8 Ideas for Online Business to Make More Money

We kicked off the month two posts ago by quitting, then we discussed 5 tactics to revive your blogging, now in continuing with the “Revive Your Online Business” theme, let’s talk cashola, diniero, geld, greenbacks… There is seemingly a universal desire for people to make more money online.  While it certainly isn’t everything, it is important to receive compensation for your efforts, while running a profitable business.  With that in mind let’s discuss some ways you earn more with every visitor to your website.

8 Ideas for Online Business to Make More Money

Visitors go away as quickly as they come, so it’s important that websites think strategically about maximizing opportunities with those visitors. While everyone needs a business formula for visitors, today we are going to hone in on ways to eek more profits out of visitor interactions on your website. FYI: I’m planning on covering a business formula for visitors in the next post, so stick around.

1 – Thank You Page Offers

This option assumes that your site actively builds a newsletter or email subscriber list.

Defined: After subscribers submit their information via webform they are taken to what is referred to as the Thank You page.

This page is an opportunity to communicate further with subscribers, and is often left to a default Aweber page asking them to check their email to confirm their address (see unconfirmed or confirmed here).

Confirmation information is appropriate if you are confirming addresses. However this is also an opportunity to present them with one of your top rated and best selling products, special deal for new subscribers only, or perhaps an affiliate offer.

2 – Confirmation Page Offers

Defined: This is the page they land on after confirming their email address, and is a great place to make an offer because you know they are intent on getting information from you.

You can make similar offers on the confirmation page, but I would not advise making the same offers, you might send the new subscriber the wrong message.

You can make offers on just the thank you page, the confirmation page, or both.

In either case, test how the offers convert, and what impact they have on subscriber engagement and email confirmations.

3 – Cross Selling other Products

When someone makes a purchase, that is a great opportunity to add value with a product upsell (Pro version), offer, or recommendation.  Somewhat different than the checkout isle at the grocery store, it is important that the offer makes sense for what they just purchased, or it will not convert well.

If they just purchased a dog bed, offer a dog collar (not cat nip). If you’ve ever purchased from Amazon or GoDaddy (overkill) you get the concept.

4 – Cross Selling Partner Products

What if you don’t have a product to cross sell? Offer a partners product as a special offer. Again it has to make sense, but it is a great way to increase revenue per sale, and many customers will thank you for it.

5 – Finding Partners, Google, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook

Don’t have any partner products to offer? If you have a product in mind, hit the product owner up on Twitter or Facebook, and let them know you have an opportunity for them. Pitch the idea, and make it easy on them.

Not sure what product(s) to offer? Perform a search on Google, YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook. See what people in your market are offering, see what prospects are looking for or are excited about. Contact the product owner and make a clear and simple offer to cross-sell their stuff on your store.

6 – Online Advertising

Consider doing some paid advertising. Be sure to have metrics in place (‘flying blind’ may eat you for lunch.) More on that here.

7 – Promotional Email

Of course in internet marketing this is overused, but some markets don’t do this at all! Send a promotional email at regular intervals (monthly?) to talk about a product and how it helps solve real issues many have in your market.

8 – “Sponsored” Emails

Add a header to an email, “This message made possible by [insert company name and link].” This can be a paid arrangement from the product creator, or simply your affiliate link.

Depending on your experience these ideas may be brand new to you or you may already be through much of this list, either way take an inventory and pick the ones you can implement quickly, then do it!

There’s more to talk about in this Business Revival series. Up next is Knowing Your Numbers. In the meantime, chime in with questions and feedback below.

Photo credit: jojakeman