30 Online Business Opportunities in the Philippines for 2018

Having an online business has many advantages, especially if you like to work in a paperless, more flexible, mobile and efficient environment. With the power of the Internet, computers, mobile devices, software, applications and other tools, an online business can be possible for every Filipino who aspires to be an online entrepreneur.

Most online businesses require skill power rather than financial capital. Thus, whether you’re still a young college student or a mom who wants to work at home, you can try starting an online business with a small capital. At first, you may do it as a freelancing gig, and then you may continue it as a serious business with your company’s employees and of course with all the business permits from the government.

If you believe that online entrepreneurship is your destiny, here are some online business opportunities you may consider in the Philippines for 2018.

1. Article writing
Got passion and skill in writing? Do you have an impeccable knowledge in English and grammar? Can you do research online and write high quality articles about any topic? If your answer to those three questions is yes, then article writing can be your ideal online business. Website and blog owners need engaging articles on their websites to attract more audience and traffic. They are looking for article writers like you.

2. Expert writing
Business owners, website owners, bloggers and online publishers do not only look for mere writers, but they are looking for industry experts who can write about their experience and profession. For example, BusinessTips.PH, our blog, is looking for Certified Public Accountants who can write and contribute articles about accounting and taxation for our site. If you’re an industry expert, there are companies that are relevant to your expertise that will be looking for you to write an expert article for their business or website.

3. eBook writing
EBook publishing is an effective way to promote any business. However, not all business owners can write. Thus, they will look for writers who can help them complete their eBook for their marketing objectives.

4. Editing and proofreading
Are you an English and grammar expert? No matter how good a writer is, he or she will always need another set of eyes to pinpoint his or her mistakes. Business owners know this, and that’s why they hire editors or proofreaders.

5. Virtual assistance
Virtual assistance services can be provided to clients from home as long as you have a reliable computer, fast Internet connection, a quite room, and a good set of accessories and applications that will help you accomplish your job smoothly. A variety of virtual assistance can be provided to a client. You can be a virtual accounting assistant, virtual marketing assistant or even a virtual secretary.

6. Blogging
Blogging is still here and can still be a profitable online business if you have the passion and skills to constantly publish high quality articles and other types of blog posts. To succeed in blogging, you also have to learn how to do search engine optimization, content marketing and social media marketing to attract more traffic, engagements and profit. Most bloggers earn from CPC advertising, blog post sponsorship, and banner advertising.

Read to learn more: How to Earn Dollars in the Philippines from Blogging by following these 10 Steps

7. YouTube marketing
YouTube has over a billion users. Even our little kids spend most of their time watching children shows on the giant video site. To earn from YouTube, you have to create a channel and publish interesting videos that will attract more views and subscribers. It works just like a traditional TV channel. The only difference is that you don’t have to have millions of Pesos to create your own YouTube Channel and start inviting a million audience. Of course your success will depend on your creativity and luck to be a YouTube star.

Read to learn more: Earn money with YouTube

8. Facebook page advertising
If you don’t feel like being a YouTube Star because video production is not your forte, then consider creating a Facebook Page instead. If your goal in YouTube is to increase video views, on Facebook your goal is to increase Facebook Page likes, fans and engagements. Creating a Facebook Page is free and easy, but earning thousands of loyal fans can be a challenge. But once you earn a hundred thousand followers, you can already make money from it. You can offer advertising services to various clients to provide them extra brand exposure, website traffic and sales leads.

9. Instagram marketing
There is indeed gold in fame. Whether you’re a YouTube sensation, a Facebook star or an Instagram celebrity, you can make money out of your fame. Companies are looking for famous personalities on Instagram whose followers are their target market. So if you think that your selfies can make you a rock star on Instagram, think of becoming an ambassador of brands that are relevant to your followers.

10. Website design and development
Having a website is already becoming a basic necessity for any business. Hence, if you’re a skilled web designer, developer or programmer, you can start a website design and development business, catering to businesses local or abroad. However, remember that a good website is not only something which looks great – it must also have a business and marketing sense. It must be mobile responsive, secure and is built to help the business achieve its objectives.

11. Website flipping
Website flipping means creating and developing a website, and then selling it for profit. This website can be a new website or an established one. Of course, if your website is more established, receiving more traffic and earning more profit, its market value and selling price is higher. You may check Flippa.com to have an overview of what’s happening in the online marketplace for selling and buying websites.

12. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing can be effectively done if you own a niche blog. A niche blog is something which regularly publishes articles about a specific industry. An example of a niche blog is about running. If you have a blog about running which attracts a decent number of visitors who are interested in the sports of running, you may promote related products such as running shoes, sports drinks and running accessories. As an affiliate marketer, you’re not necessarily the seller, but you only provide leads to the original seller who pays you a commission per lead or action.

13. Search engine optimization
Search engine optimization or SEO can be a profitable online business in the Philippines. There’s a large demand for SEO professionals and agencies around the world. Businesses want to increase their search engine visibility or make their brands appear naturally on top of Google search results pages. If you’ve got the SEO strategic and technical skills, such as on-page optimization, content writing and link building, then SEO is one big online business opportunity for you and your team.

14. PPC marketing or paid search engine marketing
Search engine marketing can be organic (SEO) or paid PPC (Pay-per-click). SEO results take time, while PPC is real time. For business owners who want to increase their search engine visibility in no time, they go for PPC marketing specialists. The job of a PPC search engine marketer is to increase a website’s relevant traffic and generate more review from paid ads placed on search engines and their network of websites.

15. Social media management and marketing
Social media marketing is an effective way to promote a brand to its target customers. It’s also a great way to connect with customers and earn loyalty from them. However, social media marketing can be time-consuming. Thus, many business owners choose to delegate this task to a social media manager or marketer. They rather find a social media expert than do it themselves.

16. Content marketing
Another in demand online business marketing nowadays is content marketing. Useful online contents such as informative articles, rich infographics and interesting videos help businesses attract more loyal customers. If you believe that you can generate valuable content and utilize them to promote a business, then content marketing can be an ideal Internet business for you.

17. Online reputation management
Every brand needs to protect its reputation against negative online publicities, from a simple negative Facebook post to a longer blog post. As an online reputation manager, your job will be to ensure that negative mentions about a client will be cleared and that more positive testimonials and reviews will be produced. This kind of service is usually integrated with positive SEO, content marketing, and social media management.

18. Data analytics
Business intelligence is vital to making better business and marketing decisions. That is why business owners need someone who can gather data about their business, analyze them, and create useful reports, which can guide them to make the right business judgments. If statistics and analytics are your forte, then this online business might be the perfect opportunity for you.

19. Full digital marketing
If you can combine search engine marketing, social media marketing, content marketing and other strategies into a full package, why not offer an integrated digital marketing service to businesses? But doing so will require you to form a complete team of online marketing specialists to make a collaborative campaign for your clients.

20. Online business consulting
The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. We have rich natural and human resources which are ideal for agriculture, tourism, and other related industries. It is no wonder why our country is becoming more and more attractive to foreign investors. If you’re knowledgeable with doing business in the Philippines, you can grab this opportunity by providing online business consulting to foreign investors who are planning to put up a business in the Philippines.

21. Online tutorial
If teaching is your passion, consider online teaching or tutorial. Filipino teachers are one of the most favorite tutors in the world because they can speak English and are passionate about their profession. Since you’ll be teaching online, you have to have a reliable computer, good Internet connection and other tools, such as Skype and task management software.

Also read: How to start an online tutorial business in the Philippines

22. Selling on Lazada, Zalora or OLX
Personally, I love shopping online, especially on Lazada. It’s fast, convenient and most of the stuff you need are available on those online marketplaces. So if you sell your own products, why not start selling them online? On Lazada, to start selling, you have to have a registered business in the Philippines because they require business licenses like Mayor’s business permit. To succeed in this business, you have to be true to your customers, deliver them what you have promised, and always make sure that they will leave you an excellent testimonial or review.

23. Selling in your own online shop
Do you like to sell your products in your own online store? Why not build your own little Lazada or OLX? Building your own eCommerce website can be costly, but if you do it right, you could take home all the profit without paying any commission or fee from a third-party e-commerce site. Nowadays, you can already build an e-commerce website with WordPress. WordPress is free, but you have to pay for a domain name, web hosting, SSL certificate, an e-commerce WordPress theme and hire someone to customize it for you if you’re not a WordPress developer. You may contact us at Optixor to develop an e-commerce WordPress website for your business.

24. Data entry
Encoding is a tedious task. That is why many business owners and executives around the world prefer to delegate such task to other people. Since Filipinos are fast encoders and also familiar with the English language, foreign clients prefer to outsource this work to us. This industry may be old but still alive and kicking.

25. Graphic design
Are you skilled with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, In Design and other graphic design software? As a business owner myself, I always look for a graphic artist or designer to create company brochures and flyers for my clients. Graphics are important marketing materials because they are effective and efficient in conveying rich messages to target audience. So if you’re a graphic master, you can’t be wrong with an online graphic design business.

26. Photography
Do you have a DSLR camera? Do you know how to enhance photos using Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom? Can you produce high quality pictures that can be available as stock images for sale? If yes, then why not start selling your images on iStockPhoto, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, 123RF or Getty Images? You can turn your photography hobby into a profitable business depending on your talents and skills. If you want to rake all the revenues, you can also build your own image stock website.

Also read: How to start a photography business in the Philippines

27. Video and animation production
Just like photos, moving images or videos also help business owners promote their businesses online. Thru social video sites like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, business owners can spread their messages to the world. But to make it possible, they need a video producer or an animation expert.

28. App development
Apps are not the future anymore – they are already the present. They run our daily lives thru our computers, mobile phones and even our home appliances. If you have learned how to program an app during your college days or just learned it by yourself, then consider engaging into technopreneurship by starting an online app business.

29. Translation services
The tourism industry in the Philippines is booming. Foreign investments are also pouring in the country. With foreign companies and individuals coming in the country for business or pleasure, expect that the demand for a professional translator or interpreter will increase. This kind of business can be done online at home and part-time. However, if you want to succeed, better be serious, dedicated, and do it full-time.

30. Real estate selling
To sell real estate in the Philippines, you have to be a PRC licensed real estate broker or real estate salesperson. Once you got the license to sell, you can do it online. You can use Lamudi.com.ph, Myproperty.ph and other real estate marketplaces online. Using Facebook boosted with Facebook ads can also help you reach more target buyers. If you want to have your own site to sell real properties online, you may also create a real estate listing website. If you need a real estate website developer, feel free to contact me.

Aside from the list above, I know there are still many other online business ideas and opportunities for Filipinos in 2018 and beyond. To succeed in any online business, the key is to know who you really are, what you can do best, and what talents and skills you can master to give the best products or services to your target customers. In other words, start a business, not because it’s hot or in demand right now, but because you’re firing up with passion, knowledge, skills and talents to start it now and do it for a long time.