In this video and blog post, I want to talk about why it’s never been easier to build an online business. It has never been easier from a technical point of view to build an online business. There is certainly plenty of competition online, and creating a successful business still requires work and persistence. However, many of the technical and financial barriers that existed when I started have disappeared.
I have been working online for more than 20 years, so I have seen a huge amount of change during that time. When I first recognised the potential of the Internet, I could see that something exciting was happening. The problem was that I had very little idea how to turn that opportunity into a working online business.
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Building A Website Used To Be Expensive
My first website was built for an offline business back in 2004, and it cost me around £1,000. That was for what would now be considered a relatively straightforward website. At the time, however, paying a web designer was simply part of getting a business online.
A few years later, around 2006 or 2007, I had another website built for an online business. The initial cost was approximately £2,000, although we continued adding functionality as the business developed. Eventually, the total investment reached somewhere between £10,000 and £15,000.
That website was considerably more sophisticated because it was designed so that additional features could be added over time. Even so, the difference between then and now is remarkable. Today, somebody starting an online business can create a professional website without spending anything close to those amounts.
I have previously demonstrated how to create a website in around 90 seconds. Technology is moving so quickly that creating the basic website can now be even faster.
One Person, One Laptop, No Excuses
The idea for this post and video came from a blog post written by Kyle, one of the co-founders of Wealthy Affiliate. His post was entitled “One Person, One Laptop, No Excuses.” It made an interesting comparison between the obstacles people faced years ago and the tools that are available today.
Fifteen or twenty years ago, saying that you could not afford a web designer was a perfectly legitimate concern. Professional websites could cost thousands, especially if you required additional functionality. Even a fairly basic website could represent a substantial investment for somebody starting a new business.
People were also concerned about writing content, learning coding and understanding the technical side of running a website. Finding reliable online business training could be difficult as well. Unfortunately, there were also plenty of products that promised easy money but delivered very little.
I purchased some of those products myself when I was trying to work out how online business worked. Looking back, I spent far too much time searching for answers in different places. If you are currently at that stage, my article on how to start building an online business may help you avoid some of those early mistakes.
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Artificial Intelligence Has Changed The Landscape
Artificial intelligence has removed another layer of difficulty for people who want to work online. You can now ask AI for help with research, ideas, writing, planning, coding and many other tasks. That does not mean we should blindly accept everything artificial intelligence tells us, but it can be an extremely useful assistant.
I use AI every day in my own business, particularly for brainstorming, researching ideas and helping me organise content. However, I still believe human judgement is essential because artificial intelligence can make mistakes. I wrote more about this in I Use AI Every Day – But Here’s The Problem.
One of the biggest advantages is that we now have somewhere to turn when we become stuck. Years ago, I often did not know what question to ask, never mind where to find the answer. Today, AI can help identify a problem and explain possible solutions within seconds.
You No Longer Need To Understand Coding
I am not a coder, and I have never had any desire to become one. In the early days of the Internet, that lack of technical knowledge could create a genuine barrier. Making relatively simple changes sometimes required somebody who understood HTML, PHP or another programming language.
Modern website platforms have changed that completely for most ordinary website owners. WordPress themes, plugins and visual editors allow us to accomplish tasks that previously required specialist knowledge. AI can also help explain technical problems when something does need a little more attention.
If your main concern is simply getting a website online, you may also find my older article about building your own website useful. The tools continue to change, but the principle remains the same: building the website itself no longer needs to be the difficult part.
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The Cost Of Starting Has Fallen Dramatically
One of the great attractions of an online business is the relatively low start-up cost. When I compare today’s opportunities with the money I spent on websites years ago, the difference is enormous. You can begin learning and creating without committing thousands of pounds to an idea that has not yet been tested.
In fact, it is possible to start experimenting without having a large budget at all. I covered several practical options in my article on how to start making money online with a zero budget. The important thing is to use free tools sensibly rather than expecting instant results simply because the initial cost is low.
Building The Website Is Only The Beginning
Although technology has made everything easier, I do not want to give the impression that building a successful online business requires no effort. Putting up a website quickly is impressive, but the website itself does not automatically create traffic, customers or income. We still need to create useful content and give people a reason to visit.
Consistency also remains extremely important because online businesses normally take time to develop. You need to learn what your audience wants, improve your content and keep moving forward when results are slower than expected. Technology can speed up the process, but it cannot replace persistence.
Affiliate marketing is one business model where the low barriers to entry are particularly noticeable. If you are unfamiliar with how it works, I have a straightforward guide called Affiliate Marketing Explained that covers the basic process.
Why I Still Use Wealthy Affiliate
I joined the Wealthy Affiliate platform in November 2014, and I am now approaching my thirteenth year as a member. I was already making money online when I joined, but I wanted structured training that would help me keep up with a rapidly changing industry. That remains one of the main reasons I continue using the platform today.
For anyone who has never seen the platform, I have created a detailed article explaining what Wealthy Affiliate is and what you can expect inside. It provides training, website hosting, research tools and access to a community of people building online businesses.
Wealthy Affiliate is also preparing for a substantial platform revamp, with artificial intelligence becoming more integrated into the learning experience. One of the ideas behind the changes is to provide more guidance based on where somebody is within the process of building their business.
I believe that could be particularly useful for beginners because one of the hardest questions is often, “What should I do next?” However, I also expect experienced members like myself to benefit from having better guidance and more integrated tools available in one place.
I have remained a member for many years because online business never stands still. If you are interested in why I have stayed, you can read why I still pay for Wealthy Affiliate after more than a decade.
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Test Things Before Spending Money
Whenever somebody asks me about Wealthy Affiliate, I normally suggest that they start with the free option. There is no need to enter credit card details simply to have a look around. You can explore enough of the platform to decide whether you like the approach before considering a paid membership.
I think this is important because I remember wasting money on various online products when I was trying to find my way. Starting free allows you to make a more informed decision without feeling pressured. I explain the process in my guide on how to start a free Wealthy Affiliate account.
If you like what you see, you can always upgrade later and try the additional features. There is no reason to rush into an annual membership before deciding whether the platform suits you. Test it first, work through some of the training and then make your own decision.
Online Business Has Changed Beyond Recognition
When I think back to 2004, it is remarkable how much has changed. I paid around £1,000 for a basic business website because that was simply what getting online involved at the time. A few years later, I was investing thousands more into developing an online business website with additional functionality.
Today, one person with a laptop can build a website, create graphics, produce videos, research keywords and publish content without employing an entire team. Artificial intelligence has added another powerful set of tools that would have seemed almost impossible when I first started.
However, having access to better tools does not guarantee success. We still need to choose a direction, learn the necessary skills and consistently create something useful. The difference is that many of the technical excuses that genuinely existed twenty years ago are no longer standing in our way.
Is Now The Right Time To Start?
If you have been considering building an online business, there has probably never been a technically easier or more affordable time to begin. You do not need to know everything before you start, and you certainly do not need to spend thousands having a website built.
Start by learning the basics, choose a genuine business model and concentrate on taking consistent action. My guide to the easiest way to start an online business provides another useful starting point if you would like to explore the process further.
The technology will continue changing, and artificial intelligence will undoubtedly become even more capable. What matters most is using those tools to help build something useful rather than continually waiting for the perfect moment to begin.
If you have any questions about starting an online business or about my experience with Wealthy Affiliate, please leave a comment below. I am always interested to hear where other people are on their online business journey and what challenges they are currently facing.