Public internet arrived in the early 1990s and changed the world completely. Next came internet blogging, which enabled businesses to reach millions of customers. Although still effective, there are several other ways to put your business on the map online apart from blogging.    

Besides blogging, you can also market your business through social media, mailing lists, podcasting, guest posting, and public speaking. While all these methods can help you make a living online, you’ll need to be consistent and try to connect with your audience. 

If you want to know more about making money online in other ways apart from blogging, then you couldn’t be in a better place. Read on as we take a look at 7 golden ways to make your business stand out on the internet. OR you can check out our list of unique side hustles if you want to get even more creative.

1. Social Media

Social media landed with MySpace in 2003. Since then, companies like Facebook and Twitter have risen to dominate the entire landscape.

On Facebook, you can create a landing page for your product or choose from 8 other user/ad connection types. Instagram (now owned by the same company that owns Facebook) has an Ads Manager launch pad to get your message to multiple platforms.

And then we have Twitter. I have had more luck using Twitter’s hashtag system than with any fancy ad accounts you’ll find elsewhere. If you can create an eye-catching pictorial ad or even a video, it’s easy to hashtag it to multiple demographics. We’re talking about a few keystrokes to get your business advertised far and wide.

If you’d rather not spend time writing 1000-word articles for your product (ahem), social media is a great alternative. You’ll reach big audiences, plus target your demographic, so you won’t be trying to sell your literary novel to Kim Kardashian or an SUV to Greta Thunberg.

2. Creating Videos

I mentioned videos in the above section a couple of times. But assuming your business already has a web page, try posting an informative, energetic video about your product.

You’ll need to make the video first, but don’t be camera-shy. There are places online that provide tips on how to make an engaging video. Or if you’d rather not break into the acting racket, hire a performer with experience.

You’ll also need a good scene-writer. What you see on a page doesn’t always translate well to a screen. If you don’t believe me, try reading novelist Paul Bowles’ The Sheltering Sky, then watch the 1990 film. A good scene-writer creates snappy, attention-grabbing material that clients will remember for a long time.

Once your video is complete, don’t forget to upload it to YouTube with appropriate hashtags. Next to Google Search, YouTube is the second most visited website online. Calling it big would be the understatement of the century.

A great video connects with audiences the way no article can. Don’t neglect this tried and true advertising strategy.

3. Establish a Mailing List

When it comes to getting the word out, email marketing is tough to beat. The method can be up to 40 times more effective than social media.

The idea goes like this: Create an advertisement, write a short monthly newsletter, and email them to potential customers. Keep this going in a kind of system, updating your content regularly.

Platforms like Mailchimp and ConvertKit can help you get started. They are almost necessary, as many email marketing laws exist. Be careful not to spam your customers with too many new emails or weaken their interest with content not fully focused on your products.

4. Try Podcasting

Podcast stands for Personal on Demand Broadcast. They are downloadable audio files. As with videos, you can create a snappy podcast for your business.

Once your podcast is recorded, several platforms are available to release it. Straight away, I point to Spotify, which boasts over 180 million premium subscribers. You can also upload the file to your business web page or link it over social media.

About 37% of Americans listen to podcasts every month. That’s a whopping statistic every business owner should see. Podcasting has great potential to lure new customers while keeping the old ones hooked.

5. Public Speaking

A talented public speaker can reel in fish beyond the wildest dreams of any article. Barely any research is required to support this information. Popular history is illustration enough.

Barack Obama did not win the 2008 presidential election by writing articles. He is one heck of a public speaker, as his ‘08 Democratic nomination to a packed Mile High Stadium in Denver proves.

Men and women throughout time have done well in public speaking. We may point to the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. And who can forget nutritionist Susan Powter’s “Stop the insanity!” rants of the 1990s?

If you’re okay with addressing an audience about your product, think about the benefits of public speaking, such as:

• Direct conference with clientele (before and after the speech)
• Impacting clientele with gestures and words
• Auditory engagement and entertainment

Making a physical connection with your audience is a great way to create a lasting impact and perhaps make some conversions.

6. Write Guest Spots for Established Blogs

If your blog isn’t performing or has shown signs of fatigue lately, try getting a guest spot on someone else’s hit show. A guest article could be just the thing your business needs to gain broader appeal. Blogging is still profitable. You just need to ensure that your blog is being read!

Keep it short and fun to read. Also, ensure the material isn’t too different from your host’s. The heavy traffic a successful blog receives is sure to see your content. A portion of that traffic will remember what it sees and become curious for more info.

Or flip-flop the strategy by inviting a successful writer into the columns of your web space. He or she may wind up as the gust of fresh air a badly stagnated room needs.

7. Put Together a Team

“I’m putting together a team.”

Just saying that grabs attention. If your business has hit the wall, it could be time to bring in some help. There are pros in the industry who know a thing or two about attracting clientele. You can recruit them online through sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Hubstaff.

Sometimes all it takes for a fledgling business to succeed are some fresh minds with new ideas. Yes, it will take some spending power on your part, but as the old trope goes: You must spend money to make money.

Final Thoughts

Blogging is by no means a dead horse. As of 2022, 77% of internet surfers still read them. But if you’re looking for an alternative that strikes fast and hard with potential buyers, consider the above list. All have proven effective at one time or another. They are readily available to do the same for you. If you want to keep blogging, however, this article on ways to increase blog traffic fast might be even more interesting to you!