How to Make Money Online for Beginners

Transcription is an excellent way for beginners to earn money online because this job doesn't require any specific skills. You need to be detail-oriented, literate, have good hearing and speech comprehension, and it helps if you can type quickly on a keyboard. In terms of equipment, you'll need a reliable computer and good headphones to hear what you're transcribing clearly. Once you have the basic equipment, you can sign up for online platforms that offer transcription jobs, some of which include Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript. To secure your first gig more quickly, it's not a bad idea to create profiles on multiple platforms. You'll likely have to undergo some form of testing to assess your spelling and transcription skills. As for payment, it's common for this job to be paid per minute of audio transcribed. Given this, your hourly rate will depend on your speed.

• Earning potential: 4/10
• Ease of entry: 7/10
• Difficulty: 5/10
• Flexibility: 7/10

Managing social media is another job that people with no prior experience can use to earn money online. The job requires knowledge of social media, as well as creativity, organizational skills, analytical abilities, and communication skills. If you don't have experience in social media management, we suggest starting by managing your own profiles. Try to build a larger and more engaged audience, publish relevant and attractive content, and attempt to run campaigns. This way, you'll create a portfolio that you can showcase to potential employers. Also, check out different media just to see what fits you the best: Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook… Sign up on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. Connect with other professionals in the industry (we recommend using LinkedIn for this). Additionally, consider volunteering for a local organization or company to gain experience in social media management. You can also think about specializing in a particular niche. For example, you could become an expert in Instagram influencer marketing, collaboration with micro-influencers, or B2B digital marketing on LinkedIn.

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

Besides being potentially profitable, drone photography can be quite a fun activity. For this job, of course, you'll need to acquire a drone. If you plan to take this seriously, choose a drone with good cameras and stabilization. Before you start capturing photos, check local laws and regulations, and see if any permits are required. If you don't already know how to operate a drone, learn it before diving into photography! Additionally, educate yourself on the basics of photography, composition, and photo editing. Keep an eye on current photography trends to know what types of photos are popular and in demand. Once you've gathered a certain number of photos, create a portfolio and upload your photos to platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images. However, you don't have to limit yourself to online platforms. You can offer your photos to local businesses, real estate agencies, and others who could use them in their operations.

• Earning potential: 4/10
• Ease of entry: 3/10
• Difficulty: 5/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

Recommend is another way you can earn money online without needing any prior knowledge or experience. With Recommend, you can open your own Shop where you can showcase your favorite products from 9 categories: Food, Fashion, Beauty, Electronics, Sport, Home, Toys, Books, and Kids. You can share the link to your Recommend Shop on any of your social media platforms. Every time one of your followers or friends purchases something from your Shop, you will earn a commission as indicated on the product itself. Furthermore, you can also earn through our referral program. If you share a product with your friends, you'll earn every time one of your friends buys a product!

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

Do you enjoy books and have a pleasant voice with good diction? Then, reading books aloud or recording audiobooks could be an excellent option for you! Just like in many online ventures, finding the right platforms is crucial. In the case of book narration, we'd highlight Voices and Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), but you can explore other options as well. Once you create your profile, record and upload demo reels to showcase your skills. Depending on the platform, you're not limited to just books. You might land projects involving voiceovers for commercials, video games, or e-learning materials.

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

The idea of earning through online tutoring is ideal for those who are patient, enjoy working with people, and sharing their knowledge. You know best what you excel at and what you can teach, ranging from mathematics and programming to foreign language learning or even a few music lessons. Once you've chosen what you want to teach, you need to prepare a lesson plan, structure your sessions, and gather materials for your teaching. There are also minimal technical requirements: a computer and a stable internet connection. While you can conduct online lessons through platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, there are also specialized platforms for online tutoring. Wyzant, Chegg Tutors, and VIPKid are just a few examples. Specialized platforms make it easier to connect with potential students, handle payments, and often provide technical support. However, we recommend promoting your lessons on social media as well to expand your reach and attract more students.

• Earning potential: 7/10
• Ease of entry: 6/10
• Difficulty: 7/10
• Flexibility: 5/10

We've already written about doing online surveys for money, and you can check it out here. Here we'll just repeat that it can be a great way to make money online for everyone, beginners included.

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

Creating and selling stock photos can be an excellent way to earn money online, especially if you're creative and have a knack for photography. First, you'll need to acquire basic photography equipment: a quality camera, lenses, a tripod, and lighting. It goes without saying that the photos you produce should be of high quality, with a high resolution. Creating stock photos can encompass a wide range of subjects and themes, from nature and urban photography to people and food. When shooting and editing, pay attention to essential elements of photography, such as expressiveness, composition, and colors. After you have a certain number of photos, register on platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, iStock, Alamy, and more. Consider creating a website where you can upload your portfolio, and you can also promote your photos through various digital channels.

• Earning potential: 5/10
• Ease of entry: 7/10
• Difficulty: 4/10
• Flexibility: 9/10

If you have excess items that you no longer use, rest assured that most of these items could be useful to someone else - and they're willing to pay for them. To start, it's important to create a list of items for sale and estimate their approximate value, or the price at which they could be sold. Then, it's important to photograph them and prepare a brief description for each item you'll be offering. Next, you need to advertise your offerings on a platform. Etsy, Craigslist, Amazon, and eBay are just a few options you can consider. If you plan to sell only a specific category of items, take a look at specialized platforms. For instance, Poshmark specializes in clothing, while Chairish focuses on furniture. The rest of the process involves communication with buyers, which includes responding to inquiries and negotiating prices, as well as handling shipping and payments. Choose a shipping method that suits both you and the buyer, and make sure to package the item securely to prevent damage during transit.

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