How to Earn $600 a Month with Little Effort
Most people dream of being able to make some extra money on the side in order to pay off debt, save for retirement, or just enjoy life without worrying about how they’re going to pay their bills next month. So how do you earn $600 a month with little effort? The answer isn’t as simple as you may think. In fact, there are multiple methods you can use, and I’ll explore each of them below.
Write an e-book
As with websites, e-books are popular because they cost less and have low overhead. But unlike websites, you can’t build an e-book from scratch. However, you can put one together from work you’ve done for clients or repurpose material from your portfolio. Or you can write new material that offers something more in-depth than what’s available on your website. If you’re working on an e-book, spend time focusing on search engine optimization (SEO) for keywords related to your subject matter so people looking for information will find it when they Google their questions.
Turn your e-book into an audiobook
Audiobooks are an incredibly popular format, because they’re very convenient for users. If you’re lucky enough to have written an e-book, consider turning it into an audiobook through Amazon’s ACX platform. You can hire professional voice talent at very rea
sonable rates and earn up to 70% royalty on sales of your book. Alternatively, you can pay ACX a one-time fee of $75 per title (that includes a copy of your book) plus additional fees based on your unique needs and requirements. The downside is that now you’ll be doing all of the work — including editing, formatting, and marketing — so you’ll need to factor that into your business plan if you decide to pursue things further.
Sell the audiobook on Amazon
Audiobooks are hot right now and there’s plenty of money to be made if you’re willing to put in some time. If you have an impressive story, message or piece of information that could help change people’s lives (or simply make them laugh), it might just be worth recording and selling as an audiobook. How do you do it? First, you’ll need a high-quality microphone (one that won’t pick up clicks or other noises) and something like SoundCloud, Audacity or GarageBand. You can find very detailed information about getting started on these programs online. Or check out Udemy for beginner-friendly courses in everything from basic sound editing skills to starting your own podcast or online radio station.
Share your book on Facebook groups
Yes, you can absolutely make money on Facebook by selling your product—that’s definitely a popular strategy. But I would recommend doing one simple thing first: Instead of sharing your book on all of your Facebook pages directly, share it in groups. For example, if you sell audio books, find some large Facebook groups centered around self-improvement and personal development—it may take some searching, but you’ll almost certainly find huge groups. Join them (and see if they’ll let you create an official group) and post your book there instead of on your own profile or pages.
Use Kindle Select Program
In today’s job market, you need experience on your resume in order to get hired. By publishing multiple books through Kindle Direct Publishing, you can gain that experience quickly. As soon as you have one or two books published, submit your resume and let recruiters know about your book(s). It may take a few months for recruiters and companies to start noticing—but once they do, that income stream can really add up.
Sell your book as an eBook on Amazon
When was your last Amazon purchase? If you’re like most people, it probably wasn’t too long ago. This is because Amazon shoppers are everywhere—you see them every day at checkout counters and grocery stores. You also see them on their phones and laptops, reading reviews of products and researching what they want to buy next. As an Amazon seller, you have access to those consumers—and all those potential sales opportunities—24/7, whether they’re at home or in-store. But if your eBooks are locked into Apple’s ecosystem or Kindle’s walled garden (pun intended), then you’re losing out on all that business. So here’s how to get started: The first step is choosing which books you want to sell as eBooks on Amazon.
Price at 99 cents – Kindle Owners Lending Library is available
One of Amazon’s many benefits for Kindle owners is its partnership with public libraries. You can check out ebooks and download them for free—and you also have access to thousands of Kindle Owners’ Lending Library titles. That means you can read any book included in that program, which includes lots of popular fiction and nonfiction books from big-name authors like John Grisham, Michael Crichton, and James Patterson. Downloading a book is just like buying it: There are no due dates or additional fees, as long as you finish reading it within your lending period (typically two weeks). If all else fails, there are some good resources online that can help guide you through these programs.
Add a few affiliate links in the book
Want to make money while you sleep? Consider taking on some affiliate marketing projects. Each of your website or social media platforms is an opportunity for income, but be sure not to spam your followers. Instead, promote products and services that line up with your interests and brand, thereby bringing attention back toward you. At first, only promote products you know well; as time goes on and trust grows, feel free to branch out and explore new opportunities! Affiliate marketing has multiple benefits: You can make money when others do what you tell them (take action), there’s little upfront cost or overhead involved (it’s free!), and there are tons of different niches in which to get started—so it can keep things interesting.