Ali AbuJumaa

How I Built Multiple Online Businesses from Scratch While Living in China

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Living in a foreign country brings its fair share of challenges—language barriers, cultural differences, visa restrictions—but it also opens up unique opportunities, especially in the world of online business. I'm Ali Abu Jumaa, and over the past several years of living in China, I've managed to build multiple online businesses from scratch. From digital marketing services to e-commerce and web hosting, my journey has been anything but ordinary.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through how I built my online businesses, the strategies that worked, and the lessons I learned along the way.

Step 1: Starting with What I Knew — SEO and WordPress

My first online venture began with a simple idea: offering SEO and WordPress services to small businesses. I had always enjoyed playing with websites, and living in China gave me a lot of quiet time to upskill. I taught myself SEO, learned how to build WordPress sites, and started offering freelance services online.

Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork were my launchpads. Slowly, I built a reputation, got repeat clients, and reinvested my income into building my own websites.

Step 2: Building Digital Assets

Once I had a steady income stream, I started building digital assets—websites that I could rent out or sell. One of the biggest successes was launching platforms like:

Each of these websites solved a small but real problem, and I focused on organic SEO to bring in targeted traffic. No paid ads—just strategy and patience.

Step 3: Adapting to the Chinese Market

Being in China gave me a unique advantage—access to one of the world’s most dynamic markets. I started learning Mandarin, understanding local platforms like WeChat, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu, and adjusted my services accordingly.

For instance, I localized my offerings for Chinese business owners looking to expand overseas. I also partnered with local freelancers and leveraged Chinese supply chains for product development in e-commerce.

Step 4: Diversifying Into E-commerce and Manufacturing

After proving success in services and SaaS, I ventured into e-commerce, selling physical products like:

  • Jewelry through Jiva Journey

  • Smoking accessories (ashtrays, grinders, etc.)

  • Ready-made blog websites and backlink services through my agency

I even began exploring the manufacturing side, considering opening a small factory in Fujian to produce my own smoking-related products.

Step 5: Automating and Scaling

With multiple businesses running, automation became essential. I used:

  • AI tools for content creation and customer service

  • CRM systems for managing leads

  • Automated invoicing and website backups

I also hired remote assistants and formed a small but efficient team under Xiamen Ingenio Internet Co., Ltd.

Lessons Learned

  1. Start with what you know. You don’t need a million-dollar idea—just a skill people will pay for.

  2. Use your location as an advantage. Living in China gave me exposure to both Western and Eastern business ecosystems.

  3. Build digital assets. Websites are like real estate—you can rent, flip, or scale them.

  4. Reinvest wisely. Use your early earnings to build bigger, more stable income streams.

  5. Stay adaptable. Learn the local market, experiment, and be ready to pivot.

Final Thoughts

Building online businesses while living in China wasn’t always easy—but it was worth it. With focus, persistence, and a bit of creativity, I was able to turn simple ideas into sustainable income. If you're living abroad (or even at home) and want to start your own digital journey, there’s never been a better time.

If you want help building your own online business or need a ready-made website to get started, feel free to reach out to me or connect via WeChat or WhatsApp. I’d love to help!

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