One of the best feelings in the world is knowing that you have something to share, and then finding a way to share it. When you’re truly helping people, the satisfaction you get from your work is immense. But combine those good feelings with the good result of generating some income, and you’re really onto something.
There have always been ways to teach and help others in person, but now we have the internet — and that means there are even more opportunities for you to put your knowledge to good work by helping people… and making a profit while doing so. These are some ways to go about it:
Start a Blog
It should be no surprise that my #1 favorite way to help people with your knowledge is to start a blog. When you have your own blog, you’ve created your own platform for sharing anything and everything you know, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible so you can help them. I love blogging — it’s completely changed my life — and I know that it could change yours, too.
Think about it: running a blog gives you the chance to choose a topic or two, and go as deep and broad into those topics as you’d like. The more you write your blog, interact with your readers, and continue to expand your own knowledge, the more you’ll be able to share and the more you’ll be able to really help people with what you’re sharing.
But on the flip side, it’s not just about giving. You can receive (income) when you’re a blogger, too. There are perfectly legitimate, acceptable ways to make a profit from your blog. Any time you’ve seen an ad, bought an ebook, or downloaded a fantastic info product from a blogger or online business, you’ve participated in the system, and it probably didn’t feel sleazy at all, did it?
If the tech involved in running a blog is too intimidating, don’t worry — there are tons of resources out there that can teach you. And once you get the hang of things, you’ll be amazed by how much you truly know. It’s empowering and so rewarding — for you and for your audience.
Sell Digital Products
Selling digital products might seem intimidating at first. You need a shop and a blog and a marketing strategy and a million different social media profiles and on and on and on….
Or not. There are countless successful people online who have been able to put together one particular thing — a nutrition or workout program, a recorded workshop, a collection of reports, and more — and sold it for real profits with a website that has just one page on it. If your knowledge is something that people want, you can absolutely sell it without building some sort of digital empire. You’ll need to learn how to advertise so that people actually see your offer, but that can be learned without putting you on overload.
That said, digital empires can be a lot of fun! You get to be the face of a company, you can express yourself on your blog or your email list, and you can offer a huge variety of products that meet very real needs.
When you’re selling digital products, you don’t ever have to ply people for money… you just provide the types of things that people value, explain why they’re valuable, and let the reader make their own decision. Downloadable workbooks, affiliate products, even affiliate links to great stuff on Amazon can be income generators. By taking any of those approaches, you’re able to share your knowledge, help other people, and make some money for yourself.
Write a Book
If what you’ve learned is the kind of thing that lots of other people need and want to learn, one of the best things you can do is package all your knowledge up in a book and self-publish it on Amazon. Plus, as Amanda Abella likes to say, “a book is way better than a business card.” It’s a major feather in your cap to validate your credibility as an expert, which can pave the way for success in other arenas.
Tons of self-published authors are able to supplement their income off their ebooks, though it takes a lot of effort to really break through and make a huge amount of money off a book. The key is to have a topic that people will pay to learn about and a fantastic book description with solid copy that really pulls people in.
Teach
For anyone who does anything online, online courses are all the rage — and with good reason! You can find a course for pretty much anything you’d ever want to learn, and many of them are both helpful and affordable. Plus, you can learn at your own rate, which isn’t something you can do in a classroom setting. If you’re interested in teaching your knowledge, online courses could be a great avenue for you.
But don’t let the hype about online courses crowd out another major opportunity: in-person teaching! Whether you’re holding workshops in your local community, teaching seminars to special interest groups, presenting at conferences, or even getting into public speaking, connecting with people live and in person is an incredibly satisfying way to share your knowledge, make a difference in their lives, and — you guessed it — get paid to do so.
Which one is right for you?
There’s no limit to the ways you can be paid help people with your own expertise. Really all it takes is some creativity, some solid dedication, and the commitment to find the right structure for you. Whether it’s a major blog that takes off immediately, an email list selling affiliate products that are truly helpful for your readers, or becoming a speaking rock star, the world truly is your oyster.
Whatever you do, make sure you get out and share! The world needs your knowledge! So tell me: which of these opportunities is the most interesting to you?