There are many reasons to start an online business, but the most important ones are being able to stay home more and do something that you would actually enjoy for supplementary income.
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No one would disagree that we live in uncertain times. Fathers are often given the task of being the primary provider for his family. While more women are entering the workforce, most fathers feel that they have a responsibility to have or increase their financial means to support their family.
It is the very reason I advocate for fathers to consider to starting an online business.
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Most people would suggest that one of the parents take a second job as a means to support their family. It is one option, but it is not the only option. In fact, it is actually one of the worse ways to keep a family together.
One of the most common reasons for divorce is often attributed to the father working too much, which prevents him from being there for his family. So, why work more if it is going to increase the likelihood of your family breaking up?
In some cases, it is the influence of religion or relatives that keeps a family together even when a father is working a second job. While a family may stay together, it is quite hard to maintain or strengthen the bond with your family when you are not around as much to be with them.
It is the very reason I advocate for fathers to consider to starting an online business. There are many reasons, but the most important ones are being able to stay home more and do something that you would actually enjoy for supplementary income.
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The first thing that a father should consider is whether it would be more feasible for him to spend more time or money in building his online business.
If a family has a financial safety net, then the couple can explore both options to see which would be the best fit. However, if a family does not have a financial safety net, they do not have the luxury to choose between the two. For that couple, investing time into the business is the only option.
At some point, I hope you figure out what you would enjoy doing as an online business. Aubrey Marcus (Founder & CEO of Onnit) really spoke to this point in my recent interview with him.
“You have to decide your mission in your life. That’s your guide. What kind of impact do you want to have on the planet? Be very clear about it [because if your mission] is hazy, it will be very difficult.”
Does your mission entail working for a retail chain at a meager salary for the rest of your life? I hope not.
What asset are you hoping to create for yourself? For some people, it may be a book, podcast, YouTube channel, or even a blog. Which would you prefer?
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Time
If you have no financial safety net or would simply prefer investing more time than money, you still have some viable options.
There are hundreds of growing blogs who welcome bloggers to guest post for their website. If you go to your favorite search engine and use keyword phrases like “guest post” or “write for us,” I am sure that you will find dozens of guest blogging opportunities.
Each guest blog post is an opportunity to connect with another audience about your topic of interest. With every guest blog post, you will be able to leave a link to encourage people to check out your business via your website or preferred social network.
Like blogs, AM & FM radio shows are also looking for guests. You also have podcast shows, which some people proclaim that it is a better medium than AM/FM radio to get exposure.
While I may not fully agree with the claim, I do agree that both of them are excellent platforms to raise awareness about your online business. It is easier to be interviewed on podcast shows than AM or FM shows. Although, from my personal experience, AM & FM radio shows still yields more sales.
Money
If you have a financial safety net and do not have much time, you have several great options regardless of your marketing budget.
You may choose to use social media ads. It will be helpful to know where your target demographic usually hangs out online. If your target demographic is over the age of 50, then Facebook may not be the best option. If your target demographic is business professionals, you may want to consider using Twitter or LinkedIn over Facebook.
Instead, work on building an online business that will allow you to make the money you need to fulfill your family’s desires.
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There are also many websites who sell banner ads to business owners. Some websites have general themes, which allow anyone to have their ads displayed there. In addition, there are other websites that have a niche and only permit ads that are relevant to the theme of their site.
Lastly, you have resources like Marketer’s Center, who does all of the work for you. It is not always easy to figure out how to optimize your advertising campaigns. So, you may find it useful to hire a company that is made up of seasoned professionals to do it all for you.
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What Now?
The choice is yours. Talk to your significant other to decide the most feasible path for your online business. Wouldn’t you agree that nothing is more important than creating an abundant amount of time to spend with your family?
Well, you can do it by not working a second job. Instead, work on building an online business that will allow you to make the money you need to fulfill your family’s desires.
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Photo: Flickr/ Widjaya Ivan