Thinking of starting an online business?

Consider Selling Your Expert Advice.

According to Bruce Judson, bestselling author of “Go It Alone”, “the majority of go-it-alone businesses …started… [when] the founder solved a problem in his or her own life. You need very little start up capital to begin selling expert advice—just your ability to solve specific problems.

So, how do you pick what type of knowledge to specialize in? Start by making a list of challenges you’ve overcome in life. Have you successfully handled the “boss from hell” or annoying co-workers? Have you repaired computer viruses, re-landscaped your yard, learned to relax and protect yourself from an early heart attack? Do you tutor your grand-children? People need advice on just about everything under the sun. We’ve provided a breakdown of basic areas—remember, an expert is just a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.

• Life/work planning: Work place problems, living on unemployment as a stop gap, job hunting

• Relationship Advice: Shyness, meeting people, friendships, dating, marriage, abuse, parenting, divorce

• Possessions: Financial advice, debt, bankruptcy, computer help, computer viruses, tech support, home or car repair, product comparison, real estate

• Problems generally related to the mind: communication skills, adult or child tutoring, literacy, specialized educational needs, personal insight, dealing with one’s thoughts and feelings, anger or violent behavior

• Problems generally related to the “will”: Perfectionism, ethics, competing needs, self-discipline, personal powerlessness, philosophy

• Problems related to emotions: Beauty advice, self-acceptance and acceptance of others, loneliness, boredom, fear, depression, death and grief

• Problems related to the body: Physical handicaps, fitness, pregnancy and childbirth, sleep disorders, drug and alcohol addiction, self healing, psychic healing, smoking, pain, disease, terminal illness, allergies, hypertension, stress relief, eating habits

• Problems related to “Spirit”: Stewardship, worship, religion, psychic phenomena, life after death

This list is by no means complete—let your imagination run free and complete this sentence: I am an expert in___________________. Then you can begin to sell advice, as lawyers have always done, by the minute. If you don’t have an office for face to face consulting, consider starting a pay per call online business. The problems you have overcome are your true areas of your expertise. Share this with others and you have provided a valuable service.

Interested in starting your own online business? Visit the PremiumTalk FAQ to learn more.