Information sourcing has moved away from the bookstores and more people are using the Internet as a convenient platform to get informed.
Similarly, e-commerce sites are gradually replacing the physical stores for retail businesses. This is because research has shown that online businesses are easy to set up and market.
For people who are contemplating starting a food-related business online with little capital, here are some viable ideas to choose from.
Cookbooks and recipes
Learning to cook different meals is the desire of most women and people are making money by doling out different recipes through their websites and teaching different cooking methods.
In the same manner traditional cookbooks are sold in bookstores, a nutritionist, Mrs. Elizabeth Adesemoye, says many people are now turning to the Internet and social media platforms to find latest recipes and purchase their cookbooks.
She says while some of the information can be offered for free, other advanced recipes, cooking methods and services can be monetised.
According to her, the traffic this useful information will attract to your website will present a good advertising opportunity.
Adesemoye says, “You can sell cookbooks and other cooking-related articles directly from your site. You can also charge a membership fee for this type of business. Only members would be able to access certain parts of the website by using a user identification and password.
“You can use this platform to advertise your expertise in catering for events, special occasions and other kitchen-related businesses.”
Online health guide
Due to the devastating effects of communicable diseases that are being experienced daily, people are more conscious of their health and the importance of personal fitness.
People want to eat better, exercise more, and live a healthier lifestyle, as such; they are willing to learn more about healthy living.
Adesemoye explains that an online business that can provide people with healthy recipes, exercise techniques, and new discoveries in the health industry will drive traffic to your website.
In order to generate revenue, she says this site can recommend and provide links to health-related products that are available online and money can be earned through affiliate programme revenue from these e-commerce sites.
She adds, “This type of site can also generate revenue from selling targeted online advertising to businesses involved in health and fitness. You may choose to develop a niche for yourself in this area by giving information specific to a particular health challenge. You could develop a health site for diabetic and hypertensive patients, or a site that cater for infant and child nutrition, or a site for pregnant and nursing mothers.”
A dining guide
This is a database for locally available restaurants and eateries. It can also feature the full menus offered by restaurants and eateries enlisted on the site. The dining guide may provide an opportunity for people to make reservations or make orders to be delivered.
On the other hand, it may provide links to the website where customers can easily make reservation and order for their desired meals.
Adesemoye says eateries that have signed up on the dining guide will be asked to pay a subscription.
Speaking on other services that can be rendered, she says, “For someone who loves the art of critiquing cuisine, the local restaurants can be visited and their menu reviewed on the website.”
“Ensure that the content on the site is current, and primary revenue will be from advertising local restaurants and eateries that want to be featured within the guide. Your dining guide could be a simple searchable database of dining establishments in your local area or a comprehensive site with full menus, which will be updated on a regular basis.”
