By Jynell Berkshire

What would you do if you could operate your business from anywhere in the world and still make a profit? And what if you could earn that money and not have to be in a traditional office? With just an Internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world, and at any time you want.

Take me for example. I recently returned from a long, overdue, relaxing vacation on a warm tropical beach. Because I had my iPad with me, I could have replied to online messages or done some out-of-office work since I had wireless Internet connection while I was by the ocean side. Luckily for me, I had a work-free vacation.  If I needed to work, however, I “could” have.

I can still do the same thing now that I have returned from my vacation. I can control my business operations from anywhere, even a coffee shop. My business partner Denise and I often like to get out of the office and go to our local Starbucks to grab a cup of our favorite java and to work. It’s incredible what you can finish while sipping on coffee and using the Wifi connection.

You may think that it is impossible to run a business from a local coffee shop, a beach, or any other location outside of the office. If so, you are mistaken. Nowadays, if you have an Internet connection, you truly can run any type of business anywhere in the world.

So, if you are one of those people who do not enjoy being in the office all the time and are looking to begin your own business or to even make some money on the side, now is the best time to do just that.

For the remainder of this article, I will give you examples of three businesses you can operate from a coffee shop (or from anywhere in the world).

Business #1: Market Other People’s Products As An Affiliate

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online. This is especially true if you don’t have your own products to sell or if you want to add diversity to what you already sell.

As an affiliate marketer, you are given your own unique links to a product so the seller knows when a customer you referred buys their product. The seller then pays you a commission, generally a percentage of the sale, in return for referring the buyer.

To find the types of products you may want to sell initially, you can research some of the hottest trends in the market. You can do this by searching on some of the most popular places on the Internet.

For example, you can use Google’s Keyword Tool. With this tool, you simply type in the different key words that you think people would use to search for a product. Then Google spits out the data on how many people are searching on that topic each day on Google’s search engine.

The Google Keyword Tool is a great way to figure out what products consumers are looking for. In fact, it’s one of the best free tools that currently exists.

After you have determined the type of products you want to sell, the next step is to find the companies that actually sell those products.

You can also search online marketplaces. For example, Clickbank is an affiliate marketplace of over 50,000 digital products that allows publishers of digital products to find affiliates who want to promote their products. Once you find a product you want to promote, you then sign up to become an affiliate of that company so that you can start promoting the product.

Business #2:  Get Paid To Play Around On Social Media Sites For Other Businesses

Are you on Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis, or do you use Facebook and Twitter to market your blog, web site or products and services? Do you participate in forums of your favorite online communities a couple of times of week? If you answered “Yes,” to any of these questions, then you are already well accustomed to the world of social media and online communities. Here’s where your love of social media can start to pay you real rewards.

One of the hottest jobs in demand today is for social media managers. Businesses are in search of individuals to set up and manage their Twitter accounts and Facebook Pages (as well as other social media web sites) so that they can stay connected with their potential customers to promote their business online.

If you enjoy talking to others, making connections and being part of a community, than becoming a social media manager could be perfect for you. After all, it’s all about social networking. From making connections on Facebook, having people follow you on Twitter, to posting in blogs, to participating in other social networks on the internet, it is all about being engaged.

And even if you are not a social butterfly, you can still use social media to make money too. For example, if you enjoy building the buzz around a product or company that it becomes the hottest sensation in the market, then social media could still be the perfect field for you. The beauty is that you can make money by merely interacting with people online.

Business #3: Work As A Freelance Writer

If you enjoy writing, then you may want to consider becoming a freelance content writer. More and more businesses these days are looking to provide their readers with helpful content, and they need someone to help them write that content.

That person could be you.

With great content, a business can attract readers to their web site, get their site ranked higher in the search engines, and increase their online presence by mentioning the content on social networking sites.

Businesses can also further leverage their content by repurposing or syndicating it on other sites. This not only can increase their online presence but can also increase their sales.

Those are three good examples of the types of businesses you can run from anywhere in the world, even from a coffee shop.

About This Author:
Jynell Berkshire is the Vice President and Associate Editor of ThrivingBusiness.com Inc.  ThrivingBusiness.com offers various free and paid training programs to help people start and grow their own businesses, while having a thriving life.

Jynell has a unique background in business, law, public policy, and entrepreneurship.  Jynell has more than fifteen years of experience in government relations and assisting start-up and existing companies with initial formation, growth, and funding challenges.  Jynell also has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, and has been a frequent speaker at various television, radio, and industry events for her expertise.