11 Ways to Generate an Income Online Without Building a Personal Brand

Grow your business, not your ego

Remember when business was about the product, not the person selling it?

In today's social media-saturated world, it seems every young entrepreneur is busy building their 'personal brand'. (NB: one of the most popular career choices for youngsters growing up in this new technological world is to become a brand online.)

But for those of us with a bit more life experience, the thought of becoming the next Instagram sensation is about as appealing as a root canal.

As I head into my latter years I’m looking for an easier life. And even as a ‘travel blogger’ (loosely), I don’t want to have to share every moment of every day on my socials.

But I come armed with good news!

You don't need to share your breakfast or your deepest thoughts online to build a successful business. There are plenty of ways to thrive in the digital economy without sacrificing your privacy or your sanity.

If you like the sounds of this, here are some great ways to generate an income online without having to become the next PewDiePie. (Who? Google him…)

1. Amazon FBA

While this requires some up front investment Amazon FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) is a great business model.

Choose a niche, pick a popular product, build a small audience around the niche & product & grow from there. There’s a lot of moving parts, but it’s a very viable way to make a lot of money and a major contributor to the lifestyle I myself now live.

My go to person in this niche is Ryan Moran. Check out his podcasts, books and courses here. 

2. Start Your Own Ecommerce Store

Starting your own ecommerce store is a bit more challenging unless you already have an audience but completely doable.

Again, pick a niche, create some products, (I recommend print on demand to get started - see no 3), and use Ads to get eyeballs on your products. You can create a Facebook & TikTok store to help get more product exposure.

My go to is Sarah Chrisp from Wholesale Ted. See her free videos here.

3. POD Marketplace

Rather than start your own store, you could start your print on demand business on Etsy, Redbubble or Zazzle.

Pick a niche/theme. Create (or outsource the creation) compelling designs to add to your products. Create product mock ups using your POD partner resources & advertise as you would your own store.

Beware! Your profit margins will be low as POD products are expensive, but it’s a great way to test the market. Once you have some winning products & regular customers you can begin to manufacture yourself. 

4. Start a Newsletter or Online Publication

Growing an email list around a newsletter is big business these days thanks to the success of publications like ‘The Hustle’ and ‘Morning Brew’.

You may think you need to build a personal brand on places like Twitter & LinkedIn to generate leads. However, you can set yourself up completely anonymously or as your niche rather than yourself.

Great examples include Niche Site Lady & the AI Solopreneur.

Niche Site Lady is a blogger with a newsletter and no-one knows who she actually is (other than those of us who played detective and found her site). The AI Solopreneur is a chap called Olly who built his entire brand around his niche.

You could easily create a Twitter account or a Facebook Page around ‘Gardening’ or ‘Labradoodle’s’ and create content around the niche offering a daily or weekly newsletter for your audience to dive deeper. Then monetize via sponsorships, affiliate commissions or even your own products.

5. Sell Courses on a Marketplace

If you’re a natural educator and would love to create digital courses without becoming a YouTube or TikTok influencer you can!

Similar to selling on Amazon or Etsy use course marketplaces to promote your offers rather than trying to build your own audience.

Places like Udemy & Skillshare have ready made audiences on the lookout for educational courses.

Having your own audience always helps and can certainly increase sales, but it’s not vital that you build a personal brand. Instead leverage the marketplaces already in existence.

6. Start a Podcast

While many podcasts revolve around a host's personality, it's entirely possible to create a successful podcast without building a personal brand.

Choose a niche topic you're passionate about and create a show format that doesn't rely on your identity. This could be an interview-style podcast where you're the unseen facilitator, a narrative-driven show, or even a roundtable discussion with rotating guests.

You could call yourself by a pseudonym or simply introduce yourself as "your host" without ever revealing your full name or personal details. Focus on building an audience around your chosen topic rather than yourself, then monetize via sponsorships, affiliate promotions or even driving listeners to your own products.

A great example of this approach is the hugely popular "Sleep With Me" podcast by Drew Ackerman. While he does use his name, he's built his brand entirely around his sleepy alter-ego "Dearest Scooter" and the concept of boring bedtime stories, rather than his personal identity.

7. Grow a Niche Blog

A niche blog is a great way to build an online empire without having to grow a personal brand. You can write about anything you like from urban gardening, vintage watch collecting, or even the intricacies of sourdough baking, without ever having to reveal your true identity.

The goal is to become the authority on the subject matter rather than a known personality.

Great examples include ‘thepointsguy.com’, ‘wpbeginner.com’ and most of the online food blogs! As you grow you can monetize via display ads, sponsored posts, affiliate income and more.

8. Start a Faceless YouTube Channel

These days you can create successful YouTube content without ever showing your face.

Develop a channel focused on educational content, tutorials, or entertainment using screen recordings, animations, or voice-overs.

Pick a niche, create valuable content consistently, and focus on quality production. Monetize through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

A great example is the Kurzgesagt channel, which uses eye-catching animations to explain complex topics.

9. Become a Freelancer

While becoming a freelancer does revolve around you and your skills, you don’t need to build a personal brand to make a very comfortable living.

Simply create a compelling profile on freelance sites like upwork.com, fiverr.com, freelancer.com, writersaccess.com (if you’re a writer) and bid for work available on the platform.

Long term you could also create an agency that offers various services. You promote your agency and then hire other freelancers to complete the work. This allows you to scale beyond your own capacity and create a business entity separate from your personal identity.

10. Develop a SaaS (Software as a Service) Product

Developing a software solution that addresses a specific market need can create a sustainable income stream without relying on your personal brand.

While this model requires significant technical skills (or the ability to hire developers/prompt AI), it allows you to build a product-centric business.

Successful SaaS companies like Leadpages and Flodesk have grown significantly without putting their founders in the spotlight. Instead, they've focused on creating user-friendly tools that solve real problems for businesses.

11. AI Avatar

Creating an AI avatar is an emerging way to build an online presence without revealing your identity.

Companies like Hour One, Synthesia, and HeyGen offer technology that allows you to generate a digital persona for content creation or audience interaction.

However, it's crucial to approach this method ethically:

Always disclose that you're using an AI avatar. Transparency is key to maintaining trust with your audience.

Also be aware that this is a rapidly evolving field with potential legal and ethical implications. It's essential to stay informed about best practices and regulations.

Remember that even with an AI face, the content and value you provide should remain authentic and aligned with your brand's mission. As with any new technology, proceed with caution and prioritize ethical considerations.

Final Thoughts

While personal branding has become increasingly popular, there are numerous ways to generate an income online without putting yourself in the spotlight.

The key is to focus on who you want to serve and how your business model can best meet their needs.

By prioritizing value creation and problem-solving over self-promotion, you can build a successful online business that aligns with your preferences and lifestyle.

Good luck!