I am like you, I want to start an online business

by Haris NM
(India , Kerala (state))

Dear teacher, I am also like you (I want to start an online business). First I want to improve my English then I want to start an online business. This is my wish but I have some limitations now. Please help me (to start a online business)
-Haris NM

Dear Haris,

Thank you for taking the time to write me. I think that you have two very interesting goals (to improve your English and start your own business). Here on my website you can work on improving your English by reading my many articles and other resources.

The best resource that I offer though is my newsletter. Be sure to sign up for it today. I send a monthly newsletter full of tips, suggestions, explanations and activities to help you improve your English.

As for starting your own online business I have done it all myself with the help of SBI (Site Build it). SBI is a great way to create an online business on something you love (in my case teaching English). It is affordable, reliable and very simple to work with.

I'm not saying that it isn't hard work though. Building any business is a lot of work, but with SBI it doesn't feel like work. :)

Check out SBI today!

All the best,
Diana

Advice on building an ESL website

by Craig
(Vancouver)

Hi Diana,

I stumbled upon your website while doing some research about some business ideas I have. I'm a fellow Canadian who spent 5 years in Asia teaching, and studying Korean.

I moved to Vancouver last year and just finished a business plan for a membership club for ESL students that helps students studying here in Vancouver connect better with Canadian culture and integrate into Canadian social groups.

Having done all the research and written the plan, I'm wary about how profitable it will be. I've been doing a lot of research on other business ideas and models and am now considering taking this concept and content online.

I'd offer free information about how to connect with existing social groups and articles on Canada and Canadian culture as content. Much like what you are doing I'd utilize affiliate marketing, advertising and my personal e-books to generate revenue. I read about how it took you 2 years to get 900 visitors a day, and 3000 subscriptions on your newsletter. Great job!!

I wonder if the market of students studying here in Canada is large enough for me to get that number. I think it is, but there definitely is a ceiling.

I'm curious as to how profitable your current success of 900 visitors and 3000 subscriptions makes you. I don't expect you to divulge your income, I'm just trying to manage my expectations.

Is it enough to live off of full time? Also, where do you generate most the revenue- ebooks, advertising or affiliate marketing? Would you recommend ESL students as a good market to focus on when writing a blog? I also worry that they would only take the information for free and not be interested in anything else.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated! I know you must be busy with your site, so I hope you have time to get back to me.

Thanks so much!!

Craig

Thanks for getting in touch with me. You are the second person to ask me about building an ESL website so I thought I would make my response public.

If you would like further details be sure to ask, and we can email one another (I copied down your email but deleted it from your post so you don't get spam).

Let me answer your questions:

I'm wary about how profitable it will be. Good! I must admit that ESL or English learning is a tough niche to dominate in...but you can learn from my main mistake. I tried to tackle "learn English" which is a HUGE keyword with LOTS of competition. From the sounds of it, you would be much more focused and your niche would be much smaller and specific.

If you decided to use SBI "brainstorm it" would help you discover if your chosen niche is going to be profitable. What happens if your niche is too broad? You can use your brainstorm it results to narrow or focus your subject to make it the most profitable.

Check out Brainstorm It here!

I'd offer free information about how to connect with existing social groups and articles on Canada and Canadian culture as content. This sounds great. You already get the idea that you need quality content to attract your visitors.

I'm curious as to how profitable your current success of 900 visitors and 3000 subscriptions makes you. I am not currently living off of my website alone (so I still have my day job) but it does pay for SBI 100% and generates enough money from Google ads to pay for my phone bill and gym membership.

How much money you make will really depend on how you plan your site and how much you prepare and research. I think that was one of my other mistakes...not creating a blueprint of my entire site before I started. There is just so much I would like to do that I get a bit overwhelmed.

One point to remember is that this is an investment in your future. It might take 2 or more years to start making money but once you do...it is automatic. :)

Also, where do you generate most the revenue- ebooks, advertising or affiliate marketing? I can't really answer this properly because I haven't invested the time in all the other areas.

By far, google ads is my most reliable income generator, but I think selling your own ebooks or goods is by far the more lucrative...if you write shorter books and do so frequently.

Affiliate marketing has potencial as well. Again, my results are not so great because I haven't dedicated time to promotion, but I believe that a couple good affiliate programs is a great way to provide more content and generate income.

Would you recommend esl students as a good market to focus on when writing a blog? My first instink is to say no, but that is because I made my website niche too broad. "learn English" is hard to win, but imagine if you did something like learn English in Canada or something more specific. I think with some research using SBI's tools you will find success.

I also worry that they would only take the information for free and not be interested in anything else. This is a valid fear. I feel it as well. Most people want everything for free, because there is a great deal of ESL material online for free.

What you have to do is provide amazing content that will show people that your products or courses are worth buying.

I hope that helps Craig, and like I said I can answer any other questions you have via email. :)

Cheers,
Diana

How to Create a Website

by Sepehr
(Iran)

Hello dear,
Thanks for your nice and helpful website which I myself as a teacher learned lots of things in it.

I am an English teacher with 9 years of experience in Iran, I want to start my own website for online teaching and because I found your site very successful I decided to ask you some questions. I wonder if I can ask you some questions regarding the website and some policies which can lead me on my way.
I would be really thankful if you help me.
Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Sepehr Falahati

Hi Sepehr,

Thank you for your kind words about my website. I am glad that you find it useful. As for asking me questions about how to build a site of your own I would happy to answer your questions. Just send me your questions (via a comment below) and I'll send you as much information as I can.

Someone also asked me the same question and you can read my answer here.

Looking forward to your specific questions.

All the best,
Diana