Do you enjoy being active – playing sports, going on hikes, taking day trips, etc? If so, you can turn your passion into a lucrative business! As a sports marketing consultant, I get asked this question a lot. The interest in active lifestyle marketing (or AALM for short) is on the rise, as more and more people are taking the initiative to monetise their passions for hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities. 

If you’re looking to start an online business and want to make money from home, then why not consider sports marketing? As a sports marketing agency, we get asked to name a few sports marketing businesses that are thriving. We always reply with names like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. But, the reality is that there aren’t that many traditional sports agencies remaining in the industry. The majority have either been bought out by bigger brands or shut down completely.

To stand out from the crowd, you need to do something different. To continue the Nike/Adidas/Reebok example, you could create a niche product for a specific sport (like running shoes or action cameras for marathon runners), sell that product online, and earn a healthy profit.

The Difference In Genuine Interest Versus Earned Interest

A common question we get asked by potential clients is: “How do I know you’re interested in my project versus just looking for business?” As a general rule of thumb, you can eliminate the vast majority of companies by simply ignoring their interest. There are a few important considerations that will determine whether or not you should work with a company:

• What is their return policy?
• Do they have an affiliate program?
• What are their terms and conditions?
• How will you measure the success of this business?
• What is your experience in the industry?
• What is your estimated budget?

If you want to start a business that will serve the needs of active people, then genuine interest is essential. The last thing you want to do is rush into a business deal with a company that could disappear tomorrow. You’ll be doing yourself (and your family) a favour by being picky with whom you do business.

Having said that, finding the right partner for business isn’t always easy. This is where having a strong network can help – you can ask friends, family, and other professional contacts for advice about finding a suitable partner. Having some connections within the industry is key to being able to pull off a successful business venture. A good place to start is the Chamber of Digital Commerce, a business advocacy group for those wanting to operate within the digital sphere. They offer a variety of networking events around the country, which you can take advantage of to meet like-minded people and establish valuable contacts in your field.

The Rise In Online Shopping And The Impact On Marketers

People like to shop online. If you’ve been paying any attention to the news at all, you’ll know that consumers have developed a taste for digital shopping. Marketers have started to take advantage of this fact and are now placing more emphasis on engaging with their audience online. The shift to online shopping has had a significant impact on the marketing industry. Consider these facts:

• 76% of people in the US now use online shops to purchase products
• Over 90% of people in the US use social media to learn about products
• 52% of people have bought a product after watching an affiliate recommended video
• 70% of people have bought something after visiting an online shop’s home page
• 41% of all retail sales now happen online
• 76% of people have bought something after viewing an online shop’s product videos
• 80% of people have purchased something after visiting a vendor’s social media accounts
• 71% of people who go to bed deciding what to buy that day wake up with an idea for a purchase
• Over half of all retail e-commerce sales happen online

The world of digital marketing is changing. To succeed in this evolving landscape, you need to stand out from the crowd and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. The perfect place to start is the blogosphere. If you’re looking to become a successful online marketer, then start a blog today!

The Benefits Of Blogging

Blogging is relatively easy to get started with. You can put yourself in the writing habit by taking a few honest, simple steps. First, pick a niche.

Niche blogging isn’t just a fad. It has been around for a while and continues to be a popular choice for those looking to make money online. The key is to choose a niche that you know a lot about. If you’re just entering the field, then pick a niche that you find amusing or interesting. You can start a blog on almost any subject matter, but the most successful blogs out there are usually based around a particular theme or subject matter. Think of the biggest blogs in your niche and try to emulate their style. You don’t need to do this perfectly, but you should aim to be as authentic as possible.

Next, decide on how you’ll monetise your blog. You have two options here:

• Affiliate marketing
• Paid advertising

Both options can be lucrative, but you need to be mindful of how much money you’re spending. Consider your budget before making a decision. You need to focus on creating quality content that is likely to attract and retain an audience. Once you’ve established yourself as an authority in your niche, you can then branch out into related niches and explore the lucrative world of multifaceted blogging. It’s a great way to build a brand and gain credibility with your target audience. When you combine your knowledge with a bit of creativity, you can really stir things up! For example, if you are an expert food blogger, consider taking on restaurant reviews or food-related content. Not only will this be a way for you to gain experience and establish yourself as an expert in your industry, but it can also be a source of revenue down the line. Imagine getting paid to eat out and review restaurants!

Blogs can also be effective ways to establish thought leadership. Studies regularly show that those who follow blogs run into the brands mentioned within them more frequently than those who don’t read blogs. If you want to stand out from the crowd and be the go-to person for your industry, consider blogging as a tool to establish yourself as an expert in your industry. One of the best ways to do this is by creating high-quality content that is both educational and entertaining. You can also integrate your blog with social media platforms to maximise reach to your potential audience. Remember: a brand is only as good as its reputation, and nothing speaks more highly about your brand than your own content!

Blogging Is More Than Just A Blog

Though most people think of blogs when brainstorming ways to make money online, they can take on a much more versatile role in your marketing plan. If you have a sizable audience, you can leverage their interest in, and connection to, your blog content to promote other products or services. This is known as content curation. Simply put, content curation is the process of gathering and organising content from various sources to create something new. Essentially, you’re taking existing content and repurposing it for various platforms to engage with an audience. The best part? You’re doing this without ever having to create a piece of content yourself!

When someone discovers your blog through a search engine, they’ll most likely come across a collection of curated content. Having an established blog with a sizeable audience makes you an attractive candidate for content curation.

Curation is a great way to gain credibility with your target audience and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. Why? People love to be associated with experts. When someone discovers your content and decides to follow your blog, they’ll see your curated content first and be more inclined to think of you as an expert in your industry than someone who just created a blog. As a rule of thumb, make sure that every piece of content you put out is of good quality and adds value to your audience. If you want to be viewed as an expert in your industry, then prove it with quality content.

Tips For Beginners

If this is your first time diving into the world of online marketing, then here are a few tips to help you get started.