Offering writing services to other businesses looking for blog posts can be done through Upwork.com.

Graphic Designer
For design savvy entrepreneurs, you can start your own graphic design business and work with clients on a one-on-one basis, or offer services online through Upwork.com or Fiverr.com.

Grant Writer
To help businesses and non-profits raise money, you can provide grant-writing services on a freelance basis.

Gardener
If horticulture is your fancy, you can specialize in setting up or maintaining gardens and landscaping projects.

Handyman
If you’re handy with various projects around the house, you can offer handyman services to homeowners in your community.

House Cleaner
Build up a base of regular clients and specialize in residential or commercial cleaning services.

House-sitter
Housesitting services for folks who are out of town is a good way to make money during the summer months.

Jewelry Designer
If you are artistic, you can create jewelry to sell at local craft fairs or on websites that specialize in handmade goods like Etsy.

Lawn Service
For those who enjoy working outside, try cutting grass and providing weekly maintenance during the summer.

Life Coach
If you enjoy working 1-on-1 with clients, you can become a certified Life Coach in areas such as finance or personal relationships.

Massage Therapist
A massage therapist can offer services to clients on regular basis out of their home.

Online Course Creator
Creating your own online course is a great way to sell your expertise in a particular subject.

Party Entertainer
You can use a number of different skills, from music to juggling to princess parties and face painting, to start a business as an independent party entertainer.

Personal Trainer
For athletically inclined entrepreneurs, start a business as a personal trainer.

Podcast Expert
Running a podcast is easier than ever to set up on your own. You can host your podcast, build your website and make money through advertisements and affiliate sales.

Public Speaker
For entrepreneurs with expertise in a specific area, you can offer your services as a public speaker for various conferences and events.

Resume Writing
Help job seekers create and improve their resumes and cover letters.

Soap Maker
Manufacturing natural, organic, and spa products such as soaps and essential oils is a great way to earn a living from home.

Software Developer
If you’ve got expertise in coding, writing plugins and other kinds of software programs is a job that can easily be done from home.

Social Media Influencer
Focus on building up a community and some influence on your own social media accounts, and then work with brands as an influencer.

Social Media Manager
For social media savvy entrepreneurs, you can offer your services to other businesses to schedule social media posts and manage their accounts.

Stock Photographer
A stock photographer offers their photos for sale on stock photo websites and receives a commission whenever their art is purchased.

Tax Professional
If you have expertise in this area, many tax preparers work as solo-entrepreneurs.

T-Shirt Designer
Sites like CafePress and Redbubble make it easy for you to design your own t-shirts and other printed goods.

Travel Consultant
Start a business as an independent travel consultant, especially if you have traveled a lot and have expert knowledge of certain areas of the world.

Translator
If you can speak more than one language, freelance or contract translators are always in high demand.

Tutor
If you’re looking to share your knowledge with others, one-on-one tutoring can be done as a solo-entrepreneur or with local schools.

Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants provide a variety of duties from scheduling and social media management to creating reports.

Web Design
If you have expertise in graphic design and coding, creating websites as a web designer is a job you can do from anywhere.

Yoga Instructor
Yoga and pilates are examples of fitness areas where you can become certified and teach on your own time or at a local studio.

YouTube Publisher
Start your own channel and earn money through ad sharing and affiliate programs.