You’re looking for ways to make money online, but you don’t know where to start. You might be wondering if it’s even possible and whether you can make enough to cover your bills.
This guide was made for you. We’re going to cover some legitimate ways to make money online. All you need is a good internet connection! No scams and no need to pay to learn about these methods that can help get extra cash in your wallet.
Some of these options may earn you enough for your next cup of coffee, while others can turn into a decent side hustle or form of passive income. Whatever you choose to tackle, just know you have options — and we’re here to help!
Is it easy to make money online?
The answer depends. If you’re looking to make a couple hundred dollars, that’s easy! If you’re looking to make thousands per month, you’re going to have to spend more time and effort to get there — but it’s not necessarily difficult. Whether you want a part-time job or a full-time online business, there are lots of ways you can start earning money today.
Ways to Make Money Online
1. Online Course
Online education isn’t new, but it’s grown exponentially due to the pandemic. Students and professionals all across the world have turned to online learning because it’s convenient, accessible, and and time-saving. Workers with full-time jobs choose online education because it easily fits in their schedule and allows them to differentiate themselves with unique skills and knowledge.
If you’re a subject matter expert or you’re passionate about teaching others, then you can make money online through an online course. Students flock to sites like Udemy to learn everything from web development and entrepreneurship, to graphic design and art.
2. Consulting
Do you enjoy working with others? Do people tell you that you give good advice? If you answered yes, then consulting may be for you. All types of companies, especially small businesses, hire consultants to help them strategize for their business. Of course, you will have to have knowledge of the industry or practice, but you won’t need to know everything about business to succeed.
As a consultant, you can make a lot of money offering expertise into a specific subject area. For example, you can be a consultant for the financial team, strategy and operations team, or marketing team. Your job is to help problem-solve, strategize, offer recommendations, or streamline processes. The best part is, you choose what you offer to each client.
3. Online Surveys
Rather than scrolling through social media when you’re bored, take some online surveys and earn money doing it. Survey Junkie makes it easy to earn extra money for your opinion. Your voice and time are invaluable to brands who want to improve their products and services. Survey Junkie has a direct relationship with those brands and provides their platform to help amplify your voice.
You won’t get rich taking surveys, but you sure can make money for your weekly coffee. You can cash out via PayPal, bank transfer or gift cards to retailers like Walmart, Target, Starbucks and more! Plus, survey taking is a really fun and productive way to spend your spare time. Learn more and sign up today!
4. Amazon Reseller
Amazon is a great way to put extra money in your wallet. In fact, you can make a decent profit reselling items on Amazon. While you will need to invest money and time for research upfront, it can pay off in the end.
There are thousands of retailers on Amazon, which may make it difficult for you to grab a sale compared to someone else. To make yourself stand out from the crowd, consider a branding and pricing strategy that aligns with your target audience. The more you sell and the more 5-star reviews you attain, the higher your store will rank in Amazon searches.
5. Google AdSense
If you’re looking for passive income, Google AdSense is an easy way to go. If you have a website or blog, you can make money by placing ads on it. Google AdSense will match ads to your website based on the content you’re posting and the audience you’re writing to.
Ads are created and paid for by advertisers who want to promote their products to your audience. The prices they pay will vary depending on the type and placement of the ad. Plus, you’ll have the option to customize the ads that appear on your website. Try out the Google AdSense calculator to get an estimate on how much money you can earn.
6. Freelancing
Freelancing is the perfect option for anyone who wants to start their own side gig that can turn quickly into a full-time career. You can do just about anything as a freelancer: writing, editing, graphic design, and more!
What’s great about freelancing is that you set your own schedule and take on the projects of your choice. Plus, you set your own pricing for your services. The more projects or clients you take on, the more money you can make — but it’s all up to your availability and liking. Companies will post jobs on sites like Fiverr and Indeed. Check them out to get started!
7. Start a Podcast
In recent years, podcasts have really taken off. Regular people are turning their ideas, expertise, and opinions into a brand that makes them money. If you’re camera shy, then this one’s for you, because all you need is some clear audio and an interesting topic to talk about.
From food, fitness, and fashion to comedy, entertainment, and history — the possibilities for a podcast are virtually endless! As your audience grows, so will your opportunities for sponsorships and advertising. You may also choose to start multiple podcasts on different topics, helping to grow your empire and revenue stream.
8. Blogging
Writing isn’t an easy skill. In fact, many people struggle with writing, whether it be long or short-form pieces. If it comes naturally to you, then consider starting a blog for yourself!
You can choose any topic you please, but the key is creating consistent content and providing value every time. You audience will learn to expect content and will turn to your blog for information, advice, and inspiration.
Becoming a blogger is easy, but making yourself stand out can be a little difficult. To succeed in the blogging ecosystem, you have to stand out from the crowd. Think about what makes you unique and why people may turn to your site over a competitor’s.
9. Sell Your Stuff (on Etsy, Craigslist, or eBay)
Whether you’re selling t-shirts, books, furniture, or pet supplies, you can make a lot of money selling things online. Selling your own creations or gently used products is a great way to make extra income. Sites like Etsy, Craigslist, and eBay are perfect places to start, but it’s worth noting that each has a different audience and purpose.
While Etsy is geared towards handmade crafts, art, beauty and health supplies, eBay is where you can find collectible items, furniture, and electronics. Craigslist is a good option if you’re looking to sell inexpensive items to people in the surrounding area. Depending on what you’d like to sell — and the price point you’re considering — choose the best platform to reach your ideal customer and make that sale!
10. Social Media Marketing
In an era where social media is booming, you can take advantage of your savvy social skills and make money doing activities you love. As a social media marketer, you can work for companies and brands to help increase their social media presence.
Organizations large and small are looking to gain more awareness, connect with their audiences, and create more consistent content to post on their social profiles. As a social media strategist, you can be the person who makes this happen!
You should know how to manage and publish posts on all the latest channels, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. All of your work can be done remotely and you can charge on an hourly or per-project basis, depending on the amount of work you have cut out for you.
11. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is another great option for those looking for passive income. What does it entail? You make money when other sites or retailers pay you a commission for traffic or sales generated from your referrals or recommendations.
Let’s say you have a travel blog. As an affiliate marketer, you can promote a brand of suitcases on your site, linking to their product page within your content. Each time a viewer clicks that link and passes through to the retailer’s site, you can make a commission.
12. List on Airbnb
What better way to get a change of scenery than to rent an Airbnb for the weekend. There doesn’t need to be a festival or holiday coming up for people to take some well-deserved time off. Airbnb’s get booked all the time, which means opportunity for you to earn good money.
Create an Airbnb listing account and take nice photos of your entire home, office space, bedroom, or event space that you’d like to rent out. You can choose when your space is available and set a price and cancellation policy that fits your needs. With people booking your space on a weekly basis, you’ll start earning lots of extra money with relatively little hassle.
13. Start a YouTube Channel
YouTubers make tons of money and they have lots of fun creating tutorials and lifestyle videos they enjoy sharing. However, it does take a lot of time and effort to break into the space, since it has become tremendously popular.
Focus on a couple topics that you care about and start creating high quality content for your viewers. You might have to do some research to see what influencers are already talking about the subjects you’re interested in. You will also need to have some graphic design and video editing experience.
14. Shopify
Another great way to make money is by creating a Shopify store. This global e-commerce platform allows you to build a brand of your own and sell your products through a virtual storefront, without having to build your own website from scratch. You can promote your business through social media, online marketplaces, mobile, and web channels.
Creating and managing a Shopify online store will cost you, but if you’re making a good profit, then it won’t be much in comparison. If you’re not ready to take the leap yet, you can opt into a 14-day free trial and explore how the platform works.
The Shopify site will have the most up to date information on monthly fees and costs per transaction, so be sure to check before starting. These are some ways you can generate sales on Shopify:
- Offer services businesses may need (like a freelance writer or editor)
- Resell thrift store finds for higher prices
- Flip or restore collectible items
- Create a dropshipping business
15. Create a Profile on Upwork
Upwork is an online freelance platform similar to sites like Fiverr. You can submit proposals to different projects and get interviewed for an offer. Businesses will also be able to search and find your profile, so it’s important to create a profile that’s thorough.
Create your profile by adding your resume or manually inputting your experiences, skills, and languages. You’ll be asked to input keywords for different functions you can serve, as well as set an hourly rate for your services. Upwork does remove a percentage of your earnings, so keep that in mind when setting an hourly rate of your own.