Back to Resources

If you have been considering starting an online business, you couldn’t have chosen a better time. According to a study by Statista, the ecommerce platform is expected to grow to $6.5 trillion in 2022.

Every day there are exciting new advancements available to online shoppers. Augmented reality, voice shopping, and a variety of social media platform-based commerce strategies make it easier than ever to reach niche marketplaces.

Maybe you’re one of the many that think that a huge ecommerce trend like selling on Amazon might be a good business idea. You wouldn’t be the only one! Apple News recently reported that in 2021, Amazon was adding an average of 3,700 new sellers every single day.

If in fact you can picture yourself selling on Amazon, this might be the perfect time to reach out to CANOPY Management to help you with your ecommerce journey.

CANOPY Management’s team leverages experience from across all corners of the Amazon industry to help you build your business and gain market share. This allows you to keep your hands on the wheel of your Amazon business while at the same time benefit from the wealth of experience and expertise of the CANOPY Management team.

If you’re looking for something else, this post details six more online-focused ecommerce industry ideas that can offer an additional source of income. With a little luck and hard work, one of these seven opportunities might just help put a shiny new car in your garage.

To begin with, we have a three letter acronym that’s been on the tips of many over the last few years: SEO.

1. Start an SEO Consulting Business

SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” It involves using web page optimization strategies such as keyword research, and link building to build marketplace authority and generate organic traffic through search engines like Google.

SEO consultants help businesses improve their online visibility. If you possess a solid knowledge of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), maybe 2022 is the ideal time to assemble a consulting business to cater to companies with websites.

As online business skyrockets, (along with the reluctance of some Covid weary shoppers to visit brick and mortar stores), the importance of SEO has increased right along with it. For all those businesses, the problem is that most of them have no idea how to tweak their content in order to make sure that they are found by prospective customers.

Companies are spending large amounts of money on ad spend in a race to get to the top of the page, take those SEO skills and see if you can benefit right along with them.

2. Merch by Amazon

If you have an untapped (at least by Amazon) creative background, Merch by Amazon is an easy online selling idea to consider. Simply upload your artwork, choose a product type and color, and add a product description. Then, Amazon will create a product page and when customers buy your product, Amazon handles production, shipping, and customer service – all with no upfront costs.

• Amazon pays you a royalty on every product sold
• Don’t worry about unsold stock. Amazon will print your product after each sale using world-class print technology
• All of Amazon’s products are eligible for Prime Shipping so your customers can receive orders quickly
• Use Amazon’s analysis tools for insights on your best-selling designs

3. Sell Handmade Goods

For the last few years, experienced Amazon sellers have been using craft sites such as Etsy to see into the future of ecommerce. Many times, Etsy’s trending products would soon become the next hot Amazon product.

Whether you paint, run a jewelry business, or craft handmade furniture, selling handmade products online has become a closely watched marketplace. Now, Amazon has taken advantage of the craft industry’s growth.

Amazon Handmade says that “Artisans from over 80 countries are following their passion and selling their craft on Amazon. Together, we are growing craft communities and successful businesses.”

Amazon Handmade is Artisan only. Amazon is building a shop of genuinely handcrafted goods

After joining Amazon Handmade, creating your shop and listing products is free. When you make a sale, Handmade will deduct a 15% referral fee.

4. Become an Affiliate Marketer or Niche Influencer

Affiliate Marketer

Ever wonder about all those Instagram personalities constantly promoting products in their Stories and Reels? In many cases they’re well paid, affiliate marketers.

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services online. Affiliate marketers share them in their blogs, posts, and social media feeds. They earn commissions when someone converts through a unique referral link or code.

Of course, Amazon has their own affiliate marketing program. The Amazon Associates Program helps content creators, publishers and bloggers monetize their traffic. Amazon says, “with millions of products and programs available on Amazon, associates use easy link-building tools to direct their audience to their recommendations, and earn from qualifying purchases and programs.”

Have an online presence? Maybe it’s time to use it to your advantage.

Niche Influencer

Almost everything that I’ve written above about affiliate marketing is also true of “Influencers.”

The months we’ve all spent cooped up inside as we navigate our recent global challenges has significantly increased our screen time. One thing that has become clear is how Influencers have rapidly become an important connection between ecommerce business and sellers and buyers.

Influencer marketing is growing exponentially, with projected revenues of $13.8 billion in 2021, and 67% of brands using Instagram for this type of marketing.

Are you comfortable in front of a camera? Might be an ideal time to try a little Livestream Selling. Already huge in China, Top online shopping shopping influencers star on their own shows that sometimes last three to four hours. Instead of the pre-negotiated fee that traditional influencers are offered, in addition to an “appearance fee, Chinese live shopping influencers frequently receive a percentage of the sales that are made during the livestream itself.

And now, Livestream selling is growing throughout the rest of the world.

Influencers help brands promote their online store and earn their money through social commerce and brand sponsorships. In most cases influencers use their already-large social media following to create ecommerce and brand momentum for clients.

This is one more way to monetize those “friends” of yours.

5. Publish Your Own Book

Do you like the idea of seeing your name in print? If so, 2022 is a very good (and easy) time to write that book you’ve always wanted to. What’s great is that it doesn’t need to be the great American novel. Want to put together a short book of poetry, teach someone to sell on Amazon, or explain the best way to start a fire? There’s a market for those topics as well.

And, of course, Amazon has thrown their hat in the ring.

Amazon’s KDP allows you to self-publish eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcover books for free. It also gives you the option to expand your book’s availability on a global scale. That makes it more accessible for readers around the world. With Amazon KDP, you have full publishing rights to your book, which is not something a traditional publishing house typically allows.

6. Fulfillment by Amazon

There are many different ways to sell on Amazon, but the one that everyone thinks about is Fulfillment by Amazon or FBA.

Amazon has one of the most advanced fulfillment networks in the world. With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you store your products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers, and Amazon picks, packs, ships, and provides customer service for your products.

When you list products through FBA, qualified listings are displayed with the Prime logo and are eligible for free shipping. (Loved by Amazon customers)

FBA leverages the Amazon customer service network stretching around the globe, managing customer inquiries, refunds, and returns for your FBA orders.

Amazon has done a lot of the legwork for you, and between Prime shipping and Amazon’s brand recognition, you’ll be standing on the shoulders of ecommerce giants.

7. Consider Selling with Amazon “Business”

Alibaba who?

OK, maybe it’s not going to replace Alibaba as your B2B go-to, but Amazon has recently begun accelerating the promotion of its own B2B platform as it positions itself as a one-stop destination.

Amazon Business can help online sellers take advantage of Amazon’s ecommerce network (and Amazon Prime benefits), but on a completely different platform, business to business.

Amazon B2B ecommerce offers:

• The ability to sell products available only to business customers
• Changes to search that make it easier for buyers to find your products
• Pricing and payment features that simplify the process for buyers purchasing your products in larger quantities

Not to be outdone, ecommerce platform Shopify recently launched Shopify Plus as well as new features that will allow B2B wholesalers to set up and manage their operations in one place.

Your Ecommerce Goal is Different Than Amazon’s

Amazon is happy if everyone is a little bit successful. After all, they are going to get paid one way or the other. However, you are uniquely focused on the success of your own product. You are in COMPETITION with the rest of the sellers in your niche. 

That’s where CANOPY Management comes in. 

CANOPY Management leverages their experience from across all corners of the Amazon industry to help you scale your business, and gain market share. This partnership allows you exacting control of your Amazon business. At the same time you will benefit from the wealth of experience and expertise of the CANOPY Management team. 

CANOPY Management refers to itself as a “full service” Amazon Marketing Agency. When you take a look at the list of the ways in which CANOPY Management is able to help you grow your Amazon business, you’ll know why.  

• Strategic Growth Planning
• Listing Copywriting Optimization
• Listing Photography
• Product Videography
• Amazon Advertising Management
• Customer Service
• Demand Side Platform (Amazon DSP)
• Amazon Posts
• Full Service Amazon Management
• Amazon Review Aggregation

Are you looking to expand your income stream, or transition away from your primary career? It’s a new year and with the growth of ecommerce, this rising online-selling tide is going to lift a lot of boats. Now is a great time to reap some benefits yourself!