How to start an online business (from Pakistan)

How to Start an Online Business (from Pakistan)
The Essential Steps to Starting a Sustainable Legal Internet Biz
Salma Jafri
WordPL – Oct 2010

Who am I anyway and why should you listen to me?
Custom Social Pages
Social media maven
MBA
Print columnist
Nit-picker
WRITER
Affiliate marketer
Serial entrepreneur
Blogger
Fire-breathing dragon
WordPL
Wife
Mom
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Lets get on the same page first
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Fear Factors
Don’t know where to start
Don’t think int’l payments can be received in Pak
Don’t know how to find a market or clients or buyers
Too scared of getting sucked into a scam
Don’t know what you have to offer
Don’t want to give out credit card details on the Net
Can’t decide what to do
Don’t have a credit card
Just wanna whine “XYZ is not possible from Pak”
P.S. Its all in the attitude > you CAN make money online…
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Infographic: How to Start an Online Business
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Types of Online Businesses (you can start from Pakistan)
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PAKISTANI
success stories
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MaryamNasim
Website: http://maryamnasim.com , http://pinkwool.com
Niche:freelance illustration & animation, free printables
Monthly Income: $1000 - 5000
Primary money-making method:
Freelance services
“I think internet is magical. I have made some of my best friends over the internet. I use it for my work, entertainment and everything else I need for information. My work structure would be entirely different if I did not have access to the web like I do.”
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HarisNadeem
Website: http://www.sizzledcore.com
Niche: gadgets, technology &Internet media.
Monthly Income: $5000 approx.
blogging and advertisements
“… If you want to start a website, then blogging is the easiest way. I started off with a blog on free host. Then after convincing my parents for a credit card and bought my own paid domain.”
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ErumZehra
Website: http://www.acewebcontent.com
Niche: Web Writing for Small Businesses
Monthly Income: $500-1000
Freelance writing services
“I love the flexibility working online gives me. Due to this I have always been present around my children, and have also attained the personal fulfillment that one gets from acquiring professional achievements. A great testimonial from a client makes working from home totally worth leaving the competitive corporate world behind.”
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SohailAbid
Website: http://www.sohailabid.com
Niche: software developer
Monthly Income: undisclosed
Freelance software development
“To sum up the life of a good freelance developer: you can make three or four times the pay of a regular 9-6 employee with half the time/effort. The most lucrative advantage is FREEDOM. Take my motorcycle tour of Pakistan (www.facebook.com/tourdepakistan) as an example. Only a freelancer can take up such uncertain and free trip.”
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S. Mohkim Khan
Website: http://startupmeme.com
Niche: Web Startups, Social Media And Tech
Monthly Income: $500-$1000
Blogging, Sponsorships
“Blogging was my core earning from beginning 2008 right after I graduated to July 2009. It was one of the smartest things I ever pursued and was serious about, at least in my opinion.”
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AbidBeli
Website: http://www.beliscity.com
Niche: Ecommerce
Monthly Turnover: $80000
Product Selling
“ I think we need still more online retail shop .. (you should) be professional & show your educated attitude - do competition on quality services not on prices. Secondly because of new online retail shops new customers [are] also attracted [to] online shopping.”
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ErumMunir
Website: http://www.DotsnDashes.com
Niche: website dev & design, e-products
Freelance web services, e-products
“I started out on the net in 1997 with my first Geocities (yah remember that era, anyone?) web page and it has been a great journey since then. From that one web page to an entire website and on to my own business DotsnDashes Website Designs a couple of years later, yep I have come a long way.”
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SaadHamid
Website: http://www.sizlopedia.com
Niche: Technology
Monthly Income: $5,000
Blogging
“…Living in a country with less-awareness about a revenue medium like this, I have found blogging to be one of the best professions. Start blogging with passion and you will eventually start making money too.”
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Salma Jafri
Website: http://www.wordpl.net
Niche: Web content, SEO articles, e-books
freelance services
“Cultural differences, physical locations and geographical boundaries no longer separate the two arms of business: buyers and sellers. The lifestyle opportunities that technology offer are both overwhelming and awe-inspiring all at once.”
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Option 1: Start Freelancing!
Quick to start
Learn while you earn
Freedom/Control
No overheads
Immediate cash
Work from anywhere
Flexibility
Best use of existing skill set
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Start Freelancing!
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Choose a Niche
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Start Freelancing!
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Places to find freelance work
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Bidding sites
http://www.elance.com/php/search/main/eolsearch.php?matchType=project
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Job Boards
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/10/freelance-writing-jobs-for-october-4-2010/
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Social Media
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=looking+for+logo+designer
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Email/social media
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Start Freelancing!
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Build credibility
How to pitch for work (Proposal Writing)
Provide samples
Make portfolio
http://wordpl.net/index.php/2010/08/win-first-project-on-elance/
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Start Freelancing!
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Start Marketing like Crazy!
Join forums and communities such as http://www.freelanceswitch.com; http://www.freelancefolder.com
Start a blog
Join & network on social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube)
Join relevant and similar FB pages/groups
Take out a newsletter (email marketing)
Search engine optimize (SEO) your site
“If you build it they will come”
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My Marketing Efforts
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Start Freelancing!
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Get Paid!
WIRE TRANSFER
ONLINE PAYMENT PROCESSORS
A/C Holder NameA/C Number / IBANBank Account TypeBank NameBank CountryBank ID Type (you will choose SWIFT here for international wire transfers)Bank ID Number (8-11 characters)
Bank AddressBank CityBank ProvinceBank Postal Code
Moneybookers
AlertPay
2Checkout
http://wordpl.net/index.php/2010/01/how-to-get-paid-on-elance/
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Pakistani freelancers in action!
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Pakistan in Freelance World
http://www.elance.com/p/online-employment-report.html
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Option 2: Make Money Blogging
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Start Blogging!
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Choose a Niche
YOU
“When I was younger… I [didn’t] want to be pigeonholed…
Basically, now you want to be pigeonholed. Its your niche.”
– Joan Chen, actress
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How to choose a niche
Do what you know
Do what you love
Choose something you want to know more about
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Can your niche make money?
Keyword/Niche: Asian fusion cooking classes
Search results: 5,970
AdWords Keyword Tool results: 1300 monthly global searches
Check domain availability: www. asianfusioncookingclasses.com
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Keywords go fast!
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Start Blogging!
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Start Blogging!
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Create content
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Start Blogging!
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Monetize your blog
Google AdSense
Sponsored Posts
Chitika
Product reviews
Paid reviews
Kontera
Sponsored Ads
Buy Sell Ads
http://kommein.com/25-ways-to-monetize-your-blog/
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Start Blogging!
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Get Paid!
Wire transfer
Check (local)
Western Union
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Blogger in action!
http://www.problogger.net/
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Option 3: Affiliate Marketing
A lot like blogging – create site, add content, do product / service reviews
No inventory for selling products!
No merchant accounts for selling
No customer service issues to contend with
Affiliate Mktg
http://wordpl.net/index.php/2010/07/how-to-write-great-copy-for-the-web-ebook-review/
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Start Affiliate Marketing!
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Find Affiliate Products
Product name + “affiliate” (e.g. ipad affiliate)
Clickbank
Commission Junction
Share-a-Sale
Pepperjam
E-junkie
Amazon Associates
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Start Affiliate Marketing!
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Get Paid!
Wire transfer
Check
Western Union
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Affiliate Marketing in action!
http://wordpl.net/index.php/2010/07/how-to-write-great-copy-for-the-web-ebook-review/
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Skills to Run an Online Business
Clear focus and direction
Self-discipline & motivation
Jack-of-all
Delegate and automate
Adaptability and flexibility
Thought leadership
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The Work at Home Lifestyle
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Where does the time go?
Marketing & tech & social media, oh my!
I don’t think I’m going crazy – I know it!
Wake up, Family, Work, Family, Work, Sleep
What if I fail?
I want my own bank account dammit!
Will my parents/friends/
spouse support me?

The most important thing you need to know do!
“Ideas are a dime a dozen…”
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
“If you wait until all the lights are "green" before you leave home, you'll never get started on your trip to the top.”
“Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.”
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Why wait?
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For more info…
Complete resource pack with active links
Complete e-books pack covering topics like FB mktg, AdSense, blogging, freelancing, etc
Contact email addresses for more info
Future detailed sessions on each
One to one coaching
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Where you can find me
salma@wordpl.net
salmajafri@gmail.com
www.wordpl.net
www.wordpl.elance.com
www.twitter.com/salmajafri
www.facebook.com/WordPL
http://pk.linkedin.com/in/salmajafri
If you liked this presentation/workshop and would like to know more, please leave a comment at: www.facebook.com/WordPL and I’ll respond. Thanks!
-Salma
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How to Start an Online Business (from Pakistan)
The Essential Steps to Starting a Sustainable Legal Internet Biz
Salma Jafri
WordPL – Oct 2010

How to start an online business (from Pakistan)

by SalmaJafri on Oct 13, 2010

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How to start an online business (from Pakistan) — Presentation Transcript