Is the daily grind of a 9 to 5 job taking its toll on you? Are you looking for an opportunity to generate an earning through self-employment?
It’s time to turn this wishful thinking into reality by finding the perfect niche for you.
Thousands of people have dropped out of the corporate jungle to build their digital empire and that too from the comfort of their home! Their success lays in the fact that they actively invested their time and skills on a virtual platform. This, in turn, leads to them earning a hefty paycheque through passive and active income.
You can be part of that league too.
All you have to do is take that leap of faith and pick the perfect pathway.
The good news is that these things don’t necessarily require a skill (e.g. cash back sites and paid surveys). They also give you a chance to do something you like instead of living in the dreary world of cubicles. From online surveys, reviews, freelancing, affiliate marketing to selling your crafts, the possibilities are endless here.
How can you make it big in the internet of things?
We’ve shortlisted the best ways to make money online to nudge you in the right direction. So sit back and scroll, until you find a mode of income that clicks.
Let’s begin.
How to Make Money Online?
Here are seven practical ways to earn cash online:
1. Time Is Money
Don’t think you’ve got the skills to work from home?
That’s okay! You’ve got plenty of time to learn new skills and experiment with your online career. While you’re at it, you can still earn some income on the sidelines by registering to different platforms. The main gigs include participating in online surveys, testing new apps, and shopping from cash back websites.
Here’s a list of the top contenders for this venture:
1. Swagbucks:
It’s the best option to get your hands on easy money. The multifaceted platform offers you cash back and gift cards when you perform certain tasks. You can use their app to shop online, complete online surveys or simply watch recommended videos. They’ll keep track of your actions and then reward you accordingly.
2. Rakuten Rewards:
Formerly known as Ebates, this website gives you up to 40% cash back on all purchases (from selected retailers). You also get store credits, discounted deals, and promo codes while you shop.
How does it work? The site automatically redeems your money and deposits it in your account after every completed transaction.
3. BeFrugal:
It’s another cash back website that offers coupons, discounts, and limited deals from various retailers. They’ve also got an extension that can be installed to your browser. So that whenever you browse the store, you’ll get notified about the latest deals available.
4. Amazon’s Mechanical Trunk
Amazon has a crowdsourcing platform that hires remote workers for various organizations. You have to perform ‘micro tasks’ (e.g. respond to surveys, research, and collect data) to get your salary. The only drawback is that you get a small fee in return for the work you did. So you should set a target to complete high volumes of work to earn an adequate income.
5. Vindale Research
This is a market research company that share opinion-based questionnaires to interested customers. The recipients have to share their two-cents on the subject, offer constructive feedback when necessary and then reap in the benefits.It’s a great way to get your hands on easy money.
The great thing about websites like these is that the surveys are often on brands and products you already know. It’s why filling these forms takes minimum efforts on your part.
What’s more?If you’re interested in answering surveys in your free time, then you can try these websites too: Inbox Dollars, My Survey, and Global Test Market.
In the end, if you think about it, you’re already spending almost every waking hour in front of a screen. These websites allow you to use a few minutes of the spare time to earn some extra cash.
2. Make Your Passion, Your Profession
In this digital era, many companies have started outsourcing their work by collaborating with online platforms. You can register online and then bid for assignments that help you earn $5 to $1000 per month. It’s an ideal way for individuals in creative fields to build up their portfolio and showcase their skills on a professional level.
Plus, you manage to make good money as a freelancer. So it’s a win-win situation for your online and professional career.
Where to get started?
Here’s a hint:
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is a global platform for freelancers to get paid gigs from numerous sources. You have to sign up, create your profile and get projects. The only condition is that you are only allowed to sell your skills for $5 during the first few projects. Nevertheless, your fee can spike up to $100 per project depending on your credibility and positive feedback.
The biggest benefit here is that the website gives equal opportunity to all kinds of creatives. That means you don’t have to be a writer or graphic designer to work here. You can find a project that requires proofreading skills, transcribing, or vide animation too. This range of options ensures that every seller lands a job through Fiverr.
2. Upwork
Upwork is another big name in the freelance space. The platform helps freelancers from various backgrounds to connect with potential clients. Unlike Fiverr, sellers have to participate in a bidding war to get projects. It’s a competitive site, but you get your dues once you start getting repeat clients.
You can earn more than $10000 each month if you get the hang of the bidding war.
3. Scripted
As the name suggests, scripted is copywriting corner for budding writers. The platform helps you connect with customers who’re looking for different types of content for online marketing purposes. The most common assignments include newsletters, blogs, articles, and social media posts.
We think that it’s a brilliant way for you to learn the ropes of online marketing at your own pace.
4. Spoonflower
This is a digital printing company that sells printed fabrics, furnishings, wallpapers, and gift wraps. They feature custom-made designs and personalized items in their inventory. If you’re a designer then you can collaborate with them by selling your designs. In return, you get a 10% commission initially.
However, like Fiverr, the commission rate will increase once you gain a loyal following.
What Else?
Apart from this, you can try your luck on these websites:
- Ten Buxx
- Zeerk
- Five Quids
- SEO Clerks
- Redbubble
Overall, this line of work helps you hone your skills and get your work out there. It’s a lot less scary than holding an exhibition or trying to publish articles on your own. Moreover, you tend to always get a job even if it’s a meager task.
3. Become an Entrepreneur
Do you want to start an online business?
Setting up a proper business is a huge feat. For no matter how talented you are, every business requires funds, workforce, and office space. That’s why most entrepreneurs kick start their online store by forming an alliance with other online platforms.
In this way, you get to connect with customers without worrying about shipments and payments. You also get the coverage you need to market their products/services before they launch a private business.
Let’s look at the hottest spots to begin your entrepreneurship plan:
1. Etsy
One of the biggest names in the handcraft industry, Esty is the best place to showcase your products. The platform welcomes designers and creatives from all corners of the world to sell their beautiful pieces. The setup process is super simple and you get connected with interested buyers quite easily. They also feature new creators and best-sellers on the main dashboard to boost your sales.
The best part is that they ask for a minimum 3.5% fee on every purchase. That means you’ll get a decent amount of income once your products garner attention from interested buyers.
2. Shopify
Do you want to create an online store?
Shopify is an e-commerce site that simplifies the steps you have to take to launch your business. The platform gives you a head start in this competitive space by helping you out in multiple ways. For instance, you get to build your virtual store, find customers, and streamline shipments with its assistance. It also manages your transactions and provides customer support in case of emergencies.
You can get all that and more if you’re willing to pay 2.9% commission per sale and a fixed monthly fee. Compared to the significant turnaround, this is a sweet deal for seasoned sellers.
3. eBay
Ebay has become a renowned launch pad for home-based businesses. The website helps you understand the ins and outs of the marketing world through tutorials and webinars. They’ve also got a great customer support team that stays by your side at every phase.
Due to its popularity, sellers can earn more revenue from this ecommerce space than any other website. It also caters to a much larger audience than craft-based websites like Etsy and ArtFire.
4. Handmade at Amazon
Handmade at Amazon is every e-commerce mogul’s answer to Etsy. Like its competitor, this sub-site provides sellers a channel to sell their handmade items. The collaboration comes with great perks like getting associated with a global name like Amazon and having a user-friendly website to generate your income.
It’s important to note that, Amazon charges a 15% fee for every product you sell. So you need to think things through before you take this risk. However, we feel that an association with Amazon directly boosts your credibility in the marketplace. That’s why this investment will be worth it in the long run.
5. Apps for Service Providers
What if you’re not into arts and crafts?
That’s perfectly fine. The digital world opens up other doors for upcoming merchants and service providers too. A practical solution for service providers is to register themselves on online forums or download apps relevant to their niche. These apps are built to notify service seekers of service providers working in their area.
For instance, Booksy is an app for professional stylists, barbers, and hairdressers. The app introduces you to clients who’re looking for hairstylist. Then you can interact with them to book an appointment and start networking.
Other service apps include:
- Uber and Lyft for drivers.
- BBforMe for beauticians and stylists.
- HomeAdvisor for contractors.
- Foodpanda for home cooks.
On the whole, these websites ensure that your business is well-managed and organized until you secure the profits to work independently. Additionally, it’s a great way to understand the market space in your chosen industry. You also learn a few tricks and hacks to run a business independently while you work with them.
4. Become an Affiliate Marketer
Did you know? Statistics reveal that 16% of the purchases made online are generated by affiliate marketers.
It doesn’t sound that surprising because consumers are avidly reading online reviews all the time. Whether it’s a new café, boutique or hairdresser, customers want to check their credibility before they splurge.
You can capitalize on this by collaborating with retailers to marketing their products on your social media accounts or blogs. Your affiliation with them will help you earn rewards in the form of gift cards, discounts, and cash. Thus, whenever somebody clicks your affiliate links to buy something, you get rewarded for it.
Our top picks for affiliate marketing platforms are:
1. Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is hands down one of the best affiliate marketing programs. That’s because it equips you with all the tools you need to make this venture work. All you have to do is sign up as an affiliate marketer and then start embedding affiliate links in your articles. You get a 4-8% commission off every purchase made through your affiliate link.
The best part is that Amazon has a vast range of products in its inventory. This offers you the flexibility to market almost anything you like without restrictions.
2. Clickbank
This is another reputable affiliate marketing platform that collaborates with different retailers. Their transaction policy is transparent, and you don’t have to contact sellers in order to create affiliations. Your job is to promote those products and earn a sizable income from the final cut.
The best part is that this platform offers you discounted deals, bonuses on referrals and other perks too. That means you’ll get more than just cash from this partnership.
3. ConvertKit
On the surface, ConvertKit looks like an email marketing service. However, its rise in popularity has led the company to create a profitable referral program.
How does that work? The company is ready to pay you 30% of its revenues for every new subscriber you bring to them. The commission keeps on coming as long as your referral keeps availing their services.
In this way, you get a chance to earn a whopping $500 each month if you convert 5-10 people into loyal ConvertKit customers.
Are you interested in stepping up your affiliate marketing game?
Then we suggest associating with more than one affiliate program. Our secondary picks include ShareASale, ClickFunnels, and Commission Junction.
With time, affiliate marketing becomes a form of passive income. That’s because you get to earn cash from blog posts that you wrote weeks ago. The trick is to build an influential presence in your chosen niche, so that people respect what you have to say, and buy the recommended products.
5. Become an Expert
‘A blog isn’t a blog, its business’
Neil Patel said it best when he discussed the benefits of becoming an entrepreneur through blogging. We strongly agree with this sentiment. Blogs might have started as diary entries for travelers and journalists a few decades ago.
However, in this virtually-inclined era, they’ve become a booming sector for business.
Almost every other company has an official blog to promote their brand. A similar trend is followed by affiliate marketers, critics and reviewers. That’s because as stated earlier, consumers prefer to make informed decisions when they are buying something.
They are also interested in reading compelling content that adds value to their life. This can be done through tutorials, listicles, think pieces, and reviews.
How Do You Become an Expert?
The first step is to find a niche that you’re interested in. It could be anything from literature, digital marketing, shopping, to plumbing. You need to pick out topics that are in-demand to create leverage amidst competitors.
For instance, in a world of IPhone users, you could be the one discussing the pros and cons of a smaller phone company. You could even start talking about international brands that are rumored to enter the American market.
The basic idea is to:
- Find something exclusive to talk about.
- Select a good web hosting service (e.g. WordPress).
- Grow a readership through your consistent blogging.
- Then use this fame for profit.
The trick is to convince your readers that you’re the go-to expert in your chosen field. Once they’re on your side, you can launch your product line/services. You can even collaborate with a web hosting service to turn your blog into a full-fledged website.
Even if you don’t have a business plan to work with, you can still use the blog to boost your affiliate marketing endeavors.
6. Start an Online Course
Think TedTalk, but on a smaller scale.
Webinars and online courses are another way to earn money from home. They are often seen as an extension to your blogs and vlogs. That’s because most popular bloggers take this route when they realize that a fair amount of people would willingly attend their webinars.
The biggest advantage here is that you don’t have to organize a grand event or book a venue. All you need is a platform, a date, and reliable sound equipment. After that, you’re all set to conduct your enlightening webinar sessions.
If webinars aren’t something you’re comfortable with then you can always create an online course. It could be on a topic that is related to your educational background (e.g. Reviewing Jane Austen’s Literary Works) or your hobby (e.g. Beginner’s Guide to Knitting).
Here’s a glance at the best platforms for webinars/courses:
1. Udemy
It’s a brilliant platform for you to set up your virtual classroom. They’ve got over 30 million students enrolled with them studying a diverse range of subjects. The website provides instructors with the tools they’d need to create comprehensive online courses for interested e-learners.
2. GoToWebinar
Conducting webinars is fairly simple, as long as you’ve picked the right platform for it. GoToWebinar is known for its convenient setup and easy-to-use navigation. The platform helps businesses and independent trainers to organize webinars with 1000 attendees.
If you’re expecting a smaller gathering then you can opt for GoToMeetings which accommodates 20-26 attendees.
3. Go Live on Social Media
Social media sites like Facebook and YouTube have made webinars simple with their ‘Go Live’ feature. You simply create an event and then start rolling the camera at the designated time. The greatest advantage here is that your webinar is accessible to latecomers. In addition to that, old webinars can be viewed by new followers without any issues.
Apart from these, you can conduct webinars on Skype, Google Hangouts, and Adobe Connect. As for online courses, those can be created on SkillShare and Eliademy.
7. Become Full-fledged Freelancer
Are you worried that your small assignments won’t pan out?
You can prevent that from happening by branching out and sending cold calls to official companies. You see, most freelancing platforms bring potential clients to you. They are one-time jobs that may turn into a recurring partnership if you’ve satisfied the customer.
Nonetheless, there are times when you wish to get proper recognition for your work. For that, you need to stop ghostwriting and start picking up the proverbial pen for renowned platforms. We’re sure that with enough practice and compelling cold calls, you might secure that byline.
The Medium, The Guardian, and Forbes are a few well-known names that do pay their freelance contributors.
What if you aren’t a writer?Even then, you can use your skills to get self-employed by contacting companies that are willing to outsource jobs. This could be anything from web development, business consultation, to virtual management.
Besides this, you can become a translator at Gengo or a part-time job through FlexJobs.
Overall, each of these pathways has the potential to provide you a comfortable income to run your household on. They are all tried and tested formulas that millions of freelancers vouch for. The trick is for you to set realistic goals when you start working on these projects. Then steadily create passive income streams that can help you earn profits while you’re busy with active projects.
Is Making Money Online, Really Worth It?
That’s probably the million dollar question here, isn’t it?
Well, as we discussed earlier, making money online gives you a sense of freedom. You get to select your own work hours, projects, and industry. You also get a chance to spend quality time with your friends and family because you aren’t time-bound.
Here’s a short recap of the benefits of home-based jobs:
- You get flexible work hours and you get to take holidays whenever you want.
- You don’t have to spend money on the daily commute.
- You get closer to your dream job and have time to hone your skills.
- It provides you job security once you settle down in this new role.
In short, it’s a profitable way for you to live your life on your terms.
The Bottom Line
In the end, you can make money online in numerous ways. We’ve listed the most noteworthy options for you to begin. There’s one slight condition though, it’s the fact that generating a sizable income is easier said than done. It’s essential to put some elbow grease into the job when you’re starting out and consistently provide great work to your customers.
Moreover, you’ve got to prepare yourself for the rejections and failures that come along the way. That’s because they are part and parcel of this life.
However, once you starting earning cash, you’ll forget the bad times and enjoy the good times. All you need is determination, motivation, and a foolproof game plan.
So which of these pathways would you choose to start your online career?
