Turn your skills into a thriving online business generating $8K/month.
Starting an Online Business Over 35: Here’s What Really Works
As older individuals, we don’t have time to mess around. Whether we’re juggling full-time jobs or family obligations, we need strategies that work—fast and effectively. In this blog post, I’m going to reveal a simple four-step process that you can apply to start making money online.
This four-step process is based on my ten years of experience in creating content and making money online. I’ve successfully earned income through affiliate marketing, digital products, memberships, and even software as a service (SaaS). In this guide, I’ll show you exactly what you should do and how to do it to build a profitable online business.
By the end of this post, you will have the foundational knowledge required to start your own online business. This is part one of a multi-part series that will break down each of the four steps in detail, so you have everything you need to get up and running quickly.
Let’s jump right into step one.
Step 1: Identify What You Want to Be Known For (Choosing Your Niche)
The foundation of any successful online business is identifying what you want to be known for. Some people call this picking a niche, and it’s one of the most crucial steps because it guides how you create content and monetize your business.
If you’ve struggled to pick a niche in the past, don’t worry—I’ve got some simple, effective ways to help you identify your niche and start making money.
Misconceptions About Niches
A lot of people will tell you that you have to be in health, wealth, or relationships to make money. That’s simply not true. Trillions of dollars are spent every day, and much of it isn’t related to those three areas. Others will tell you that some niches are too saturated or competitive—again, not true. New people are entering these so-called saturated niches every day and finding success. There’s no reason why you can’t do the same.
How to Find Your Niche
- Look at Who You Were 5 Years Ago: Think back to who you were five years ago. What challenges did you face? For example, if you were a new parent struggling to find a work-life balance, you could create content to help other new parents navigate these same challenges.
- Explore Your Hobbies and Passions: Your hobbies can also be a great starting point. If you love playing video games, you could create content teaching people how to master specific aspects of their favorite games.
- Assess Your Skills: What are you skilled at? Even if you’re not an expert, being one or two steps ahead of your audience is enough to start helping others. For instance, if you’re skilled in computers, you could teach others how to build or repair them.
- Look at Your Job Functions: Your work experience is a valuable resource. If you’ve worked in a particular industry for years, there are others who want to learn what you know. This can be an excellent niche for building an online business.
Niche Down to Stand Out
When choosing a niche, it’s important not only to pick a niche but also to niche down. A general niche like “personal finance” is too broad. Instead, focus on sub-niches like “saving money” or “getting out of debt.” This helps you stand out and better serve a specific audience.
Take five to ten minutes to brainstorm a list of potential niches. Out of the ones you come up with, circle one or two that you feel most comfortable talking about consistently over time. Don’t spend days trying to find the “perfect” niche—there’s no such thing.
Once you’ve chosen your niche, write down all the problems that your target audience faces. These problems will guide the content you create and the solutions you offer.
Step 2: Choose Your Platform
The next step is choosing where you will create your content. You don’t need to be everywhere—just pick one platform and go all-in. Whether it’s YouTube, TikTok, or a blog, all of these platforms get billions of users each month, and you only need a tiny fraction of those users to find success.
Tips for Choosing the Right Platform
- Where Do You Spend the Most Time?: Start on the platform you know best. If you spend a lot of time on TikTok, then it makes sense to start there.
- Learn the Platform: Once you’ve chosen a platform, dedicate yourself to learning its ins and outs—how the algorithms work, what kind of content performs best, and who the leaders in your niche are.
- Understand Audience Behavior: Remember, users behave differently on each platform. For example, people on YouTube are typically searching for answers to specific problems, while TikTok users may not even know they have a problem—they’re just scrolling for entertainment. Tailor your content accordingly.
Step 3: Create Content to Attract an Audience
Content creation is the lifeblood of any successful online business. It’s how you attract people to you and, ultimately, convert those viewers into buyers.
How to Create Content That Works
- YouTube and Blogs: Users on these platforms are actively searching for solutions. They know their problem and need your help. Use keyword research to find out what your audience is searching for and create content to solve those problems.
- TikTok and Short-Form Platforms: Users on these platforms may not even be aware of the problem they have. They know the symptoms but need to be made aware of the underlying issue. Use hooks that catch their attention and create content that speaks to their pain points, goals, and dreams.
Every piece of content you create should have a hook, story, and offer:
- Hook: Grab your audience’s attention. For example, “As an older person, we don’t have time to mess around. Here’s how to make money online fast.”
- Story: Deliver valuable information to keep them watching or reading.
- Offer: End with a call to action, such as asking viewers to follow you, click a link in your bio, or check out your product.
Step 4: Monetize with Tiny Digital Products
Now that you have your niche and platform, it’s time to make money. My favorite way to do this is by creating tiny digital products.
Why Tiny Digital Products Work
- Instant Gratification: Tiny digital products put money right into your pocket, and buyers get instant access to the solution they need.
- Build Trust: Offering a low-cost product builds trust, making it easier to sell higher-ticket offers later.
- Low Barriers to Entry: These products can be created in a weekend, require little to no upfront investment, and have high-profit margins.
Examples of Digital Products
- Planners and Templates
- Workshops and Journals
- Affirmations, Songs, Beats, and Workbooks
One product I created was the “60-Second Business Blueprint,” which taught affiliate marketers how to use TikTok to get more leads. It was a simple product that solved a specific problem and generated thousands of dollars in sales, even though I sold it for just $5.
How to Get Started with Digital Products
- Write Down Your Audience’s Problems: Use the problems you identified earlier to create a digital product that provides a solution.
- Create and Launch: You can create products for free using tools like Google Docs and Canva. Once you’ve created your product, you can use platforms like GoHighLevel (branded as “Gbolt Systems” in my case) to sell and deliver it, manage email marketing, and set up automations to boost sales.
Conclusion: Take Action and Build Your Business
Starting an online business doesn’t have to be complicated. By following this four-step process, you can identify your niche, choose a platform, create compelling content, and monetize with tiny digital products—all while managing the responsibilities that come with being over 35.
Remember, the key is consistency and taking action. Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. Choose your niche, start creating content, and make your first sale. You’ll be amazed at the opportunities that open up as you take action.
Stay tuned for the next post in this series, where we’ll dive deeper into how to choose your niche and turn your experience into a profitable online business.