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How to Make Money Online

10/12/2023
Man and women smiling and watching at their phones

In today's digital age, many are considering ways to earn money online. This thought becomes even more enticing during periods of inflation and uncertainty. However, online earning also offers flexibility, independence, and the opportunity to engage in endeavors that fulfill you. Regardless of the reason, exploring online income avenues can unlock new opportunities and pathways to financial independence.

We've conducted research on methods of online earning and compiled 16 proven ways to make money online! We present them in the following article.

Table of Contents

1. Affiliate marketing

If you have a blog that already has a certain number of followers, a popular YouTube channel, or something similar, consider earning through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is a popular method that involves promoting the products and services of other individuals and companies. In doing so, you earn each time someone purchases that product or service through your affiliate link.

For affiliate marketing, it's crucial to select a niche wisely and thoughtfully. We advise it to be something you're familiar with. For instance, if it's fitness, you can affiliate with your favorite gym, companies producing protein shakes, or a sportswear brand. Additionally, the content you create needs to be informative, relevant, and appealing to your target audience. Don't forget to incorporate your affiliate links within the content. These links will precisely track your performance, based on which your earnings will be calculated. While affiliate marketing usually pays per sale, there are options where you're compensated for actions like downloads or clicks.

Many companies offer affiliate programs that allow interested individuals to become their partners. There are also platforms like Amazon Associates, ClickBank, ShareASale, and others that are worth exploring.

  • Earning potential: 7/10
  • Ease of entry: 8/10
  • Difficulty: 6/10
  • Flexibility: 7/10

Girl learning about affiliate marketing

2. Recommend

Recommend is another great way to make money online, especially if you are a content creator and have some audience on social media. If you apply for the content creator account, you can open Recommend Shop and put all your favorite things inside the Shop. You can share a link to the Shop on any social media. Every time one of your followers buys a product from your Shop, you earn a commission!

Also, on the platform you can create shoppable content called Recommend Trends, where you can showcase your style and the things you like. You can also earn by sharing referral links, so there are plenty of opportunities to make money on Recommend!

  • Earning potential: 8/10
  • Ease of entry: 9/10
  • Difficulty: 3/10
  • Flexibility: 9/10

Recommend Trend

3. Freelancing

If you're drawn to the idea of working on various projects from the comfort of your own home and having a degree of flexibility, consider becoming a freelancer. Of course, like any other job, freelancing requires you to possess certain skills. Writing and editing, graphic or web design, programming and web development, and digital marketing (including SEO, social media, and PPC advertising) are just some of the popular and sought-after skills in the freelance world.

Freelancing can be challenging, especially until you build a reputation on freelance platforms. To start, you need to define exactly what you want to do. After that, create a portfolio and set up a profile on a platform. Offer competitive pricing, communicate to professional standards, build a network of contacts, and deliver quality work.

Freelancing is an excellent way to engage in an online job that can be done part-time but can easily transition into a full-time occupation. When it comes to freelance platforms, several are highly popular. Perhaps the largest and most well-known is Upwork, which offers a wide range of projects and categories. Then there's Fiverr, known for its "micro-gigs" that can start at just a few dollars. Let's also mention Toptal, which is focused on programming, design, and finance, as well as Guru and Freelancer.

If you enjoy the autonomy of freelancing and the potential to work on diverse projects, it's a career path worth considering. Just remember that building a solid reputation and continuously improving your skills are key factors in thriving as a freelancer.

  • Earning potential: 7/10
  • Ease of entry: 8/10
  • Difficulty: 6/10
  • Flexibility: 7/10

4. Dropshipping

Do you love and want to sell things online, but you don't have the money to start a "real" webshop, and you also don't really have the space to store products? No problem! The solution lies in an elegant business model - dropshipping.

In dropshipping, you don't hold the products you sell in stock; you simply list them on your webshop. When a customer orders a product, it goes directly from the supplier to the customer. Your role is to handle marketing, target customers, and provide payment options.

Young man is delivering a package

Besides the storage aspect, dropshipping is cool because it's flexible and scalable, allowing you to set your margins and final selling prices for products. Shopify, WooCommerce, SaleHoo, and Oberlo are some of the platforms that allow you to find suppliers and set up your webshop.

However, it's important to note that you won't get rich overnight or within a week through dropshipping, as you might read or hear somewhere. Dropshipping can be a lucrative business, but it requires a lot of work - especially in marketing - and a lot of patience.

  • Earning potential: 7/10
  • Ease of entry: 6/10
  • Difficulty: 6/10
  • Flexibility: 6/10

5. Sell stuff online

Dropshipping isn't the only option for online sales. If you want to sell your handmade crafts, vintage items, artworks, jewelry, or even digital products like prints or templates, there are numerous platforms available, with Etsy being the most popular. Simply choose the products you want to sell, and then research the market to get a sense of competition, market saturation, pricing, demand... Prepare professional product photos and descriptions. Then, find the appropriate platform - besides Etsy, there are also Big Cartel, Squarespace, Wix, IndieMade... - and open your shop on it. Set your prices and start advertising and selling!

  • Earning potential: 3/10
  • Ease of entry: 9/10
  • Difficulty: 2/10
  • Flexibility: 9/10

6. Make a YouTube channel

You have a fantastic idea for a YouTube channel, you love being in front of the camera, and you're skilled at video editing? If the answer is yes, start your YouTube channel and begin earning that way! Choose a niche you're passionate about, one you're knowledgeable in and want to continue learning about. Focus on consistently posting high-quality content, maintain a regular schedule, come up with a catchy channel name and attractive thumbnails, gradually build a relationship with your audience, and success will surely follow!

MrBeast YouTube channel

To join the YouTube Partner Program, you need to have a minimum of 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours. The YouTube Partner Program will enable you to earn from YouTube ads. You'll earn each time someone clicks on an ad displayed while watching a video on your channel. There's also the option of platforms like Patreon through which followers and subscribers can support their favorite channels.

  • Earning potential: 9/10
  • Ease of entry: 8/10
  • Difficulty: 8/10
  • Flexibility: 7/10

7. Become an influencer

Did you know that, according to 2022 research, one in four members of Generation Z in the United States aspires to become an influencer? "Influencer" is one of the buzzwords of the 21st century and is an ideal choice for those who enjoy communicating, sharing their interests with followers, and building their own brand. On social media, the key is to establish an authentic identity and post content that appeals to the audience, as well as choosing the right niche. Fashion, travel, beauty, health, fitness, technology, specific hobbies - all of these are potential options.

Once you've garnered a certain number of followers and your audience is engaged, opportunities for monetization arise. You can earn money by collaborating with brands, promoting products or services, engaging in paid sponsorships, or using affiliate links. And you can also earn through selling. If you know your niche, and you're also pretty good with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, try to become an influencer - or a micro-influencer!

  • Earning potential: 9/10
  • Ease of entry: 8/10
  • Difficulty: 8/10
  • Flexibility: 6/10

Dixie Damelio Instagram profile

8. Take surveys

Filling out online surveys is an incredibly easy way to earn money online, suitable as well for teenagers and beginners. It should be noted upfront that by completing surveys, you're unlikely to become rich or make it your primary source of income. However, this doesn't mean that taking surveys can't become one of your supplementary income sources.

Surveys are typically conducted by marketing agencies or companies aiming to gather information about consumer habits and preferences. There are several major platforms you can sign up with to take surveys, such as Swagbucks, Vindale Research, Toluna...

Keep in mind that such research usually encompasses a wide demographic range. In other words, whether you receive a particular survey depends on the demographic group you belong to, as well as your interests and habits. You'll likely need to fill out some sort of questionnaire at the beginning. As for earnings, they vary based on the survey's duration and the complexity of its questions. As mentioned before, you probably won't make millions, but you can certainly earn some extra pocket money.

  • Earning potential: 2/10
  • Ease of entry: 8/10
  • Difficulty: 1/10
  • Flexibility: 9/10

9. Test websites and apps

Today, numerous applications have become an integral part of human life. Need to get from point A to point B? Download an app. Looking for a good workout program? Download an app. Searching for a girlfriend or boyfriend? There's an app for that too. So, since we are so intertwined with apps, making money online by testing applications sounds like a good idea.

UserTesting, TryMyUI, Userlytics, and Enroll are some of the most popular websites for testing applications. Regarding the process itself, after signing up, you'll likely receive a list of tasks you need to perform on a website or application. You might need to find specific information or complete a task. The platform will likely record your screen and the sound of your voice as you describe exactly what you're doing and share your thoughts on the user experience and the platform itself.

  • Earning potential: 3/10
  • Ease of entry: 9/10
  • Difficulty: 3/10
  • Flexibility: 8/10

Man working on a computer

10. Develop an app

Apart from app testing, you can also earn by app development. App development can be a challenging and complex project. Beyond having an idea, it's important to know how to code, although nowadays there are numerous platforms where you can create apps without "real" coding.

Bubble, Adalo, and OutSystems are examples of no-code and low-code platforms. On them, you can create apps using drag-and-drop tools, which are excellent for those without any programming experience. There are also app builders like GoodBarber, BuildFire, and Thunkable.

After the app is completed and tested, you can start thinking about monetization. For this, you'll need to sign up for distribution on the Apple Store and Google Play Store. In-app purchases, ads, or subscriptions are some of the earning options through the app.

  • Earning potential: 9/10
  • Ease of entry: 4/10
  • Difficulty: 8/10
  • Flexibility: 8/10

11. Write an e-Book

Writing and publishing an e-book can be an excellent way to earn money, as well as to express your creativity and knowledge. Of course, the earnings will depend on the quality of content, the market, the target audience, investment in marketing, and the topic itself. Personal development, popular psychology, finance and business strategies, cookbooks, and wellness are some of the topics that can be turned into e-books for profit.

Once you've written the book, it's important to format it to be readable on various devices. Additionally, for sales, having an attractive cover and well-designed interior pages is crucial.

Finally, when it comes to selling, you can distribute the book on platforms like Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, or Amazon.

  • Earning potential: 6/10
  • Ease of entry: 8/10
  • Difficulty: 7/10
  • Flexibility: 9/10

Woman writing on a computer

12. Print on demand

Do you have a flair for design that you love to put on items like pillows, posters, and mugs? Then you might want to give the print-on-demand business model a shot! As the name suggests, products aren't made in advance; personalized items are created only after a customer places an order. It's convenient because there's no need for product storage.

When it comes to print-on-demand service platforms, there are several options, with the most popular ones being Printful, Printify, Teespring, and so on. There, you can set up your store along with product designs and prices. Once you receive an order, the platform will automatically forward it to the manufacturer who will print and prepare the products.

Print-on-demand is a rewarding model due to its relatively low initial costs. Personalization of products and design flexibility are also a plus, and it's great that you don't need to have inventory. However, given the strong competition, you'll need to find a way to stand out and offer something specific and intriguing.

  • Earning potential: 4/10
  • Ease of entry: 7/10
  • Difficulty: 4/10
  • Flexibility: 8/10

13. Create an online course

Creating online courses is another option for online earnings. It's a relatively complex project that requires organization and a solid structure, along with knowledge about the subject matter of the course. Programming, digital marketing, fitness, photography, and digital marketing are some of the popular topics for online courses. However, there are plenty of courses even on hobbies like poker or chess.

Once you choose a topic, structure the lessons in the course, and prepare materials, you'll need to record and edit video lessons. We also recommend testing the course with real participants to gather feedback. Based on the feedback, you can make changes or edits to the course.

Once the entire process is complete and your product is ready, you can publish the course on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or other online course platforms. To attract participants, be sure to promote your course on social media and other channels such as blogs or through email campaigns.

Udemy C++ Course

  • Earning potential: 7/10
  • Ease of entry: 5/10
  • Difficulty: 7/10
  • Flexibility: 7/10

14. Write a blog

Patience, consistency, dedication - these, along with knowledge and writing skills, are the three fundamental elements required for running a blog and its monetization. As for topics, the possibilities are endless, ranging from travel and lifestyle to finance and business advice. Whatever you write about, it's important to regularly publish high-quality content and build a relationship with your audience. It certainly won't hurt to respond to comments and questions from readers and followers, and consider SEO and social media promotion.

When it comes to monetization, you can generate income from selling your products and services, advertisements, sponsorships, and paid content. Additionally, think about incorporating email marketing.

  • Earning potential: 4/10
  • Ease of entry: 9/10
  • Difficulty: 5/10
  • Flexibility: 9/10

15. Do translations

If you're proficient in foreign languages, try monetizing your knowledge and skills online. We've already mentioned some freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. On these platforms, translators discover new projects, and companies seek translators for various languages.

First, you need to create a profile that highlights your skills, experience, and the languages you translate from and to. Search for jobs that match your skills and set a competitive price to secure engagements more easily. Strive to perform the job to the best of your ability because you'll be rated for it, which will contribute to your future opportunities.

  • Earning potential: 6/10
  • Ease of entry: 6/10
  • Difficulty: 7/10
  • Flexibility: 6/10

16. Become a virtual assistant

A virtual assistant is one of the newer modern professions. Virtual assistants provide their bosses with administrative and organizational support, requiring attention to detail, communication skills, and multitasking ability in the job. Additionally, since it's a "virtual" job, excellent computer literacy is also expected.

The job description includes administrative and customer support, handling social media and digital marketing, flight bookings, event coordination... When it comes to finding opportunities, you can create a profile on one of the freelance platforms. Your pay will depend on your experience, skills, and the type of tasks. Prices are usually determined per hour or per project, and as your skills, experience, and reputation grow, your hourly rate will increase as well.

  • Earning potential: 6/10
  • Ease of entry: 6/10
  • Difficulty: 6/10
  • Flexibility: 5/10
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