How to Make Money Online in France
There are 68 million people living in France, 89% are internet users, and about 51 million shop and sell on e-commerce platforms. This means that you can definitely tap into the country’s online market, either with your own storefront or on platforms that let you host and sell services. Read on to learn the basics of how to make money online in France – whether as a side-hustle or a full-time job.
Research and Pick Your Niche
Just like anywhere else, France is a specific market with specific needs. Before setting up your online business, you first need to spend a lot of time researching and understanding how the French market works, how consumers behave, and what they prefer. It’s also a good idea to brush up on France’s tax regulations and e-commerce laws just to have a solid understanding of how their online marketplace works. Split your research into two categories: products and services. Look into what’s more appealing to consumers in both areas.
Try answering some of following questions:
- What product/service are people searching for online in France?
- What’s selling better?
- Who’s buying it more and at what price?
- Are they shopping more on a desktop or a mobile device?
- What payment methods are they using?
Once you figure out your target audience, their preferences and pain points, it’s time to pick a niche to focus on. Dig dip to find out what gaps there are that your business can fill. What is a service that people want but can’t find on the French market? The possibilities are endless, and it’s all about finding the right “hook.” As soon as you have that, you’ll be ready to take the next step.
Here are some of the most common ways of how to make money online in France.
Going Freelance
Freelancing is the bread and butter of the digital economy, and that includes France’s online marketplace. If you have skills like writing, editing, translation, data entry, and even music, freelancing might just be up your alley. You can set up an Upwork account, join Fiverr, Freelancer, or any other related website and offer your services to companies and businesses. Sure, it’ll take some time to build up your profile and presence. But it will be worth the effort and patience in the end.
Selling Arts and Crafts
There was a time when selling art wasn’t as easy as it is today. The online marketplace has completely shaken things up – and in a good way. Let’s say you’re a landscape photographer. You can simply sign up on a stock image website, upload your photos, and start selling. There are photographers out there who only shoot in France. If you’re physically in the country, you can zero in on that too.
There are also platforms that are dedicated specifically to selling handmade items from around the world. If you’re a France-based artisan, you can sell your craft online via platforms like Etsy. That’s also where you’ll run into other craftsmen or women, strike up a conversation, and get inspired.
Becoming Bloggers or Influencers
If you’re looking for ideas on how to earn money online in France through social media, you should definitely look into becoming a blogger or an influencer. This is still a relatively new thing in the country, which means it’s the perfect time to start. The key here is not becoming your average blogger or influencer, but finding just the right angle to get noticed. Don’t simply cover backpacking in France, for example. Be more specific, like “Backpacking through France to visit abandoned buildings.”
Also, keep in mind that the French have a different understanding of blogging compared to countries like the U.S. They prefer watching bloggers and influencers give product reviews and ratings instead of the inside scoop on their lives. When you grow as a blogger, you’ll be able to get endorsements and collaboration offers from different brands, which could be a gateway to affiliate marketing.
Setting Up Online Storefronts
A new trend in France is creating online storefronts for selling different types of products and services. The upside to this is that you’ll have more control over your business. You can either hire someone (a freelancer, maybe?) to create a website for you, or you can do it yourself using builders like WordPress and Wix.
If you’re going down this road, always keep in mind that everything requires research. For example, most of the online search traffic in France is focused on food and clothing. So, maybe putting together a small business that sells clothes could be a good place to start. The downside to online storefronts is that they come with additional costs such as development and payment method integration. If you’re just starting out, breaking the bank might not be an option. The alternative is using platforms where you can upload your products or services and monetize them.
Sharing Knowledge With Courses
Do you have knowledge to share with the world? Capitalize on it by creating online courses that you can sell. Keep an eye on what’s trending in France, for example, food. A course on cooking is the perfect fit. Clothing is also popular, and a course on fashion design will do great if pitched right. Even if you don’t have that specific skill, you can partner up with an instructor and have them teach the course instead. Other courses that are popular are online fitness coaching and yoga.
These are just some of the ways of how to earn money online in France. At this point, you’re probably wondering where to start. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
How to Make Money Online in France With BlurBay
BlurBay is the new kid on the block when it comes to online platforms. Remember that course on cooking or your landscape photos? You can easily upload them on BlurBay and monetize them. The platform helps you set up a fully customizable page that aligns with what you have in mind for your online business in France. You won’t need to chip in for any subscription fees and there are no upfront costs. You simply sign up via the user-friendly interface, upload your content, tweak some settings, and start selling. Whenever you make a sale, BlurBay will take a 5% fee. Other fees include credit card processing.
Whether you’re just starting out or a freelance veteran, BlurBay is your friend. The payments are processed in multiple currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD. This means you can easily kickstart your online business in France without having to worry about currencies. The website does charge a small fee for conversions, but it won’t make a dent in your budget. Speaking of payments, customers can pay for your courses upfront on BlurBay, without going through the hassle of creating an account first.
More Tips on How to Earn Money Online in France
Here’s the thing: simply creating an account and uploading your course on BlurBay or any other online platform won’t be enough on its own. You still have to promote it and get it noticed, especially if you’re focusing on a specific location and market like France.
Localize Your Content
The French are proud of their language. This means that any content you create needs to be available first and foremost in French. That way, it’ll resonate better with your audience. On platforms like BlurBay, you can simply include the language inside your course. If you don’t speak the language yourself, you can compensate by adding closed captions. If you’re opting for your own online storefront, then it simply has to be available above all in French. Aside from the content, you’ll also need to localize payments. Unlike other markets where a credit card slash is the preferred payment method, French consumers like to shop with their debit cards. If you’re operating your own website, make sure you have the option integrated. Platforms like BlurBay and Upwork take care of that for you, so you can focus on running your online business instead.
It’s also good practice to localize the visual content that goes with your products and courses. You can do this by adding elements of French culture or design to your visuals and making them more recognizable to a French audience.
Start Networking
People trust brands that they know. You can start building this trust by networking. And since you’re focused on the French market, you can go on online French forums and join discussions with both consumers and other business owners while subtly promoting your own. You’ll be able to see what people prefer and how competitors are catering to their preferences. You can then take that information and fine-tune it for your own business. Look at what freebies or discounts your competitors are offering, and try to offer some of your own.
Before you know it, you’ll be a part of the French e-commerce community and can learn a lot simply by chatting with people online.
Get on Social Media
If it’s online, then it has to be on social media. Harness the power of targeted advertising to send out ads to your audience. Make sure you’ve done your research first, and that you’re targeting the right people on the right platforms. Otherwise, you’ll end up draining your budget without achieving much. If you’re not an influencer yourself, another way of putting the spotlight on your online business is hiring other influences to do that heavy lifting for you. Remember, the French audience loves influencers who introduce and review new products/services.
Count Your Blessings and Feedback
Getting feedback from French consumers is a great way of knowing whether you’re on the right track with your product or service. Look at it from a positive point of view. You’re getting a direct response from consumers, and nothing is more valuable than that. Learn from that feedback and optimize things even more.
Moving Forward
Now that you know how to make money online in France, it’s time to take that knowledge and build your online business around it. Do your research, pick your niche, know your audience, and you’re good to go. If you’re looking for a way to get the ball rolling fast, then check out BlurBay where you can monetize your courses and content without having to go through the hassle of website design, SEO, and more.
