In an increasingly digitized world, who could deny that e-commerce is the future of trade. No, the high street isn’t dead and yes, we can expect a blended approach to retail incorporating both ecommerce and brick and mortar stores to be the norm for the foreseeable future. But the trend in ecommerce adoption will only continue upwards as more and more people make purchases in the digital realm through mobile devices. This year, e-commerce accounts for around 10% of all trade in the United States. By 2021 it is expected to climb by almost 4%.

 

A world of opportunity

For those of an entrepreneurial nature, it’s easy to see why ecommerce might be an appealing arena in which to stake one’s claim and attempt to build a brand and earn their fortune. For starters, it’s far more accessible than setting up a presence on the high street. The overhead costs are comparatively few and it’s easy to get up and trading in days rather than months. Secondly, the digital world is a true meritocracy. Brand new small businesses have the same platforms through which they can attract customers, grow their brand and employ customer retention strategies as the big multinational titans of commerce.   

Sure, like starting any business, making a living through e-commerce takes some hard work, but if you think that it has to be complicated, think again! Here are some easy ways in which you can make money from the e-commerce boom without starting from scratch…

 

Sell your arts and crafts through an established platform

Are you a creative with a strong portfolio of artwork? Do you want to reach art enthusiasts who will enjoy your work and pay you what it’s worth? You could start up your own e-commerce business from scratch using Magento, but it may be far easier for you to sell your wares on an established platform like Etsy. Check out this guide to making 5,000 Etsy sales in less than a year. If you find that Etsy’s search algorithms (which can be punishing to new sellers) lead to frustration, you may find better luck with Shopify. In fact, you can even port your entire inventory right over from one platform to another.

 

Find fulfillment with FBA

It’s impossible to have a conversation without mentioning Amazon. The e-commerce giant shipped 5 billion items around the world last year! Why not let them do most of the heavy lifting. Check out the course on making money from Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) for just $1 over at www.brockrjohnson.com. The great thing about Amazon is that they have peerless reach and can manage all of the logistics while you simply supply the products.  

 

Make money from your blog

Lots of people blog for a variety of reasons, yet surprisingly few allow their blog to live up to its true potential. Your blog could be a valuable revenue stream, and you don’t even have to fill it with annoying clickbait or tedious pop up ads. Joining an affiliate marketing program will allow your readers to make money for you by using the same retailers to make their regular purchases. Check out these 6 Affiliate marketing programs for bloggers.

As you can see, there are a number of ways in which you can make money from e-commerce without going through the effort and expense of setting up your own store from scratch.