10 Ways You Can Earn Money Online
You can earn money online in 10 different ways, so let’s take a look at what some of them are and how you can get started right away! Whether you want to supplement your current income or find something that will become your main source of income, these options can help you achieve your goals. Let’s get started!
1) Sell something
If you have something valuable, whether it’s a service or a product, you can sell that thing online. If you’re really good at doing something—and if people are willing to pay for it—there are plenty of sites that will let you sell your services online. But don’t just think of work as work. Think about what skills and knowledge you have that other people may want to use. Any experience is an opportunity to make money, whether it’s teaching a skill or talent or selling items in your field on eBay, Etsy, or Amazon.
2) Write blog posts
This can be a great way to get your name out there and start connecting with others in your industry. If you’re trying to get hired, building up a portfolio of posts on sites like LinkedIn or Medium will go a long way towards helping you land that next gig. And if you’re looking for other freelance opportunities, chances are someone is going to want to see what work you’ve done for others first. By writing informative content that people want to read, you’ll build up trust with new potential clients. And as we already established, trust is key in landing that next client!
3) Have an affiliate link
One easy way to make money online is to make an affiliate website or have affiliate links on your existing website. When you make an affiliate site, it’s like having a mini-store that has your own products for sale. And if visitors click on those links and buy something, you receive a percentage of their purchase. It doesn’t cost you anything extra to do an affiliate link, and you can get started very quickly through sites like Share-A-Sale or ClickBank. Another easy way to earn money online is through paid surveys. These are legitimate jobs where companies pay consumers for their feedback about products, services, and events. Many survey sites let users create profiles with built-in email autoresponders so users can immediately receive payout information from completing surveys.
4) Upload a video on YouTube
As a 20-something, it’s likely that you have skills in some area (or are at least willing to learn). If so, there are plenty of opportunities to make money online by being a freelancer. These services connect businesses with people around the world who will do anything from proofreading and editing to coding or design work—all for pay. The great thing about freelancers is that if you’re good at what you do, there will be no shortage of people willing to pay for your services. Just remember that when it comes to anything business related, don’t forget to include any costs you may incur along with your initial prices. Remember: It doesn’t cost much to get started and it could turn into something big!
5) Create a product on Amazon and sell it
If you have a product or service to sell and you don’t mind owning it for as long as it takes to sell, then Amazon Marketplace is a great option. In fact, sellers on Amazon make up more than 70% of their sales from third-party items. That means you’ll be in very good company when marketing your business through Amazon. Also, if your product isn’t available at all locales, or is seasonal in nature, selling through Amazon can allow you to reach more customers than you would with only local customers. This can also be a good choice if you want to wait until there is actual demand for your business before spending money on inventory.
6) Start a podcast
If you have an area of expertise, a great way to earn money online is to start your own podcast. If you’re interested in politics, start a political podcast. If you like to sew, create a podcast focused on how to make clothing and sell them online. If you love dogs, start a podcast about how to train your pup. The niche and subject of your show are up to you, as long as it’s interesting and focuses on one specific topic. Then, once your channel starts gaining popularity and creating revenue through advertisements or affiliate links (see above), talk with sponsors or advertisers about working together!
7) Use social media to get traffic
Social media is a great tool for earning money online. Sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are all viable options to reach your audience while potentially earning some income on the side. Social media has become an invaluable asset in building relationships and connecting with people who have similar interests as you—many companies have found success using their social media accounts to promote themselves through brand deals or getting businesses to pay for sponsored posts. After posting quality content on social media, use tools like Hootsuite to help measure your results (i.e., number of clicks, likes, etc.).
8) Offer services on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, etc.
Upwork and Fiverr are some of my favorite sites. They connect freelancers with potential clients. While your rates might not be $5 or $10 per hour, you can offer competitive prices for services and earn a decent amount of money online that way. If nothing else, it’s a great way to break into freelance writing without setting your rates too low from day one.
9) Participate in focus groups
Many businesses conduct focus groups as a way to get public opinion about certain products or advertisements. If you can get into one of these groups, you can make money online by sharing your opinions and helping companies figure out what their consumers want. Focus group members are paid for their time and often incentivized for completion with gift cards or rewards. And depending on where you live, focus group participation may be able to count towards school credit. Just don’t expect your participants to fill out forms in pencil!
10) Give free stuff in exchange for reviews/promotion
It might seem too good to be true, but many online businesses are willing to send you free products in exchange for a review or promotional post. There’s no denying that giving away free stuff is tough—but if you can find a legitimate business (not a scammy website) that will work with you, it’s a great way to earn money online. This tactic often requires some finesse and will likely take time, but again, if it’s something you believe in strongly enough and have passion for, put your energy behind it! If nothing else works, try starting your own product-based business—here’s how I did just that! The key is to develop your own method for generating free sample boxes; there are many ways of doing so.