Everywhere you look on the internet, people are advertising ways you can make money online. So, is it true? Can you really make an income just by sitting on your couch? The short answer is… Yes! If you want to make money online but aren’t sure how to get started, this guide is for you. We’ll teach you:
- How to earn a few dollars here and there using nothing but your laptop
- How to begin a career where you make money online full time
- Creative ways to use your skills to earn an income on the internet
Plug in your computer and get ready to read – here is the superguide to making money online.
1. Become the next Blog Star
If you have an interest – any interest – you can turn that passion into money. In fact, there are many people who make money online simply by blogging about what they love to do!
A blog is a website with a series of articles, or “posts,” usually on one particular topic. The topic can be as broad (politics) or as narrow (green-eyed dragonflies) as you choose. You can set up a blog easily – just find a hosting provider, install a service like WordPress, and start writing!
The more people that come to your site, the better, so be sure you market your blog. You can earn money with your blog using affiliate links, sponsorships, ad impressions and more. If you have a passion and are willing to write (or even post pictures) about it, you can become the next Blog Star and make money online!
- A blog is a collection of posts or articles about one particular topic
- You can create a blog and monetize it through ads or sponsorships
- The more attention your blog gets, the more successful you’ll be
2. A few of your favorite things – Set up an online shop
You can make money online by selling your favorite things. There are a few ways you can do this. First, you could simply become a wholesaler, buying items in bulk and reselling them on your personal website. Or, you could choose to operate kind of like a thrift shop, selling the things you already have around your home.
A few tips for selling your favorite things online. First, take good pictures! Invest in a kit that’s designed to photograph products – you can find them on sites like Amazon for a relatively low price. Secondly, be sure you check out what other people are selling similar items for. Price your stuff appropriately. Third, figure out what the shipping costs are before you price your items. Shipping can be expensive – you’re here to make money online, not pay the carriers!
- You can make money online by selling your favorite things
- Sell new items you buy at wholesale prices or your own things
- Be sure you do your research before you set up your online shop
3. Become a YouTuber King (or Queen)
If you have a lot to say, you can make money online by becoming the next YouTube star! All you need to do is sign up for a free YouTube account and start filming.
The most successful YouTube channels are theme-oriented. For instance, you may find someone who does makeup tutorials. You may see someone else who reviews kids’ toys. Still another YouTuber might feature auto repairs. Use your imagination!
Your channel can be anything from how to cook on a budget to a video blog of all the places you travel. Whatever it is, be sure you show your true personality!
Monetizing your YouTube channel is super simple. In fact, there are only a few steps. First, you’ll want to set your settings to enable monetization. Then, you’ll link your channel to an AdSense account. That’s it! Market and publicize your channel by spreading it around on social media. The more views you get, the more you’ll earn!
Be sure to read YouTube’s terms of service before you start posting videos, as some things aren’t allowed to be monetized. This may include harsh language, certain themes and more.
- You can make money online by posting videos on YouTube
- Setting up your account to earn money is as simple as two steps!
- Be sure you’re familiar with YouTube Terms of Service before you begin to post
4. Drop shipping – the easy way to go
Drop shipping is a super simple way to get a business started and eventually to make money online. What it is is essentially a retail (online) store with no inventory. You’ll set up an online shop selling pretty much whatever you like, then only pay for the item when the customer you’re selling to pays.
Sound easy? It is! You’ll need very little capital to start a drop shipping business, and can begin to make money almost immediately if you market yourself right.
To start your drop shipping business, do some research into drop ship suppliers. Choose one to partner up with, then set up your online shop. When your customer places an order, you’ll forward that order to the drop ship supplier who will handle the packaging and shipping for you. It’s as easy as that!
You can be a drop ship retailer of anything from cosmetics to pet goods. Setting up a store is easy, too, when you use a platform like Shopify. Get started today and you could be making money online tomorrow!
- A drop ship business requires almost no money to start
- All you’ll do is maintain a website and communication with a supplier – no shipping required
- There are many platforms on the web that will allow you to get started very easily
5. Video courses – teach others to do what you love
What’s your hobby? Do you like to cook? Make super fast paper airplanes? Sew curtains? No matter what it is you love to do, you can make money online by teaching others to do it, too!
Setting up an online video course has been made super simple by the platforms on the web today. In fact, there are websites dedicated solely to allowing people to sell their knowledge online. Do a Google search for “sell online courses” or “create video courses” and you’ll see what we mean.
Do your research and find the one you like best. You’ll be looking at the fees, the requirements for the class (for instance, some may require that you have credentials) and be sure to read the terms of use. Once you find a platform you like, start creating!
Your video course should reflect your personality. After all, you can learn to cook pasta anywhere. Create your course so that people want to learn from you. Your speech should be clear, as should your video quality. And be sure to go through your instructions step by step. Don’t assume that people know how to boil water! Teach them how to fill the pasta pot.
Once you’re done creating your course, have a friend review it and let you know if there’s anything you missed. Most of all, have fun!
- You can make money online by teaching people what you know
- There are existing platforms that allow you to sell video courses online
- Be sure your image quality and speech are clear, as are your instructions
6. If video isn’t your jam, you can create a text course
Some people are naturally introverted and don’t want their shining faces to be seen online. If this sounds like you, that’s okay! You can still teach people what you know by setting up a text-only course.
Typically, text only courses are going to carry a few more requirements. You may need a university degree, or you may need to create quizzes and exams for your course. As long as you know the subject matter you’re writing the course about, this shouldn’t be a problem!
As with the video courses, you’ll want to research the platforms available to you. Choose the one with fees and conditions you can agree with, and start developing your course or class! Courses can sell for hundreds of dollars if they’re quality stuff, so give it all you’ve got!
- Some people prefer not to be seen online – if this is you, choose a text course
- Text courses may carry additional requirements that video courses don’t have
- Research your platform options and sell your course on the one with the most agreeable terms
7. Write an e-book
In today’s digital world, anyone can write a book about anything. At all. It can be a book of poetry, a memoir, a fiction novel, a short story or an instructional book. That’s up to you – the sky’s the limit.
When you choose to write a book, know that you’re not going to do it in a day. You’re probably not even going to do it in a week. It can take months or more to create something that’s worth publishing. That’s especially true if you want to create a full length book.
If you choose, however, you can write something shorter. For instance, why not create a 40 page mini book about how to crate train a dog, or how to shrink belly fat? Do a little research into popular topics (you can do this by searching Amazon and Apple Books) and choose one you’re familiar with.
Once your book is written, it becomes passive income. You’ll publish it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Apple, all of which are available to publishers in most countries. Then, watch as the money comes in as people read your book!
- Writing a book is a good way to make money online
- You won’t get rich overnight publishing a book online
- Once your book is published, it will become a source of passive income for you
8. Be like the millennials – join the “gig” economy
The gig economy is exactly what it sounds like. When you join the gig economy you’ll be able to make money online by picking up jobs here and there – all which can be done without ever leaving your house.
There are more and more websites popping up nowadays that allow you to either respond to ads by people who need work done or to post your own gig and sell it to clients. For instance, Fiverr is an international site that will let you post “gigs” for $5 or more.
Keep in mind that being a member of the gig economy may not bring in a steady income. You’ll have weeks where you’ve got a lot of work to do, and some weeks where there might be nothing at all. A gig worker isn’t the same as a freelancer; it’s a more temporary, as-needed situation.
What can you sell in the gig economy? Well, anything! You can sell short blog posts or articles if you’re good at writing. You can sell photographs, graphic designs or you can sell your expertise in Joomla or C++. Whatever you’re good at, you can sell it in the gig economy.
- Gigs aren’t jobs, but they’re a great way to earn money online
- You can sell your services online and join the gig economy
- Remember that gig work isn’t necessarily steady work, but it will generate some income
9. Become a freelance writer
Do you like to write? More importantly, are you good at it? You can become a freelance writer, which offers more steady income than simply being a member of the gig economy. In fact, many freelance writers make money online to an extent that they can leave their 9 to 5 office jobs and write full time.
There are certainly criteria you’ll need to meet before you start marketing yourself as a freelance writer. First, it’s important that you speak the native language of the clients you’re marketing to. Sloppy work won’t get you paid, and clients can tell non-native speakers from a mile away.
Secondly, your work should require little editing. Clients don’t want to go back and rewrote what they paid you to write.
Thirdly, you’re going to need to treat your business like a business. Communicate well and often, “show up” to work on time each morning and do a little bit of marketing each day. That said, self-discipline, professionalism and talent will go a long way toward becoming a freelance writer.
- You can make money online by becoming a freelance writer
- Many freelance writers are full time, having left the regular jobs
- Many writers are trying to join the freelance space, so be sure you’re good at what you do
10. You can be the tax man – in a good way
Do you get a thrill out of preparing your taxes every year? Tax season is different for every country, of course. In some nations you’ll simply turn in a few forms and wait for the results. In others, though, tax preparation is a long and arduous process that people simply don’t want to deal with.
If you live in one of the countries where taxes are a bear, yet somehow you manage to enjoy doing them, this idea is for you. You can make money online by preparing others’ taxes for them.
You’ll need some strong marketing skills to get this one off the ground, as people’s income information is very private. But once you’ve got a few references under your belt, you’re golden. People will pay hundreds of dollars to avoid having to deal with tax preparation.
- Tax laws vary nation by nation
- If your country’s tax laws are complex, you can take advantage of that fact
- Preparing other people’s taxes can yield you hundreds of dollars per job
11. Make money online by flipping “stuff”
Do you like going to garage sales and yard sales? Do you love a good bargain? If so, you can make money online by doing what you love – shopping!
The next time you’re at a yard sale, take a look around for what you might be able to resell. For instance, maybe someone is selling an old guitar for $15. Could you not sell it for twice that? Or maybe someone’s trying to get rid of that old Alice in Chains box set. How much do you think you could sell that for?
Buy it, bring it home, and post it. You can post it on one of many sites, the most popular being eBay. Set a minimum price and don’t forget to consider shipping costs. Then, simply sit back and watch your garage sale finds earn you cash!
- If you like shopping for bargains, you can make money online
- Buy items of interest at low prices and “flip” them online to earn a profit
- Don’t forget to factor in shipping costs when you price your items
12. Got a camera? You can sell your snapshots
We live in a digital world, and more and more groups are looking for digital images. These images are needed for everything from blog posts and websites to textbooks and pamphlets. And pretty much any subject matter will sell. You could sell a picture of an apple or a chair, or market something more complex like a seascape or a farm scene.
Because digital photography is in such high demand, there are more and more websites popping up that are willing to buy your photos. Alternatively, you could choose a site that will act as a third party for you to market your shots.
Do a Google search for “sell photos online” and take some time to go through the results. Check out the technical requirements for your photos, the subject matter accepted and the fees charged. Then, choose your favorite – or more than one if you like – and make money online selling your photography.
- Digital photography is in high demand
- If you’re good at taking photos, you can make money online selling them
- Be sure you check out the requirements and fees of a site before you sign up to sell your photography
13. Feeling crafty? Sell your art online
Do you knit? Refinish furniture? Do you like to sew, draw or even make digital art? If so, you can make money online by selling your crafts on the internet.
There are oodles of platforms you can use to market your wares online. Most people, though, seem to have the most success when they create their own website. Use a platform like Shopify, which operates in over 150 countries, and create your own visually appealing site. Then, take advantage of Google Ads, social media and other methods of marketing to get the word out about your business.
As with any online store, you’ll need to make sure your goods are reasonably priced, so look at the competition. Look at the competition and see what’s working for them. You’ll also want to ensure that your photos represent your product well. Clearly photographed, well lit products are more likely to sell.
- If you have artistic talent, you can make money online
- Sell your physical or digital crafts using a platform or create your own website
- Be sure you check out the competition and price accordingly
14. Top of your class? You can tutor online
There are thousands upon thousands of people who need help in certain subject areas but are too busy – or embarrassed – to go to a formal tutoring center. This includes kids in grade school or upper school and adults in university and college.
If you know a little somethin’ about somethin’ you can make money online by tutoring these people. You’ll generally “meet” virtually using an app like GoToMeeting or Zoom, where the two of you will identify areas of struggle and work on them systematically.
Advertise your services as a tutor at the local college or other school. Be sure to post your ad at the library and the community center, too. Research going rates in your area and set yours based on your availability, the market and your expertise.
Note – you must be patient to be a tutor! People who need tutoring genuinely don’t understand the subject matter. Exercise patience and it’ll be worth it when you see that figurative light bulb go off.
- You can make money tutoring online if you’re good at a subject area
- You can tutor adults or children – you choose!
- Tutors must be patient and understanding with students – it’s worth it in the end!
15. Complete small tasks in your spare time
Microgigs are, as the name implies, even smaller than actual gigs. They’re little tasks that you complete online to make a few bucks here and there. Usually you’ll get a few pennies per task, but if you do it right this can add up over time.
Not sure what we mean? Here’s an example. You know that button you push on websites that tells the site you’re not a robot? You check it, then you are shown an image. You’re instructed to “find all the pictures of cars” or something similar.
Well, someone, at some time, initially identified those cars so that the computer would know you’re not a robot. That someone could be you. You’re not going to get rich doing this, but completing small tasks is a great way to make money online – even a little – while you’re watching television or waiting for the onions to finish browning.
You’ll find these tasks by searching online for “microgigs,” “microtasks” or “microjobs.” Be careful which platform you choose, however. Many will require a minimum balance before you receive a payout. Keep in mind that, at $.01 per task, it’s going to take a long time to reach that $10 minimum cash out balance.
- You can make money online by performing small, mundane tasks
- These tasks don’t pay much but can be done while you do other things
- Be sure you read the terms of use, paying special attention to minimum balances for cash out and fees
16. Care to share? Share your opinion to make money online
Survey sites are some of the most frequently cited ways to make money online. Well, we’re here to tell you the honest truth: they don’t always pay off like you’d think they will. There are hundreds of survey sites now that offer you the opportunity to “earn money for sharing your opinion.” Usually, these sites are legit, but there are some things you’ll need to keep in mind.
First, these surveys only pay pennies.
Secondly, the surveys can take as long as 20 minutes to complete.
Thirdly, that’s if you even qualify in the first place.
There’s little more frustrating than registering to complete a 10 minute survey, only to spend five minutes finding out you don’t qualify for the darn thing anyway.
Let’s face it – some of these “survey” sites are just scams.
If you want something to do with your hands while you binge watch Doctor Who, survey sites are a good bet. You can make money online by filling our surveys. If you’re looking for more than just a few bucks each week, don’t waste your time on the survey sites. It won’t be worth it for you.
- You can make money online filling out surveys, but you won’t get rich
- Survey sites can be frustrating and time consuming
- Filling out surveys is a good way to earn a few bucks a week while you watch television or do something else
17. Reach out and digitize local businesses
As we mentioned, we live in a digital age, and it’s becoming more and more important for even the smallest of businesses to have a website. It’s like a digital storefront – customers are turning to the internet first to find new places to do business. It’s critical that shop owners and service people get on the bandwagon.
If you can convince your local business owners of this, and have a little bit of tech savvy, you can make money online. At the business’s expense, you’ll procure hosting and a domain name. You’ll also need basic information from the business owners as well as some photos.
The rest is all you. Simply establish the domain name, install WordPress and choose an appropriate theme. Design the business website in a way that’s pleasing to the owner but also easy to navigate for consumers. Don’t forget to register the business with Google Business.
From then on out, you can offer to update the website at a set or hourly fee as the years go on. Let your client know they’re responsible for the cost of hosting, and if you like you can charge a nominal monthly “maintenance” fee. This will cover installing updates and similar tasks.
- Every business, no matter how small, needs a website
- You can build a website for local businesses relatively easily
- You’ll need a little bit of tech savvy to make money online in this way
18. People judge books by their covers
So why not create some killer graphics to go on the next best-selling horror novel or a smart image to grace the cover of an upcoming scholarly journal? If you have a bit of graphic design prowess, you can make money online by creating custom book covers for clients.
You don’t need fancy software to create book covers. All you’ll need is access to images that aren’t “stock” – that is, they’re original and won’t be used anywhere else. You’ll also need some sort of image editing program, but these can be found, free, online. For instance, Canva allows you to edit images and create graphics to suit your needs.
You can market your services on social media, through sites like Fiverr and Upwork and through word of mouth. As with any work from home job, be sure you’re properly communicating and that you deliver high quality work on time, every time.
- Every book needs a cover – why not create them for authors?
- You don’t need expensive of fancy software to create book covers
- Be professional and deliver work that’s to the highest standard for repeat customers and referrals
19. You can be the help desk
If you’re pretty good with computers, why not offer yourself up as tech support to individuals and small businesses? You can advertise your services as a “help desk” by using social media and by developing your own business webpage. Be sure to tell your friends what you’re doing and how much you’ll charge, and they can spread the word around!
When you call a tech support hotline, they can charge upwards of $75 to $100 each hour you’re on the phone! You can undercut these people by charging, say, $40 per hour and generate more business that way. Later, as your client base expands you can adjust your pricing accordingly.
Offer to help with software installation, hardware troubleshooting and network setup. You’d be surprised at what some people don’t know! You may get a phone call from an elderly woman who needs help to simply reset her Google password!
- Tech support hotlines are very expensive
- You can make money online by offering to help with software setup and similar services
- Rest assured – there are thousands of people who know less about computers than you do, so take advantage of it!
20. Use cash back services
This is another way to make money online that you’re not going to get rich from. But, in case you haven’t noticed, there are hundreds of “rewards” sites on the internet. These sites offer to give you cash back for shopping online, for searching the web and for answering surveys.
The payout on these sites isn’t great, but some are better than others. Remember what we said about surveys – 99% of the time, they’re not worth your time. You’ll spend more time qualifying than you will actually earning.
But some services offer an extension you can install on your browser. These extensions award “points” or other rewards simply for searching or doing the shopping you’d be doing anyway. There’s no harm in checking that a site is legit, then installing the extension to earn a few free bucks every week or so, right?
- There are hundreds of websites that allow you to earn cash back for searching and taking surveys
- You’re not going to earn thousands with these sites, but you can still make money online
- Be sure the site is legitimate before you install any kind of extension to your browser
21. It’s not going to come back in style – sell your old clothes
Just as there are many auction type sites on the web, there are also many sites where you can sell or trade in your old clothes, shoes and accessories for cash. You can go the old eBay route, but for more success, make money online with stores that cater specifically to those selling clothing.
Some of these sites work like a virtual yard sale. You’ll take pictures of your clothes, upload the pics and wait for people to buy them. Others are more like consignment stores. You’ll send your old clothes in and the site or a third party will buy them.
Sites like these are especially good for parents or guardians of small kids. Kids grow so fast that the money spent on clothes is seemingly wasted in no time. You can earn some of that money back by listing your kids’ clothes online.
- You can make money online by selling your old clothes
- Some shops are like consignment stores while others are like yard sales
- These stores are great for parents who want to recuperate some of the costs of kids’ clothes
22. You can start your own used bookstore – totally online!
Another great way to make money online is by buying and selling books. You probably have a whole library of books at home already that you’re never going to read again. Start there. Post your books online on one of the many sites that were created for this purpose. Do a search to find what sites are local to your nation.
Then, go to the library’s book sale. Visit thrift shops. Heck, you can ask friends for donations. (You don’t even need to tell them why!) All the books in sellable condition you find, post them and sell them.
As with any other sale, you’ll want to consider shipping costs. Most locations around the world offer a “media” or similar rate – it’s a lower shipping rate that can be used for books and media. Take advantage of that. Otherwise, price your books accordingly.
- You can start a used bookstore, beginning with your own books from home
- Get used books from library sales and thrift stores, and ask friends for donations
- Consider shipping costs when you price your books!
23. Create the next greatest app
Whether you have an Android, iOS or any other device, you should consider creating an app. It doesn’t have to be fancy – it could be something as simple as, for instance, locating dentists or tattoo artists in a local vicinity.
There are plenty of resources and “sandboxes” available online to help you in development. For Android, publishing your app to the store is fairly easy. With Apple, you’ll go through a more extensive approval process.
Once your app is created, figure out ways to monetize it. You could charge for the app itself, or you could include in-app purchases. You know the ones – where the game you’re playing suddenly pops up a message asking you if you want to purchase a treasure box or something similar.
Your app doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Browse through your phone’s store and see what’s popular, then go from there. Who knows? Yours might be the next Facebook!
- Creating an app for Apple or Android isn’t as difficult as you might think
- There are resources online that can help you perfect it
- Once you’ve developed an app, monetize it through in-app purchases or charging for the app itself
24. Do the ride share thing
If you don’t mind getting out of the house every now and then, you can take advantage of apps other people have already created. Uber and Lyft, for example, are good ways to earn a bit of extra money. Postmates and DoorDash are, too. You’ll have to see what’s available in your area.
You’ll likely need a valid driver license, but sometimes all you’ll need is a bike. Again, this isn’t strictly a way to make money online, you’ll need to get out and about. But if you’re in a pinch for cash, these types of apps are a great resource.
- You can make extra money delivering food or driving people around
- They’re not strictly ways to make money online, but they’re internet based
- You’ll probably need a drivers license but if you’re in a bigger city, a bike will probably suffice
25. Like t-shirts? You’ll love making your own
There are oodles of websites out there that will allow you to upload your own designs to be converted into t-shirts, blankets, tote bags and every other manner of thing. These sites are usually free to use – there’s no upfront cost – and you’ll only pay a small commission when you sell a project.
Do you have an idea in your mind of what you wish you could find on a shirt? Draw it up! It’s as simple as using Microsoft Paint, a free program for most people, to come up with a design. Make sure it looks nice and neat, then upload your design to one of these digital design clearinghouses.
The clearinghouse will be responsible for converting your design into just about anything. You can make money online by creating:
- T-shirts
- Tote bags
- Coffee mugs
- Neck ties
- Blankets
- Mouse pads
- Pretty much anything!
26. Instead of flipping houses, flip websites
There are a few platforms out there that allow you to make money online by flipping websites. This is going to require some upfront investment. After all, you’ve got to buy the site in the first place. But once you sell it, you’ll make your money back in no time.
The way flipping works is this. You scout out websites that have potential. These may simply be great domain names, or they might be established websites that have just been abandoned. You’ll bid on and buy the website for what you think is a fair price.
Then, you’ll take some time to either a) make the website nice and pretty again, b) draw more traffic to the site to increase its domain authority or c) neither of the above. Some websites have such great domain names they’ll sell as is.
Some platforms allow you to buy and sell websites all in one place. Flippa is one example of this, as is Deal Flow Brokerage. Do your research and find the platform that best suits your website flipping needs.
- You can make money by buying, then selling websites
- Choose websites with a great domain name or a high domain authority
- Some brokerages will allow you to buy and sell, all on the same page
27. Be the Wolf of Web Street
You can make money online by playing the stock market. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the laws of trading in the country where you live, then get to work.
There are plenty of resources out there to get you started. We’re not experts in the stock market, so we’re not going to give you specific advice. However, most of the online brokerages offer simulators. These simulators will give you a certain amount of “fake” money that you can invest any way you like. You’ll use that money to buy stocks, pay stop fees, brokerage fees and the like.
Once you’ve grown accustomed to the way trading works, you can start to invest a bit of your own money. As you know, it’s important to keep in mind that trading is risky. You stand to lose just as much as you stand to gain. That said, trading absolutely can be a way to make money online if you take the time to get to know what you’re doing.
- People have made lots of money by trading stocks online
- Remember: trading is risky and you can lose just as much as you can earn
- Familiarize yourself with how trading works using a simulator prior to investing real money
28. Become a miner – of cryptocurrency
It’s been said that it can actually cost more money to mine for bitcoin and other currency than you’ll make doing it. But if you’re a pioneering spirit, mining for cryptocurrency may be something you’d like to try.
There are many, many resources available to you online to determine what you’ll need to get started. You will need an initial hardware investment as well as some software setup, too. You’re going to need some technological know-how, and you’re going to need a bit of bravery as well.
Like investing, mining bitcoin and other cryptocurrency is risky. Know what you’re getting into – the costs and the risks – before you spend money to mine for bitcoin.
- You can make money online mining for cryptocurrency
- Mining is risky, so know what you’re getting into before you do it
- You’re going to have some initial startup costs – ensure these costs are worth it to you
29. Become an affiliate seller – of whatever you want!
Did you know you could earn a commission off of products other people buy on sites like Amazon, Walmart and others? Big name retailers, as well as some smaller ones, offer you money as an affiliate to refer people to their sites.
All you have to do is apply. With sites like Amazon, this is easy. You’re automatically approved, and will have a “trial period” in which to earn some cash before your account is put on hold. For other retailers it might be more difficult. For example, you may need a blog with many followers or to complete some other sort of application process.
Once you’ve gotten approved for your affiliate account, the rest is pretty easy. Post affiliate links to your products on your blog, on your social media or anywhere else you see fit to do so. Don’t be spammy about it. No one likes a pushy salesman. But, done right, you can make money online when other people buy things.
An example of a good way to represent yourself would be a Facebook post like this:
Hey, fellow parents! I know we’re all getting ready to go back to school and BOY is it expensive. We’re all shopping graph paper – would y’all mind using my affiliate link when you get yours? It’ll help pay for Johnny’s glasses! Thanks!
Be smart about it and you’ll be making affiliate money in no time.
- Retailers will pay you a commission to send people to their sites
- Some retailers will more readily approve you than others
- Once you’re approved, share your links everywhere … but don’t be spammy about it
30. Get an actual job
More and more, employers are becoming comfortable with the idea of employees telecommuting. Not familiar with telecommuting? It’s simply this: working a regular job, usually as an employee rather than a contractor, from your home.
With that said, it’s getting easier to find these jobs. Simply go to whatever job search website you normally use. Then, type in a search term like “remote” or “telecommute.” You’ll see what we mean – it’s not just graphic designers and freelance writers who are working from home nowadays. It’s accountants, IT security professionals and even college professors who are working remotely, from the comfort of their living rooms.
When you work remotely for an employer you obviously don’t own your own business, so you won’t have the flexibility this affords. However, you’ll have the luxury of a paycheck, something freelancers and gig workers don’t have. You may also have benefits and other perks to look forward to.
- More and more companies are beginning to hire remote workers
- You can find these jobs simply by using your favorite job search tool
- There are pros and cons to being a remote employee as opposed to a freelancer
31. Get someone else an actual job
If you don’t feel like going out and getting a regular, full time job you can make money online by helping someone else do it. Offer up your services as a resume writer or critique others’ resumes for a fee.
See, people hate talking about themselves. Either that or they love doing so. Regardless, everyone needs a second set of eyes when they’re drafting their resumes and cover letters… you can be those eyes.
There will be some people who already have some semblance of a resume put together. Others will just have a LinkedIn profile or similar. Still others will have zero. Zilch. Nada. You’ll be starting from scratch. Be prepared for all of these scenarios, and be further prepared to log some phone or Skype time with your clients. The rest is easy, if you know how to craft a resume!
- People don’t like writing their own resumes and sometimes need a little help
- You can make money online by helping people with their resumes and cover letters
- This job may require some face time with your clients
32. Feeling lucky? Enter contests online!
You can make money online by winning contests. You’ll see them everywhere! “Win a free cruise to the Bahamas!” or “Win a free Kitchen-Aid mixer!” If they’re free to enter, do it! You’ll notice in the fine print that these contests usually also offer the “cash equivalent” as an alternative to the actual cruise. If you’d prefer the cruise, go! Otherwise, go for the cash.
These sweepstakes and contests are everywhere, but don’t enter anything that requires you to buy something. Read the fine print – usually it will say in big bold letters NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. If it does, read further to find out how to enter without buying something you don’t need. After all, the point is to make money online, not to clutter your home with stuff you didn’t want in the first place.
- There are tons of free to enter contests online
- Most of them have no purchase necessary, so be sure to read the fine print
- If possible, opt for the cash equivalent of any prizes won
33. Like reading magazines? Start your own!
Magazines are increasingly going digital as people are moving away from the environmentally unfriendly paper versions of their favorite publications. That means more and more people are searching for and subscribing to magazines online – could yours be the next?
You can do this solo, or you can do it with a team of friends. The most important thing is that you’re all committed to both the project and the topic of your magazine.
Choose that topic, whether it’s hunting for deer or poetry. It doesn’t matter. Choose a name. Then start writing. Put together a full volume or two of the magazine and then begin to market. Use social media, Google AdWords and other marketing strategies to get the word out about your new publication. For best results, keep the initial cost of the publication low, so as to gain more subscribers. You can always raise prices later.
As you get busier and busier, you can start soliciting guest articles and, if you’re in a position to do so, you can even pay for those articles. As your magazine gains in popularity, you’ll make money online by writing about something you love.
- More and more people are choosing digital versions of magazines
- It doesn’t cost much – you can start up your own publication
- Keep initial rates low, then raise them later if you like
34. Rip those CDs!
Have you ever bought an awesome album, only to have it scratched up in your car a week later? So have thousands of other people! That’s why many people are choosing to convert the songs on their albums to digital format. It’s easy to do but it takes hours and hours to do it.
You can do it, though! You can make money online by having customers send you their CDs – all you’ll have to do is what’s called “rip” the music from the album and convert it to digital (usually mp3 or mp4) files. You can send the files back to them via real mail (like on a flash drive) or by using an online file storage service. The method you choose will likely be dependent upon the file size of the finished product.
An added perk to this is that you get to listen to some pretty cool (or maybe sometimes weird) music while you work. It’s a win-win situation!
- CDs don’t last forever – they’re easily scratched, making them unreadable
- Many people want their music converted to digital formats, but it takes a long time
- You can convert their files and make money online in the process
35. Like to read? Do it out loud!
If you like to read books, especially the classics, you can definitely make money online! It’s going to take a lot of sips of water and a lot of time, though.
Here’s what you do: you find copies of books that are in the public domain. Examples of this include Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Treasure Island and Little Women. Then, you buy or borrow some good audio equipment and set it up in a quiet place.
Next, you start reading. Here’s where the tricky part comes in. You have to make sure you read with inflection, that you’re not saying “um” every two minutes and that you pronounce all your words correctly. If you can do that, you can make money online.
Record yourself reading these books, then post your recording online for others to buy. Alternatively, you can work with someone who can show you how to set it up so that people can “rent” your audio books for a certain amount of time.
There are tons of books that are out of copyright, and people want to read them. However, these books are often intimidating, so why not read the stories aloud so others can enjoy them?
- If you have a good speaking voice you can create your own audiobooks
- Sell recordings of yourself reading public domain books, or figure out how to rent them
- People are often intimidated by classics, so they’ll be willing to pay for someone else to read to them
36. Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match…
Are you just sure that Johnny and Susie will get along? Do you just know that Martha and Barry are doomed to split? If you’ve got a natural way of pairing people up, you can start a matchmaker business. Heck, even if you don’t have an eye for it, you can still charge people to set them up on blind dates.
This is an especially great way to make money online for college students. Say you’re a senior at university and you’ve met a lot of people in your time on campus. Use that to your advantage, and charge Theresa five bucks to find her the perfect date for the party on Friday night. You can do it all online … and people don’t even have to know who you are!
Advertise in your campus newsletter. If you’re not in college, try Craigslist or a similar tool. Then, get to work matching people up. Who knows, yours might be the next huge dating website!
- You can charge people to match them up with a date
- This is a great way for college students to earn extra money
- If you’re not in college, you can still advertise using free local tools
37. There’s no such thing as Santa
So how is Mary going to know he got her letter? You’ll let her know, that’s how! For this idea, you’re going to advertise a bit. Create a website with a catchy domain name. Then, start advertising. Tell parents that Mary and Jeff can send their letters to Santa to a specific address like a post office box. Alternatively, they can simply email Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas.
Then, get to work. Get some fancy stationery and find a font you just love. When business is just beginning, you may even choose to write your letters by hand. Then, write your letter. Use a form letter if you like, but vary it up a bit in the case of siblings. For instance,
Dear Mary.
Ho ho ho! Thank you for your letter! Have you been a good girl this year?
I see you want a baby doll and a bicycle for Christmas, is that right? Well, my elves are working hard on presents for all the boys and girls, so you keep on listening to your parents and your teachers and we’ll see what they can do!
And so on.
Parents will absolutely pay for this little bit of holiday magic, and it’s a great way to make money online and earn a little extra holiday cash.
- Kids will love a letter from Santa just as much as their parents will
- Go all out! Get the red envelopes and the fancy stationery
- It’s okay to use a form letter, but switch it up a bit so that siblings don’t get the exact same letter
38. Welcome to the city!
If you’ve been living in your area for a while, you probably know more about it than most. For instance, that wonderful Indian restaurant that’s just out of town, or the face that the local park has a splash pad open during the summer.
You can welcome newcomers to your area by creating a website that serves as a local guide. You’ll want to start with the basics – the general information about your town as well as commonly known events that occur in the area. You’ll also want to put together a few blog-style posts about the area just to get newcomers acquainted.
Now, you can start to make money. Once your website is up, running and beautiful, get in touch with your local chamber of commerce or similar organization in your area. Ask if they would include your website on their list of area resources. As you get more and more traffic to your site, it’s time to market yourself and start earning.
Contact local businesses and tell them about your publication. Ask them if they’d like to be included in the directory (for a fee, of course). You can offer tiers of support, if you like – quote them one rate for a mention, another for a link to their site and another for a banner ad. Use your imagination.
Your income will grow year after year as more businesses join and others renew. This is a great way to make money online if you’re very familiar with the town where you live.
- If you’re a long-time resident of your town, you can make money online by sharing your knowledge
- First, build a website that highlights your city and make it look great
- Then, contact businesses, offering the opportunity for them to be featured on your site
39. Video killed the radio star … or did it?
Not a whole lot of people listen to the radio regularly anymore. Instead, we’ve got streaming services and podcasts to entertain us. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t take advantage of this new age of media and profit from it. You can make money online by starting a podcast!
There are all sorts of podcasts out there. There are parenting podcasts, religious and spiritual podcasts, podcasts about books on the bestsellers list … there are even podcasts about podcasts.
Find a topic you love and commit to talking about it. Start with, perhaps, one podcast each week on your topic. Then, as your listener base expands you can consider upping that to two or three. As your podcast increases in popularity, you can begin to monetize it.
To do this, you can sell your own products, you can solicit advertisers or you can put on live shows. You can ask for donations or you can even sell content that’s only accessible to subscribers. However you want to do it, be sure it’s sustainable and that you deliver on your promises.
Podcasts are a great way to make money online for those of you who don’t want to be seen on YouTube – there’s no video required!
- Podcasts are available for just about every subject under the sun, from religion to sports
- If you’re knowledgeable – or even just interested – in a particular subject, you can start your own podcast
- Once your listener base grows, you can begin to monetize your podcast and make money online
40. Consult local businesses that have royally screwed up
Sometimes small businesses just don’t do things right. That’s where you come in. Is there something you’re good at that you think a local business is doing very poorly at? Kindly let them know.
For example, say there’s a print shop in the area. This store frequently posts all kinds of weird stuff on social media, ranging from political opinions to off-color jokes. They don’t interact properly with customers and they certainly aren’t promoting a positive business perception.
You can help. Tell them that, for either an hourly rate or a flat fee, you’ll fix what they’ve screwed up (we wouldn’t put it in those terms, though). You’ll go through and delete the negative posts and begin to interact more positively with customers.
Then, going forward, you’ll help them develop a more professional digital presence. You’ll post a certain number of times each week, or will supply them with content and copy that they can post when they see fit.
This is just one example of how you can make money online helping out small, local businesses. Surely you can think of more!
- Pay attention to small local businesses and spot areas where they may need improvement
- Offer to help these businesses either clean up the mess or just to consult them going forward
- Be sure you know what you’re talking about – choose an area of your own personal expertise
41. Do I have to write it down for you?
Well, sometimes, you do. That’s why people hire other people to transcribe things – anything from meetings to phone calls to court cases. You can make money online if you don’t mind listening in on other people’s (sometimes extremely boring) conversations.
You’ll need a bit of equipment to become a transcriptionist. Your PC will have to meet certain specs (the company you work with will let you know) and you’ll probably also need a foot pedal. A foot pedal is a neat little tool that starts and stops a conversation as it’s happening, making it easier to keep your hands on the keyboard instead of on your mouse.
Transcription is extremely detail-oriented work. There is little to no room for error, particularly when you’re talking about numerical data or medical and legal issues. But if you’re okay with that, you can actually earn a full time income transcribing people’s words, particularly once you begin to build up your client base.
- Transcriptionists must be very detail-oriented as there’s little room for error
- You can make money from home transcribing meetings, court cases and more
- You’ll have some upfront hardware and software costs before you become a transcriptionist
42. Have laptop/will travel
Do you love to travel? If so, you can become a private travel agent. You can help consumers seek out the best deals on hotels, flights, rental cars and even theme park passes – in the same way you’d do for yourself.
Let’s say you’re a big fan of Disneyland Paris. You’ve been there six times over the past five years, and you live in Munich! Obviously, you know how to get there in the most cost-effective way, so why not help others do the same?
Learn the best times to travel and the best ways to get around once you’re there. Then, help spread that knowledge around by charging people to let you book their vacations for them. It doesn’t have to be much – it can be a percentage of their trip, for example. It’ll still add up in the end.
You can be a “niche” travel agent, specializing only in Disneyland Paris, or you can choose a more general and broad approach, helping travelers get around all over the world.
- You can charge other people to let you book their vacations for them
- You can choose a niche travel destination or a more general one
- You don’t need special access to discount sites, just search the way you would for yourself
43. You’ve been accepted!
Can you write a fantastic essay? Can you point out points in other people’s essays that might need a bit of improvement? Did you get accepted into college? Is it because of that fantastic essay? If so, we have the perfect way for you to make money from home – you can edit others’ college admissions essays.
Most high school kids who are trying to get into college have one problem: their high school teachers. High school teachers are great for teaching the proper way to structure a sentence and format a paragraph. But they don’t generally teach you how to truly write a personal essay.
High school students who are seeking college admission don’t need to use the same rules for an entrance essay as they would for, say, an essay about Charlotte Bronte’s impact on literature in Europe. They need to learn how to add a bit of personality to the personal essay.
Help them! They’ll (or their parents will) pay good money to have you look over their college entrance essays to make sure everything’s a green light for sending in the application. Charge a flat rate or an hourly one – it’s up to you and your client.
- High school students aren’t frequently taught how to write a proper personal essay
- Formal essays won’t gain these students college entry
- You can help – make money online by editing and looking over their college admissions applications
44. Get (virtually) fit and make money online
Did you know that you don’t have to go to the gym to meet with a personal trainer? You don’t even have to leave your living room. No, the trainers won’t come to you … instead, there’s this new thing called virtual personal training, which is exactly what it sounds like it is.
You can make money online by becoming certified to be an online personal trainer. First, you’ll need to research the certifying agencies in your area or country. Then, you’ll need to pass a series of tests to become certified.
Finally, you can begin to make money online! Advertise locally and online, marketing to those people who are too embarrassed to go to the gym. Explain to them that their personal training sessions will be done in the privacy of their own homes – all they need is an internet connection.
You can use Skype or any other video platform to meet with your client, and the two of you can correspond via email, text, or any other virtual method. You’ll learn a lot, you’ll stay in shape and you’ll make money online when you become a virtual personal trainer.
- Not all personal trainers live in gyms
- Instead, you can become a certified personal trainer and work with your clients virtually
- This is a win-win situation – you don’t have to leave your home and neither do your clients!
45. Buy a website, but don’t flip it
Have you ever dreamed of owning a blog that would earn you passive income? Do you dread doing all the hard work it would take to get your website to that point? If so, this make money from home idea is right up your alley.
We talked earlier about buying successful websites and flipping them. That is, making them a bit better and selling them for more than you paid for them.
What if you didn’t sell at all? What if you bought a “fair to middlin’” website and improved it, then just hung onto it for a while. You’ll continually make improvements and will gradually see the success of your website grow.
It will obviously take some initial investment, but you can make money online by buying a website that’s already established. Choose a site with a niche you’re interested in so that you’re motivated to do the upkeep. As your site grows, you’ll make your initial investment back and the website will pay for itself in the long run.
- Instead of flipping websites, you can make money online by buying established sites and improving them
- Try to find a site with a niche that interests you
- You’ll have an initial investment, but the site will eventually pay for itself
46. Rent out your stuff. Literally anything goes.
You’ll have to have a bit of face to face interaction with this one, but you can rent pretty much anything to just about anyone. Do you have a garage you’re not using? Rent it to someone who needs a workshop? A parking space you don’t need? An RV you only use twice each year? Heck, even your guitar or your stereo system can be rented out if you’re not using it.
You can make money online by renting out the stuff you only use sometimes, or that you don’t use at all. Of course, you’ll want to be sure that all the legal stuff is squared away. For instance, you don’t want to rent your garage out if your landlord will evict you because of it. You wouldn’t want to rent your car to someone with no insurance.
As long as all that’s in order, the sky’s the limit. You can rent anything you want to anyone you choose and make money online by doing so.
- You can rent anything to anyone
- There are tons of possibilities, ranging from spare bedrooms to electronics
- Be sure your legal “stuff” is in order before you rent to anyone
47. So, you want to go green…
It’s becoming more and more common for businesses to implement green practices into their daily operations. Some businesses want to do it, but don’t know where to start. That’s where you come in. You can help these groups save the planet be being a green consultant.
This is a job you may have to show up for every now and then. For example an initial consultation is probably a good idea. Past that point, though, you can make money online helping these companies as they convert to a green way of doing business.
If you’re already familiar with going green, great! You can start right away! If you need to brush up, do some research online and interview businesses that have already gone LED-paperless-recyclable-sustainable and find out what steps they took to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations.
Going green can help you make money online, and can help protect the planet! It’s good for everyone!
- You can make money by teaching small businesses how to be more eco-friendly
- You don’t need a degree – just do your research and interview companies that have already made the transition
- Some businesses want to go green but don’t know how, so why not help them?
48. This is an attempt to collect a debt…
If you’re tough enough, you can make money at home by applying for a job as a debt collector. Debt collectors are third party businesses that work on behalf of creditors to collect – you guessed it – unpaid debts. The only things you’ll need for this job are a phone and a computer, though your phone will probably have to be connected via landline or internet. Most work at home positions won’t accept a cell.
Debt collection isn’t pretty work. You’re going to be sworn at, yelled at, screamed at and hung up on. But in the end, if you can collect a few of those unpaid bills you can earn a healthy commission on each one.
Don’t think you have the stomach for debt collection? There are also ways to make money online as a salesperson. You can sell everything from mortgages (with the right licensing) to beauty and skincare products. All you’ll need is a thick skin and a lack of care about whether people like you.
- Debt collectors are usually thick skinned, as they deal with angry people every day
- If you can manage to get some people to pay up, you’ll earn a commission on the transaction
- All you need to be a debt collector is a phone line and a computer
49. Taco Tuesday, anyone?
If you’ve got a knack for making grocery dollars stretch, you can become a meal planner and make money online. This job is 100% online, in fact – you’ll never have to meet your clients in person.
So, what’s this about stretching a grocery budget? Well, look at it this way. A successful meal planner will send a family to the grocery store on the weekend to pick up a select few things that meet a certain budget. You’re going to have to know how to make those things stretch out for the duration of the week.
So, for instance, say you ask the family to buy a whole roaster chicken. They won’t finish the chicken on Saturday and will have leftovers. So, what do you do with those leftovers? Well, you make a tasty chicken quesadilla on Sunday or Monday, of course!
If you love to cook and know nutrition basics, being a meal planner is a great way to make money online. You’ll have very little initial startup cost, save for maybe a few new cookbooks to inspire you and a website to market yourself.
- Meal planning is a fun way to make money online
- You’ll use your budgeting skills to help other families make their dollars count
- Becoming a meal planner is also a great way to learn some new recipes!
50. What? I didn’t understand you!
As our global becomes more, well, global, translators are becoming more and more in demand. If you’re proficient or fluent in more than one language, you can make money online being a translator.
As a translator, you’ll work with all sorts of people. You’ll meet teachers, attorneys, executives and pilots. You’ll meet students, travelers and maybe even a criminal or two! If this sounds like something you’re interested, search your favorite job search engine for translation jobs. Many can be done from home and require no travel whatsoever.
Do note that if you don’t care to be around other people, there is one consideration you should keep in mind. That is this: you’ll likely be required to do face to face web meetings every now and then. So while translation is a good way to make money online, it’s not a completely solitary venture.
- Translation is a job that’s becoming more necessary by the day
- As a translator, you’ll meet some very interesting people
- The only skill you’ll need is proficiency in two or more languages
Conclusion
Just think… it wasn’t that long ago that we didn’t even have the internet. Now, there are hundreds of ways people are using the web to make money online. These are just 50 of the best ways to make money from home but use your imagination! Think outside the box and you could be the next Jeff Bezos!
